Michael Kennefick

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Michael Kennefick is a researcher in human movement neuroscience, whose work bridges the gap between cognitive processing and motor control. His primary research areas include corticospinal excitability, balance control, and the neural mechanisms underlying complex movement preparation. Kennefick’s most-cited study, “Corticospinal excitability is enhanced while preparing for complex movements” (2019, 16 citations), demonstrates a key contribution: he showed that the brain’s motor pathways become more excitable when individuals anticipate challenging actions, offering insights into how the central nervous system primes itself for intricate tasks. This finding has implications for rehabilitation and skill acquisition. His subsequent work, “The effect of increased cognitive processing on reactive balance control following perturbations to the upper limb” (2022, 5 citations), extends this line of inquiry by exploring how mental load impacts the body’s ability to recover from unexpected disturbances, highlighting the interplay between cognition and reflexive stability. Though early in his career, Kennefick’s research is notable for its focus on real-world applications, such as fall prevention and motor learning. His studies are increasingly cited in fields like sports science and neurorehabilitation, marking him as a promising voice in understanding how the brain coordinates movement under cognitive demand.