
Overview
Background
Professor Abernethy is a first class Honours graduate and university medallist from the University of Queensland, a PhD graduate from the University of Otago, an International Fellow of the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education, a Fellow of the Australian Sports Medicine Federation and a Fellow of Exercise and Sport Science Australia. He was the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences from 2014-2023 and is now Executive Director of UQ's Engagement with the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Professor Abernethy is a previous Deputy Executive Dean and Associate Dean (Research) within the Faculty of Health Sciences (2011 - 2013), Head of the School of Human Movement Studies (from 1991-2003) and from 2004 to mid-2011 was the Director and inaugural Chair Professor of the Institute of Human Performance at the University of Hong Kong.
His research interest is in the control and acquisition of skilled movement, with a particular focus upon understanding the processes underpinning the expert perception and production of patterns of human movement. The work is interdisciplinary and spans human movement and sport science, experimental psychology, neuroscience and medical and health sciences. Prof. Abernethy's research work has been supported by a range of agencies including those funding basic science, such as the Australian Research Council and the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, as well as those supporting more applied research, such as the Australian Sports Commission, the Australian Football League, the Australian Cricket Board, Worksafe Australia and the Motor Accident Insurance Commission.
Availability
- Professor Bruce Abernethy is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Otago
- Australian Sports Medicine Federation, Australian Sports Medicine Federation
Works
Search Professor Bruce Abernethy’s works on UQ eSpace
1993
Journal Article
Searching for the minimal essential information for skilled perception and action
Abernethy, Bruce (1993). Searching for the minimal essential information for skilled perception and action. Psychological Research, 55 (2), 131-138. doi: 10.1007/BF00419644
1993
Book Chapter
Attention
Abernethy, B. (1993). Attention. Handbook of research on sport psychology. (pp. 127-170) edited by Singer, R.N., Murphey, M. and Tennant, L.K.. New York: Macmillan.
1993
Journal Article
Strategies for improving understanding of motor expertise [or mistakes we have made and things we have learned!!]
Abernethy, Bruce, Thomas, Katherine T. and Thomas, Jerry T. (1993). Strategies for improving understanding of motor expertise [or mistakes we have made and things we have learned!!]. Advances in Psychology, 102 (C), 317-356. doi: 10.1016/S0166-4115(08)61478-8
1993
Book Chapter
Strategies for improving understanding of motor expertise
Abernethy, B., Thomas, K. T. and Thomas, J. R. (1993). Strategies for improving understanding of motor expertise. Cognitive issues in motor expertise. (pp. 317-356) edited by Starkes, J. L. and Allard, F.. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
1993
Journal Article
Relative Phase Quantifies Interjoint Coordination
Burgesslimerick, R, Abernethy, B and Neal, RJ (1993). Relative Phase Quantifies Interjoint Coordination. Journal of Biomechanics, 26 (1), 91-94. doi: 10.1016/0021-9290(93)90617-N
1992
Journal Article
Cognitive strategies and short-term memory for movement distance and location
Imanaka, Kuniyasu and Abernethy, Bruce (1992). Cognitive strategies and short-term memory for movement distance and location. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A: Human Experimental Psychology, 45 (4), 669-700. doi: 10.1080/14640749208401338
1992
Journal Article
Interference between location and distance information in motor short-term memory: The respective roles of direct kinesthetic signals and abstract codes
Imanaka, Kuniyasu and Abernethy, Bruce (1992). Interference between location and distance information in motor short-term memory: The respective roles of direct kinesthetic signals and abstract codes. Journal of Motor Behavior, 24 (3), 274-280. doi: 10.1080/00222895.1992.9941622
1992
Journal Article
To the editor
Burgess-Limerick, Robin, Abernethy, Bruce and Neal, Robert J. (1992). To the editor. Spine, 17 (9), 1122-1124. doi: 10.1097/00007632-199209000-00020
1992
Journal Article
Against Relative Timing Invariance in Movement Kinematics
Burgesslimerick, R, Neal, RJ and Abernethy, B (1992). Against Relative Timing Invariance in Movement Kinematics. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A-Human Experimental Psychology, 44 (4), 705-722. doi: 10.1080/14640749208401306
1992
Book Chapter
Fundamentals of experimentation
Abernethy, B. and Snyder Jr., C. W. (1992). Fundamentals of experimentation. The creative side of experimentation: Personal perspectives of leading researchers in motor control, motor development and sport psychology. (pp. 3-30) Chamapign, Ill: Human Kinetics.
