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Doctor Wei-Peng Teo School of Medical & Applied Sciences

Lecturer Exercise & Sports Sciences

Office Location
1.05
81
Contact Details
Email: w.teo@cqu.edu.au
Phone: Unavailable
Background

My primary research interest lies in the use of non-invasive brain stimulation to understand central changes to the brain in patients with movement disorders and stroke. My doctoral thesis examined the neural correlates of movement rate and amplitude in healthy subjects and patients with Parkinson’s disease and also investigated the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation on motor learning in Parkinson’s disease. Amongst the cardinal signs of Parkinson’s disease, bradykinesia and hypokinesia present as the most easily recognisable signs and is usually apparent before any formal neurological assessment is made. This often results in slowness of movement and resulting in a reduction in activities of daily living. My research findings suggest that an increased state of brain hyperexcitability and a reduction in cortical inhibition in the primary motor cortex may play a significant role in both bradykinesia and hypokinesia. Additional findings also indicate that both bradykinesia and hypokinesia have distinct neural mechanisms that are affected differently by levodopa medication. More importantly, my results showed that neuro-modulation was efficacious in augmenting motor learning in healthy subjects and in Parkinson’s disease patients.

Following the completion of my doctoral thesis, I worked as a research fellow at the National University Hospital in Singapore investigating the feasibility and efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation and robotic training in chronic stroke patients. The concept of this study was based on a two-pronged approach targeting the central nervous system using non-invasive brain stimulation on the affected hemisphere and providing sensory feedback through manipulation of the affect limb using a robotic arm. Preliminary findings from the clinical trial suggest that both brain stimulation and robotic rehabilitation were beneficial in improving functional outcome in stroke patients even after 2 weeks of training, and more importantly, the program was well-tolerated with patients. It was also observed that patients that underwent real-tDCS experienced less spasticity and greater range-of-motion in their should and elbow joints.

During my tenure as a research fellow, I co-supervisored an honour’s research project entitled “Investigating the gait cycle of stroke patients with pathological knee hyper-extension”. The project aims to closely examine the alterations in biomechanics and muscle activation of the lower limb and hip in stroke patients that present with severe knee hyperextension during the stance phase of gait. It was previously observed that patients who present with such lower limb dysfunctions would ultimately lose lower-limb mobility. Therefore understanding the biomechanics and muscle activation of such a peculiar gait pattern will allow physical therapists to prescribe exercise-specific programs to rehabilitation problem areas that might lead to permanent disability.    

Professional Experience

Post-doctoral Research Fellow - National University Hospital (Singapore) (July 2012 - May 2013)

Investigated the feasibility and efficacy of robot-assisted brain-computer interface training and non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (ie. TMS, rTMS and tDCS) for the upper-limb rehabilitation of chronic stroke patients. The primary aim of the research project is to utilize event-related desynchronization of electroencephalographic activities (EEG signals during motor-imagery) and end-effector robots to enhance sensorimotor integration of various hand and arm movements. This has been postulated to facilitate activity-dependent cortical plasticity therefore promoting functional rescovery.  The secondary aim of the experiment is to determine if non-invasive brain stimulation prior may further augment functional gains.

 


 Lecturer/Teaching Assistant - Edith Cowan University (Feb 2009 - Nov 2011)

Units as Lecturer:

  1.  Physical Activity and Chronic Diseases
  2. Advance Resistance Training

Units as Teaching Assistant:

  1. Principles of Exercise Programming
  2. Human Anatomy 

Professional Memberships

Australian Neuroscience Society

Golden Key International Honour Society

National Strength and Conditioning Association

Term 2 - 2013
ESSC11003 - Skill Acquisition and Movement
Course Coordinator
ESSC13004 - Advanced Applied Sport Science B
Course Coordinator
'In Press' Publications

  1. Teo, WP, Rodrigues, JP, Mastaglia, FL, and Thickbroom, GW. Comparing kinematic changes between finger tapping and unconstraint finger movements in Parkinson’s disease. Exp Brain Res, 227:323-331, 2013.
  2. Teo, WP, Rodrigues, JP, Mastaglia, FL, and Thickbroom, GW. Breakdown in central motor control can be attenuated by motor practice and neuro-modulation of the primary motor cortex. Neuroscience, 220:11-18, 2012.
  3.  Teo, WP, Rodrigues, JP, Mastaglia, FL, and Thickbroom, GW. Changes in corticomotor excitability and inhibition after exercise are influenced by hand dominance and motor demand. Neuroscience, 210:110-117, 2012.  
  4. Teo, WP, Rodrigues, JP, Mastaglia, FL, and Thickbroom, GW. Post-exercise depression in corticomotor excitability after dynamic movement: A general property of fatiguing and non-fatiguing exercise. Exp Brain Res 216:41-49, 2012.
  5.  Teo, W, Newton MJ, and McGuigan, MR. Circadian rhythm in exercise performance: Implications for hormonal and muscular adaptation. J Sports Sci Med 10:600-606, 2011.
  6. Teo, W, McGuigan, MR, and Newton, MJ. The effects of circadian rhythmicity of salivary cortisol and testosterone on maximal isometric force, maximal dynamic force and power output. J Strength Cond Res 35:1538-1545, 2011.

Poster Papers/ Published Research Summaries

  1. Teo, W.P., Rodrigues, J.P., Mastaglia, F.L., Thickbroom, G.W. (2012). A comparison of rapid finger tapping and finger flexion-extension tasks in Parkinson’s disease. 16th International Congress for Parkinson’s disease and Movement Disorders, Dublin, Ireland.
  2. Teo, W.P., Rodrigues, J.P., Thickbroom, G.W. (2011). Changes to corticomotor excitability and movement frequency after paired-pulse TMS at I-wave interval: A randomised control study. 27th Symposium for Western Australian Neuroscience, Perth, Western Australia.
  3. Teo, W.P., Joshi, S., Dulyba, J.M., Pelc, J.J., Rodrigues, J.P., Thickbroom, G.W. (2011). Kinematic and Corticomotor Changes Associated with Repeated Maximal Finger Movement Task in Healthy Individuals. Australian Neuroscience Society, Auckland, New Zealand.

Theses

"The effects of circadian rhythmicity of salivary cortisol and testosterone on maximal isometric force, maximal dynamic force and power output." Edith Cowan University, 2009. (Master Thesis)

"Exploring the limit of human motor control in healthy subjects and patients with Parkinson's disease: Implications for practice-dependent plasticity and interventional transcranial magnetic stimulation." University of Western Australia, 2013. (PhD Thesis)


Refereed Conferences

  1. Teo, W.P., Rodrigues, J.P., Mastaglia, F.L., Thickbroom, G.W. (2011). Central changes after rhythmic movement: Effect of movement rate and cerebral dominance. 10th Motor Control and Human Skills Conference, Mandurah, Western Australia.
  2. Teo, W.P., Rodrigues, J.P., Thickbroom, G.W. (2011). Corticomotor excitability after non-fatiguing dynamic finger movement tasks. Australian Neuroscience Society Sensorimotor Satellite Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand.