Professor Gert-Jan Pepping

• Visual exploration and situation awareness.
• Affordances and action-boundary perception.
• Locomotor pointing and falls.
• Innovation and wearable technology in sport exercise and healthy ageing.
• Built environment.
• Decisions in sport, exercise and health situations.

Mohr, M., Federolf, P., Pepping, G.-J., Stein, T., van Andel, S., & Weir, G. (2023). Editorial: Human movement and motor control in the natural environment. Front Bioeng Biotechnol, 11, 1210173. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1210173

Patil, G., Nalepka, P., Novak, A., Auletta, F., Pepping, G.-J., Fransen, J., Kallen, R. W., & Richardson, M. J. (2023). Dynamical biomarkers in teams and other multiagent systems. J Sci Med Sport, 26 Suppl 1, S9-S13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2023.04.004   

Pepping, G.-J., & McGuckian, T. (2022). Investigating situation awareness via visual exploration in high-intensity multi-agent activity using wearable technology. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 25, S18. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2021.11.056

le Rossignol, P., Miles, S., Saunders, J., & Pepping, G.-J. (2022). Physical activity in university health science students: Motivations influencing behaviors. Journal of American College Health, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2119397

Trotter, M., Sanders, P., Lindquist, M., Miller, E., Hajirasouli, A., Blake, A., Harrington, R., Olsen, H., Tyvimaa, T., Pepping, G.-J., Kuys, S., & Drogemuller, R. (2022). Intergenerational living and learning: The value and risks of co-locating retirement villages on secondary school campuses &ndash Evaluating the GrandSchools vision. Australasian Journal on Ageing. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/ajag.13111.

Cronström, A., Cole, M., Chalkley, D., Van Andel, D., Pepping, G.-J., & Creaby, M. W. (2022). Acute effect of traditional and adaptive metronomes on gait variability in older individuals with a history of falls. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-021-02066-9.

McGuckian, T., & Pepping, G.-J. (2021). Music can induce positive affect before football training, but is it maintained throughout training? The Journal of Sport and Exercise Science, 5(1), 39-48. https://doi.org/10.36905/jses.2021.01.06.

Johnson, C. D., Eagle, S. R., LaGoy, A. D., Sinnott, A. M., Pepping, G.-J., & Connaboy, C. (2021). Establishing and applying measurement reliability in perceptual-motor coordination tasks. Ecological Psychology, 3(3-4), 297-311. https://doi.org/10.1080/10407413.2021.1965479.

Johnson, C. D., Eagle, S. R., Nindl, B. C., Lovalekar, M. T., Flanagan, S. D., Pepping, G.-J., & Connaboy, C. (2021). The effects of fatiguing exercise and load carriage on the perception and initiation of movement. European Journal of Sport Science, 21(1), 36-44. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2020.1725137

Connaboy, C., Sinnott, A. M., LaGoy, A. D., Krajewski, K. T., Johnson, C. D., Pepping, G.-J., Simpson, R. J., Bower, J. L., & Alfano, C. A. (2020). Cognitive performance during prolonged periods in isolated, confined, and extreme environments. Acta Astronautica, 177, 545&ndash551. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.08.018

LaGoy, A. D., Sinnott, A. M., Ambarian, M., Pepping, G.-J., Simpson, R. J., Agha, N. H., et al. (2020). Differences in affordance-based behaviors within an isolated and confined environment are related to sleep, emotional health and physiological parameters. Acta Astronautica, 176, 238&ndash246. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.06.034

Brymer, E., Araujo, D., Davids, K., & Pepping, G.-J. (2020). Conceptualising the human health and wellbeing outcomes of acting in natural environments: An ecological perspective. Frontiers in Psychology. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01362

McGuckian, T. B., Beavan, A., Mayer, J., Chalkley, D., & Pepping, G.-J. (2020). The association between visual exploration and passing performance in high-level U13 and U23 football players. Science and Medicine in Football. http://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2020.1769174

Johnson, CD., Eagle, SR., Nindl, BC., Lovalekar, MT., Flanagan, SD., Pepping, G.-J., & Connaboy, C. (2020). The effects of fatiguing exercise and load carriage on the perception and initiation of movement. European Journal of Sport Science. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2020.1725137

McGuckian, T. B., Cole, M., Chalkley, D., Jordet, G., & Pepping, G.-J. (2020). Constraints on visual exploration of youth football players during 11v11 match-play: The influence of playing role, pitch position and phase of play. Journal of Sports Sciences 38(6).

