Melanie Lam

Dr. Melanie Lam is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Kinetics at St. Francis Xavier University. She earned her BA in Psychology and Criminology from Simon Fraser University (2004) before completing graduate studies at the University of British Columbia's School of Kinesiology under Dr. Romeo Chua. Her research examines how humans adapt motor behavior to internal changes (e.g., neurological disorders) and social environments, with particular focus on coordination mechanisms during collaborative actions.

Dr. Lam directs the Perceptual-Motor Behaviour (PMB) Lab, where she investigates three primary areas: social context effects on perception and decision-making, emotional expression influences on motor tasks, and information processing in special populations (Down syndrome, Parkinson's, ADHD). Her work addresses how the brain integrates sensory input into coordinated actions, exploring questions like interpersonal movement synchronization and adaptive behaviors in constrained conditions.

Her recent publications demonstrate strong interdisciplinary focus spanning cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and kinesiology. Dominant themes include joint action coordination (45% of recent papers), neurodevelopmental disorder mechanisms (30%), and sensorimotor adaptation (25%). MRI-based studies on Down syndrome and Tourette syndrome reflect her neuroimaging expertise, while behavioral experiments explore social motor coordination and temporal processing.