My research interest is in understanding how different types of physical activity influence the brain and body. While we know a great deal about the importance of cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, I am interested in a broader question: Does the type of movement we engage in matter?

It is often said that “any movement is good movement.” While I agree that movement provides meaningful benefits, I am interested in whether different forms of activity offer unique cognitive, psychological, social, and physical benefits—and whether those benefits extend beyond the activity itself.

In particular, I am interested in whether activities characterized by environmental richness, social interaction, unpredictability, problem-solving, and dynamic decision-making may produce distinct adaptations and potentially more robust benefits.

This question has led me to explore movement through a human-centered and anthropological lens. Across cultures and throughout human history, people have engaged in recurring forms of physical activity that extend beyond exercise alone. I refer to these as the Big 8:

Outdoor Exploration • Dance • Sport & Games • Martial Arts • Mindful Movement • Resistance Training • Physical Living • Play

I am particularly interested in whether the unique demands of these activities can influence the brain and body in distinct ways—and whether the cognitive, psychological, and social adaptations they foster can carry over into how we think, feel, learn, solve problems, and interact with the world beyond physical activity.

Could physical recreation do more than make us fitter? Could the way we move help shape how we function throughout life—and make movement itself a more meaningful and compelling lifelong practice?

The Big 8 is a framework, not a conclusion. My goal is to explore, refine, and test these ideas through research and contribute to a growing understanding of movement as more than exercise—as a fundamental part of being human.