Eagle, S. R., Kontos, A. P., Pepping, G.-J., Johnson, C. D., Sinnott A., LaGoy, A., Connaboy, C. (2020). Increased risk of musculoskeletal injury following sport-related concussion: a perception-action coupling approach. Sports Medicine, 50(1), 15-23. doi: 10.1007/s40279-019-01144-3.

Connaboy, C., LaGoy, A. D., Johnson, C. D., Sinnott, A. M., Eagle, S. R., Bower, J. L., Pepping, G.-J., Simpson R. J., Alfano C. A. (2020). Sleep deprivation impairs affordance perception behavior during an action boundary accuracy assessment. Acta Astronautica, 166, 270&ndash276. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2019.10.029

Johnson, C. D., LaGoy, A. D., Pepping, G.-J., Eagle, S. R., Beethe, A. Z., Bower, J. L., et al. (2019). Action Boundary Proximity Effects on Perceptual-Motor Judgments. Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, 90(12), 1000&ndash1008. http://doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.5376.2019

van Andel, S., McGuckian, T. B., Chalkley, D., Cole, M. H., & Pepping, G.-J. (2019). Principles of the Guidance of Exploration for Orientation and Specification of Action. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 13, 734&ndash11. http://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00231

Warman, G., Cole, M., Chalkley, D., Johnston, R., & Pepping, G.-J. (2019). Using microtechnology to quantify torso angle during match-play in field hockey. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 33(10), 2648-2654.http://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003238.

Porter, C., Greenwood, D., Panchuk, D., & Pepping, G.-J. (in press). Learner-adapted practice promotes skill transfer in unskilled adults learning the basketball set shot. European Journal of Sports Science. http://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2019.1611931.

Van Andel, S., Cole, M., & Pepping, G.-J. (2019). Associations between gait-related falls and gait adaptations when stepping onto a curb: A prospective falls study. Journal of Aging and Health, 27, 309-315. http://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2018-0124.

Van Andel, S., Cole, M., & Pepping, G.-J. (2019). Influence of age and falls incidence on TauG guidance of centre of pressure movement during gait initiation. Gait & Posture 70, 104-108. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2019.02.030.

Johnson, C. D., Beethe, A. Z., Eagle, S. R., Mi, Q., Lovalekar, M. T., Pepping, G.-J., Nindl, B. C., Flanagan, S. D., Connaboy, C. (2019). POMS fatigue scale is responsive to fatiguing protocol but shows no relationship to perceived or performance decrements. Translational Sports Medicine, 2(3), 153-160. https://doi.org/10.1002/tsm2.65

Connaboy, C., Johnson, C., LaGoy, A., Pepping, G.-J., Simpson, R., Deng, Z., Ma, L., Bower, J. L., Eagle, S. R., Flanagan, S. D., & Alfano, C. (2019). Intersession Reliability and Within-Session Stability of a Novel Perception-Action Coupling Task. Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, 90(2), 77-83. https://doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.5190.2019.