1992
Journal Article
Visual information for the timing of skilled movements: A review
Abernethy, Bruce and Burgess-Limerick, Robin (1992). Visual information for the timing of skilled movements: A review. Advances in Psychology, 84 (C), 343-384. doi: 10.1016/S0166-4115(08)61692-1
1992
Journal Article
The rise and fall of dominant paradigms in motor behaviour research
Abernethy, Bruce and Sparrow, W. A. (1992). The rise and fall of dominant paradigms in motor behaviour research. Advances in Psychology, 84 (C), 3-45. doi: 10.1016/S0166-4115(08)61681-7
1992
Journal Article
Hip and lumbar vertebral coordination during lifting: Systematic deviation from synchronous movement
Burgess-Limerick, R. J., Abernethy, B. and Neal, R. J. (1992). Hip and lumbar vertebral coordination during lifting: Systematic deviation from synchronous movement. Spine, 17, 1122-1124.
1992
Book Chapter
Visual support for the timing of skilled movements: A review
Abernethy, B. and Burgess-Limerick, R. (1992). Visual support for the timing of skilled movements: A review. Approaches to the study of motor control and learning. (pp. 343-384) edited by Summers, J.J.. Amsterdam: North-Holland.
1992
Book Chapter
The rise and fall of dominant paradigms in motor behaviour research
Abernethy, B. and Sparrow, W. A. (1992). The rise and fall of dominant paradigms in motor behaviour research. Approaches to the study of motor control and learning. (pp. 3-45) Amsterdam: Elseveier.
1992
Book
The creative side of experimentation: Personal perspectives of leading researchers in motor control, motor development and sport psychology
C. W. Snyder and Arthur B. Abernethy eds. (1992). The creative side of experimentation: Personal perspectives of leading researchers in motor control, motor development and sport psychology. Champaign Ill.: Human Kinetics.
1992
Book Chapter
Expertise in experimentation on human action
Abernethy, B. (1992). Expertise in experimentation on human action. The creative side of experimentation: Personal perspectives of leading researchers in motor control, motor development and sport psychology. (pp. 203-225) edited by B. Abernethy. Champaign, IL, United States: Human Kinetics.
1991
Journal Article
Experience and Backswing Movement Time Variability - a Short Note Concerning a Serendipitous Observation
Burgesslimerick, R, Abernethy, B and Neal, RJ (1991). Experience and Backswing Movement Time Variability - a Short Note Concerning a Serendipitous Observation. Human Movement Science, 10 (6), 621-627. doi: 10.1016/0167-9457(91)90019-T
1991
Journal Article
A Statistical Problem in Testing Invariance of Movement Using the Phase Plane Model
Burgesslimerick, R, Abernethy, B and Neal, RJ (1991). A Statistical Problem in Testing Invariance of Movement Using the Phase Plane Model. Journal of Motor Behavior, 23 (4), 301-303. doi: 10.1080/00222895.1991.9942041
1991
Journal Article
The mediating effect of learning on the interference between location and distance recall from motor short-term memory
Imanaka, Kuniyasu and Abernethy, Bruce (1991). The mediating effect of learning on the interference between location and distance recall from motor short-term memory. Acta Psychologica, 77 (2), 153-165. doi: 10.1016/0001-6918(91)90029-Y
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Bruce Abernethy is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Predicting and evaluating transfer of modified perceptual training to improve performance in sport
Principal Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Interception in the Presence of Ball-Swing: Exploring the Development of Visual-Motor Expertise in Cricket Batting
Principal Advisor
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding expert recall and recognition of natural visual patterns of movement
Principal Advisor
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Expertise in Sport: Multi-dimensional Exploration of the Development of Batting Skills in Cricket
Principal Advisor
-
2005
Doctor Philosophy
EXPERT PERCEPTUAL AND DECISION-MAKING SKILL: IDENTIFICATION, DEVELOPMENT AND AQUISITION IN A TEAM INVASION SPORT
Principal Advisor
-
2005
Doctor Philosophy
TIMING AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION PICK-UP FOR VISUAL ANTICIPATION BY WORLD-CLASS CRICKET BATSMEN
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Guy Wallis
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2006
Doctor Philosophy
PROMOTING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG COMMUNITY-DWELLING PEOPLE WITH ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Wendy Brown, Professor Stewart Trost
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2003
Doctor Philosophy
BIMANUAL CONTROL AND MIRROR MOVEMENTS IN NORMAL AND ABNORMAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Bruce Abernethy directly for media enquiries about:
- Cognitive science
- Development in sports
- Human movement
- Kinesiology
- Skill assessment - sport
- Sports - development
- Sports science
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