Timothy Welsh, University of Toronto

Research

Read how they describe their research on their University of Toronto profile.

Sensorimotor control Sensorimotor neuroscience Cognitive behaviour Cognitive sciences Physical, environmental and cognitive ergonomics Virtual and augmented reality, and related simulations Human computer interaction

Latest papers

Longitudinal associations of cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity with changes in cognitive function in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: a prospective matched-control study.
Cancer causes & control : CCC · 2026
Brain-behavior correlates of rhythmic timing and auditory-motor synchronization in children with developmental coordination disorder: an EEG study.
Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2025
Children with developmental coordination disorder display atypical interhemispheric connectivity during conscious and subconscious rhythmic auditory-motor synchronization.
Scientific reports · 2024

All 11 publications

Latest funding

Beyond the Finish Line: Body image mechanisms for sport participation and performance
SSHRC · 2025 · Co-investigator
$205,010
Developing a framework and translating motor neuroscience techniques to clinical and community practices
CIHR · 2025 · Co-investigator
$9,940
Shaping Futures: Body Image Education to Empower Youth
SSHRC · 2024 · Co-investigator
$62,050

All 17 grants and awards

11 publications.

01

Longitudinal associations of cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity with changes in cognitive function in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: a prospective matched-control study.

Xiao H, Warner E, Ryan J, Sabiston C, Ghazinour G, O'Rourke S, Moore D, Welsh T, Trinh L

Cancer causes & control : CCC2026

DOI: 10.1007/s10552-026-02165-w PMID: 41981302

02

Brain-behavior correlates of rhythmic timing and auditory-motor synchronization in children with developmental coordination disorder: an EEG study.

Pranjić M, Leung J, Tam KL, Polatajko H, Welsh T, Chau T, Thaut M

Frontiers in human neuroscience2025

DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2025.1602580 PMID: 40538594

03

Children with developmental coordination disorder display atypical interhemispheric connectivity during conscious and subconscious rhythmic auditory-motor synchronization.

Pranjić M, Leung J, Tam KL, Polatajko H, Welsh T, Chau T, Thaut M

Scientific reports2024

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-69807-4 PMID: 39198494

04

The initiation of a hand grip is delayed by silently reading an incompatible syllable.

Hajj J, De Nil L, Welsh T, Tremblay L

Psychological research2023

DOI: 10.1007/s00426-023-01828-6 PMID: 37079091

05

Body-related shame disrupts attentional focus over time in adolescence.

Vani MF, Lucibello KM, Welsh T, Sabiston CM

Journal of adolescence2023

DOI: 10.1002/jad.12216 PMID: 37439039

06

Biological motion elicits between-person Inhibition of Return in temporal and spatial movement parameters.

Kritikos A, Chandler-Mather N, Sparks S, Welsh T

Acta psychologica2022Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103747 PMID: 36148738

07

Biological motion and animacy belief induce similar effects on involuntary shifts of attention.

Chandler-Mather N, Welsh T, Sparks S, Kritikos A

Attention, perception & psychophysics2020

DOI: 10.3758/s13414-019-01843-z PMID: 31414364

08

Time for Action: An Introduction to the Special Issue.

Song JH, Welsh T

Attention, perception & psychophysics2019Senior author

DOI: 10.3758/s13414-019-01888-0 PMID: 31654373

09

Talking heads or talking eyes? Effects of head orientation and sudden onset gaze cues on attention capture.

van der Wel RP, Welsh T, Böckler A

Attention, perception & psychophysics2018

DOI: 10.3758/s13414-017-1462-y PMID: 29204867

10

Design of embodied interfaces for engaging spatial cognition.

Clifton PG, Chang JS, Yeboah G, Doucette A, Chandrasekharan S, Nitsche M, Welsh T, Mazalek A

Cognitive research: principles and implications2016

DOI: 10.1186/s41235-016-0032-5 PMID: 28180175

Beyond the Finish Line: Body image mechanisms for sport participation and performance

Co-investigatorSSHRC2025Insight Grants

Principal investigators: Sabiston, Catherine M.

$205,010

Developing a framework and translating motor neuroscience techniques to clinical and community practices

Co-investigatorCIHR2025Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Principal investigators: Kraeutner, Sarah

Keywords: Diagnostic; Knowledge Translation; Motor Neuroscience; Movement Assessment; Movement Tracking; Screening Tools

$9,940

Shaping Futures: Body Image Education to Empower Youth

Co-investigatorSSHRC2024Partnership Development Grants

Principal investigators: Sabiston, Catherine M.