McGuckian, T. B., Cole, M. H., Chalkley, D., Jordet, G., & Pepping, G.-J. (2019). Visual Exploration When Surrounded by Affordances: Frequency of Head Movements Is Predictive of Response Speed. Ecological Psychology, 31(1), 30-48. http://doi.org/10.1080/10407413.2018.1495548

McGuckian, T. B., Cole, M. H., Jordet, G., Chalkley, D., & Pepping, G.-J. (2018). Don't turn blind! The relationship between exploration before ball possession and on-ball performance in association football. Frontiers in Psychology, 9(DEC), 441. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02520

van Andel, S., Cole, M. H., & Pepping, G.-J. (2018). Regulation of locomotor pointing across the lifespan: Investigating age-related influences on perceptual-motor coupling. PLoS One, 13(7), e0200244&ndash16. http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0200244

Jordet, G., & Pepping, G.-J. (2018). Flipping sport psychology theory into practice: A context- and behavior centered approach. In Massimiliano L. Cappuccio (Ed.), Handbook of Embodied Cognition and Sport Psychology. MIT Press.

van Andel, S., Cole, M. H., & Pepping, G.-J. (2018). Perceptual-motor regulation in locomotor pointing while approaching a curb. Gait & Posture, 60, 164-170. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2017.12.006

Croft, J., Pepping, G.-J., Button, C., Chow, J. (2018). Children&rsquos perception of action boundaries and how it affects their climbing behavior. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 166, 134-146. http: doi: 10.1016/j.jecp.2017.07.012

Shepherd, J. B., Giblin, G., Pepping, G.-J., Thiel, D., & Rowlands, D. (2017). Development and validation of a single wrist mounted inertial sensor for biomechanical performance analysis of an elite netball shot. IEEE Sensors Letters, 1(5), 1-4. http://doi.org/10.1109/LSENS.2017.2750695

Pritchard, B. T., Stanton, W., Lord, R., Petocz, P. & Pepping, G.-J. (2017). Factors Affecting Measurement of Salivary Cortisol and Secretory Immunoglobulin A in Field Studies of Athletes. Frontiers in Endocrinology. http: dx.doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2017.00168/

McGuckian, T., Cole, M., & Pepping, G.-J. (2017). A systematic review of the technology-based assessment of visual perception and exploration behaviour in association football. Journal of Sports Sciences. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2017.1344780

Postma, D. B. W., Smith, J., Pepping, G.-J., van Andel, S., & Zaal, F. T. J. M. (2017). When a fly ball is out of reach: catchability judgments are not based on optical acceleration cancelation. Frontiers in Psychology, 8(868), 1427-8. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00535

Hettinga, F. J., Konings, M. J., & Pepping, G.-J. (2017). The science of racing against opponents: affordance competition and the regulation of exercise intensity in head-to-head competition. Frontiers in Physiology, 8, 239-246. http://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2017.00118

van Andel, S., Cole, M. H., & Pepping, G.-J. (2017). A systematic review on perceptual-motor calibration to changes in action capabilities. Human Movement Science, 51(C), 59-71. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2016.11.004

Smits, B. L. M., Polman, R. C. J., Otten, B., Pepping, G.-J., & Hettinga, F. J. (2016). Cycling in the Absence of Task-Related Feedback: Effects on Pacing and Performance. Frontiers in Physiology, 7, 511-9. http://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2016.00348

Dollen, M., Grove, J. R., & Pepping, G.-J. (2015). A comparison of coping-styles of individual and team athletes of Australia and the Netherlands. International Sports Studies, 37, 36-48.

Cordovil, R, Araújo, D., Pepping, G.-J., & Barreiros, J. (2015). An ecological stance on risk and safe behaviors in children: The role of affordances and emergent behaviors. New Ideas in Psychology, 36, 50-59.

Smith, J., Grealy, M. A., & Pepping, G.-J. (2014). Extrinsic tau-coupling and the regulation of interceptive reaching under varying task constraints. Motor Control,18, 347-367.

Smits, B. L. M., Pepping, G.-J., & Hettinga, F. J. (2014). Pacing and decision-making in sport and exercise: The role of perception and action in the regulation of exercise intensity. Sports Medicine. doi: 10.1007/s40279-014-0163-0

Tromp, E. J. Y., Pepping, G.-J., Lyons, J., Elferink-Gemser, M. T., & Visscher, C. (2013). &ldquoLet&rsquos Pick Him!&rdquo: Ratings of Skill Level on the Basis of In-Game Playing Behaviour in Bantam League Junior Ice Hockey. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 8(4), 641&ndash660. doi:10.1260/1747-9541.8.4.641

Barsingerhorn, A., Zaal, F. J. T. M., de Poel, H. J., & Pepping, G.-J. (2013) Shaping decisions in volleyball: An ecological approach to decision-making in volleyball passing. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 44, 197-214. doi: 10.7352/IJSP 2013.43.000

Toering, T., Elferink-Gemser, M. T., Jordet, G., Pepping, G.-J., & Visscher, C. (2012). Self-regulation of learning and relative age in elite youth soccer: International versus national level players. International Journal of Sport Psychology 43 (4), 312-325.

