I have an interest in understanding the underlying mechanisms of human performance and learning and development of expertise in dynamic task domains, such as sport exercise, education and medicine. I use interdisciplinary research methodologies in order study human performance from biochemistry to behaviour.

My current research falls under four headings;

Anticipation and decision-making in sports,

Action observation and exercise behaviour,

The role of cognitive processes during gait,

Interoception and exercise,

My hope is that the higher education experience give students the knowledge, confidence and autonomy to learn whatever they put their mind to. I am an active researcher with experience in professional sport and a passion for people achieving their potential. I teach sport and exercise psychology and research methods to undergraduates and master’s degree students and supervise PhD students. I specialise in skill acquisition, motor behaviour and cognitive neuroscience related to sport and physical activity. I use a range of teaching methods to actively engage students in the learning process and embed technology. I am passionate about my subject areas and see this passion develop in my students too.

Nick has a PhD from Liverpool John Moores University in experimental psychology/motor behaviour. He joined the University of Brighton in 2005 and is now a Principal Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology.

Previous consultancy projects

2016-18 East Sussex County Council (£17,000). Health Improvement Grant

2015 City Academy (£2200). The energetics of dance (with Dr Gary Brickley)

2014 Bola (£2500). Evaluating the efficacy of a cricket batting simulator

2013 British Association of Sport and Exercise Scientists (£1000). Expert statement on the effectiveness of vision training programmes with J Page, J Causer, M Wilson, R Gray  & M Williams

2011-2012 ECB (£2000). The perceptual and cognitive demands of video batting simulators

Nick supervises PhD students in the area of motor control, experimental psychology and cognitive and motor neuroscience. He is happy to be contacted to discuss potential projects on clinical exercise science, rehabilitation and sports and expert performance. There would be particular benefit to potential PhD students if their proposed programme of research fitted Dr Smeeton’s research interests.

Sensory processes during exercise, interoception, vision, audition 

Cognition and gait, dual tasks, prefrontal cortex

Action observation, visuo-motor coupling, inter- and intra-person coordination

Anticipation, decision-making, expert performance