Keywords: body image; self-compassion; well-being; school; youth

$62,050

Mindfulness, meditation, and movement: A partnership to optimize student well-being

Co-investigatorSSHRC2023Partnership Engage Grants

Principal investigators: Sabiston, Catherine M.

Keywords: partnership; emerging adults; well-being; mindfulness meditation; physical activity

$63,228

Miqus hybrid video cameras to integrate markerless motion tracking into a state-of-art motion analysis laboratory

Co-investigatorNSERC2023Research Tools and Instruments

Principal investigators: Burkhart, Timothy

$112,179

The Planning and Control of Movements in Social Contexts

Principal investigatorNSERC2022Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Welsh, Timothy

$117,000

Exploration of the Mechanisms and Impacts of Body Image in Virtual Reality

Co-investigatorSSHRC2022New Frontiers in Research Fund - Exploration

Principal investigators: Sabiston, Catherine

Keywords: body image; virtual reality; embodiment; motor performance; motor control; obesity stigma; weight stereotypes

$125,000

Planning and Control of Actions in Unmediated, Augmented, and Virtual Environments

Co-investigatorSSHRC2021Insight Grants

Principal investigators: Mazalek, Alexandra

Keywords: interaction design; virtual reality; augmented reality; digital media; motor cognition; learning; training

$150,450

Body surveillance and body-related self-conscious emotions, and deficits in cognitive and motor performance

Co-investigatorSSHRC2021Sport Participation Research Initiative

Principal investigators: Sabiston, Catherine M.

Keywords: body image; self-conscious emotions; performance; sport

$15,000

Body surveillance and body-related self-conscious emotions, and deficits in cognitive and motor performance

Co-investigatorSSHRC2021Insight Grants

Principal investigators: Sabiston, Catherine M.

Keywords: body image; self-conscious emotions; performance; sport

$54,700

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Bloorview Research Institute
Rotman Research Institute
Department of Speech-Language Pathology
Other

Co-authors at University of Toronto, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Tom Chau

Bloorview Research Institute

2 shared papers, latest 2025

Luc De Nil

Department of Speech-Language Pathology

1 shared papers, latest 2023

Jennifer Ryan

Rotman Research Institute

1 shared papers, latest 2026

Catherine Sabiston

Faculty

1 shared papers, latest 2026

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2022

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Sensorimotor control Dear Professor Welsh, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Longitudinal associations of cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity with changes in cognitive function in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: a prospective matched-control study." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "The Planning and Control of Movements in Social Contexts" (2022), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

Timothy Welsh

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Longitudinal associations of cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity with changes in cognitive function in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: a prospective matched-control study.

Brain-behavior correlates of rhythmic timing and auditory-motor synchronization in children with developmental coordination disorder: an EEG study.

Children with developmental coordination disorder display atypical interhemispheric connectivity during conscious and subconscious rhythmic auditory-motor synchronization.

The initiation of a hand grip is delayed by silently reading an incompatible syllable.

Body-related shame disrupts attentional focus over time in adolescence.

Biological motion elicits between-person Inhibition of Return in temporal and spatial movement parameters.

Biological motion and animacy belief induce similar effects on involuntary shifts of attention.

Time for Action: An Introduction to the Special Issue.

Talking heads or talking eyes? Effects of head orientation and sudden onset gaze cues on attention capture.

Design of embodied interfaces for engaging spatial cognition.

Beyond the Finish Line: Body image mechanisms for sport participation and performance

Developing a framework and translating motor neuroscience techniques to clinical and community practices

Shaping Futures: Body Image Education to Empower Youth

Mindfulness, meditation, and movement: A partnership to optimize student well-being

Miqus hybrid video cameras to integrate markerless motion tracking into a state-of-art motion analysis laboratory

The Planning and Control of Movements in Social Contexts

Exploration of the Mechanisms and Impacts of Body Image in Virtual Reality

Planning and Control of Actions in Unmediated, Augmented, and Virtual Environments

Body surveillance and body-related self-conscious emotions, and deficits in cognitive and motor performance

Body surveillance and body-related self-conscious emotions, and deficits in cognitive and motor performance

Frequent collaborators

Michael Thaut

Tom Chau

Linda Trinh

Luc De Nil

Daniel Moore

Jennifer Ryan

Luc Tremblay

Catherine Sabiston