Barsingerhorn, A., Zaal, F. J. T. M., & Pepping, G.-J. (2012) On possibilities for action: The past, present and future of affordance research. AVANT: Trends in Interdisciplinary Studies, 3 (2), 54-69.

Pepping, G.-J., & Timmermans, E. J. (2012). Oxytocin and the biopsychology of performance in team sports. The Scientific World Journal, 2012, 1&ndash10. doi:10.1100/2012/567363

Delafield-Butt, J. T., Pepping, G.-J., McCaig, C. D., & Lee, D. N. (2012). Prospective guidance in a free-swimming cell. Biological Cybernetics, 106(4-5), 283&ndash293. doi:10.1007/s00422-012-0495-5

Zaal, F. T. J. M., Bongers, R. M., Pepping, G.-J., & Bootsma, R. J. (2012). Base on balls for the Chapman strategy: Reassessing Brouwer, Brenner, and Smeets (2002). Attention Perception & Psychophysics, 74(7), 1488&ndash1498. doi:10.3758/s13414-012-0328-6

Withagen, R., de Poel, H., Araujo. D., & Pepping, G.-J. (2012). Affordances can invite behavior: Reconsidering the relationship between affordances and agency. New Ideas in Psychology, 30,250-258. doi:10.1016/j.newideapsych.2011.12.003

Pepping, G.-J., Heijmerikx, J., & de Poel, H. J. (2011). Affordances shape pass kick behavior in association football: Effects of distance and social context. Revista de Psicologia del Deporte, 20 (2), 709-727.

van der Worp, H., van de Ark, M., Roerink, S., Pepping, G.-J., van den Akker &ndash Scheek, I., & Zwerver, J (2011). Risk factors for patellar tendinopathy: A review of the literature. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 45 (4), 380. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2011.084038.197

Toering, T., Elferink-Gemser, M. T., Jordet, G., Pepping, G.-J., Jorna C., & Visscher C. (2011). Self-regulation of practice behavior among elite youth soccer players: An exploratory study. The Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 23 (1), 110-128. doi:10.1080/10413200.2010.534544

Zwerver, J., Dekker, F., & Pepping, G.-J. (2010). Patient guided piezo-electric extracorporeal shockwave therapy as treatment for chronic severe patellar tendinopathy A pilot study. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 23(3), 111-116.

Moll, T., Jordet, G., & Pepping, G.-J. (2010). Winning a soccer penalty shootout: celebrate individual success and you will yield ultimate team success. Journal of Sports Sciences. 28(9),983&ndash992. doi:10.1080/02640414.2010.484068

Smith, J., & Pepping, G.-J. (2010). Reaction time and movement time in the actualisation of afforded action. Ecological Psychology, 22(2), 119 &ndash 149. doi:10.1080/10407411003720080

Current Research Students (HDR)
2022 - present date: Irene Jao (Ph.D.). Conceptualizing Epistemic Injustice in Global Health Ethics: Where Is Global Ethics Health Knowledge Solicited From? (Co-supervisor, ACU)
2022 - present date: Nicholas Quinn (M.Phil.) Constraint measures in Australian Rules Football: Framework for informing training design in complex sporting environments. (Principal Supervisor, ACU Brisbane)
2021 -present date: Hannah Forbes (Ph.D.) Co-operative spaces: An ecological perspective examining participation, health, and well-being in intergenerational programs (Principal Supervisor, ACU Brisbane)
2021 - present date: Mizan Ahmad (Ph.D.) Understanding the role of personality, culture, and motive: Conceptualising a framework for an effective intergenerational program (Principal Supervisor, ACU Brisbane)
2018 - present date: Courtney Porter (Ph.D.) Understanding and measuring the transfer of decision-making and related perceptual skills in expert team-sport performers (Co-Supervisor, Queensland University of Technology).
2017 - present date: Geoffrey Warman (Ph.D.) Investigating the relationship between visual exploratory behaviours, posture and physiological load in field hockey athletes. (Principal Supervisor, ACU Brisbane).

Research Grants
2020An Inter-generational Learning and Living Campus: A New Model for Healthy Senior Living and Integrated School Communities across Urban and Regional Australia (AU$1,156,152.75 CI-C). NHMRC Ideas Grant.
2019Promoting gait adaptability through organized walking in the community: a pilot study (AU$10,000 PI). ACU, FHS Research Project Grant.
2018Virtual Reality Track Cycling Simulator(AU$100k Co-Investigator). Sports Science Innovation Grant, Advance Queensland.
2018Understanding and measuring the transfer of decision-making and related perceptual skills in expert team-sport performers (AU$62,500 Co-PI). University of the Sunshine Coast/ Queensland Academy of Sport.
2017 The contribution of perceptuo-motor deficits to falls in high-risk clinical groups. ACU Undergraduate Research Internship (AU$2,000 PI). ACU.
2016 Developing Technology to Investigate Exploration and Perception-Action Expertise for Interpersonal Decision-Making in Field Hockey (PhD Scholarship, AU$105,000 PI). ACU/Queensland Academy of Sport.
2015    Improving Postural Sway Control in Elite Archers Using Biofeedback Training Tools. Australian Institute of Sport (AU$18,500 PI). QAS (Queensland Academy of Sport).
2014    Characterization of Psychological Risk, Overlap with Physical Health, and Associated Performance in Isolated, Confined, Extreme (ICE) Environments (US$950,000 Collaborator). NASA.
2007    Improving the Scientific Infrastructure for Sports, Exercise, and Health Related Research in Groningen (&euro251,000). ZonMW (the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development). UMCG, University of Groningen, the Netherlands.
2007     Effectiveness of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in Jumping Athletes with Patellar Tendinopathy (&euro250,000). ZonMW (the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development). UMCG, University of Groningen, the Netherlands.
2007    The Groningen Novice Running Project 2 (GRONORUN 2) (&euro250,000). ZonMW (the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development), program Sports, Physical Activity and Health. UMCG, University of Groningen, the Netherlands.
2006    New Care for Tendinopathy Sufferers: The Tendinopathy Clinic (&euro27,500). United Healthcare Insurers & University Medical Centre Groningen, the Netherlands.
2005    Sonic aids for physiotherapy: overcoming movement difficulties in Parkinson&rsquos disease (£5,000). Small Project Grant, University of Edinburgh Development Trust.
2004    Developing tools to assess and improve co-ordination in children with DCD (£5,000). Research Fund, University of Edinburgh Development Trust.
2003    Scottish centre for interdisciplinary research on directed movement in cells (£30,000). Carnegie Trust. Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh.
2003 Assessing co-ordination of movement in children with perceptuo-motor problems. ESRC-studentship Joanne Smith.
2002    Assessing co-ordination of movement in children with perceptuo-motor problems (£4,950). Small Project Grant, University of Edinburgh Development Trust.

I have extensive research experience in the field of embodied healthy ageing, an area of science that has its roots in the understanding of human movement and its role in ageing and performance. His research explores innovative avenues for the optimisation of environments for human performance and healthy activity. I have national, and international collaborations with multiple overseas universities and I have successfully secured research funding from local and nationally competitive funding bodies. I review manuscripts for leading journals in movement science, hold peer review editorial positions and review grants for national and international organisations. I am an executive member of the Australasian Skill Acquisition Network and have served as scientific chair and organised international research conferences. I am the research lead for the Perception-in-Action research and STOP-Falls research group at ACU.