Ryan L. Olson, Ph.D.

Behavioral neuroscience researcher examining the effects of healthy behaviors on mental health, cognition, and brain function

Denton, Texas, United States of America

Research Expertise

Behavioral Neuroscience
Sport & Exercise Psychophysiology
Cognition
Concussion
Mental Health
Brain Function
Autonomic Function
Sport, Exercise, and Health Psychology

About

Dr. Olson is a highly skilled and experienced behavioral neuroscience researcher with expertise in kinesiology, nutrition, meditation, mental health, cognition, and brain function. He received his Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from Rutgers University in 2016 where he primarily studied the influence of exercise and meditation on depression, cognition, and brain health. Prior to that, he completed his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology & Health Promotion from the University of Wyoming in 2010 where he focused on the effects of exercise on stress reactivity and autonomic function. Throughout his career, he has conducted extensive research utilizing psychophysiological techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG) to assess event-related potentials (ERP) and electrocardiography to measure heart rate variability (HRV) and pre-ejection period (PEP). Additionally, Dr. Olson is trained in mental health screenings, surveys and questionnaires, IQ testing, cognitive testing, exercise testing and prescription, meditation, metabolic/maximal fitness testing, signal processing, accelerometry, ecological momentary assessment, and data analysis. Common study designs he uses include reviews, meta-analysis, cross sectional, acute/chronic experimental, feasibility, and randomized-controlled trials. Dr. Olson is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion, and Recreation with a dual-appointment within the Department of Psychology at the University of North Texas. He established the UNT Sport and Exercise Psychophysiology Lab in 2016 where he currently serves as Lab Director.

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Publications

MAP training: combining meditation and aerobic exercise reduces depression and rumination while enhancing synchronized brain activity
Translational Psychiatry
2016
Cognitive Function During Low-Intensity Walking: A Test of the Treadmill Workstation
Journal of Physical Activity and Health
2014
A randomized trial of aerobic exercise on cognitive control in major depression
Clinical Neurophysiology
2017
Physical Education’s Contribution to Daily Physical Activity Among Middle School Youth
Pediatric Exercise Science
2012
Mental and Physical (MAP) Training: A neurogenesis-inspired intervention that enhances health in humans
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
2014
The relation of aerobic fitness to cognitive control and heart rate variability: A neurovisceral integration study
Biological Psychology
2014
Neurophysiological and behavioral correlates of cognitive control during low and moderate intensity exercise
NeuroImage
2016
Dose–Response and Time Course Effects of Acute Resistance Exercise on Executive Function
Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
2016
Do sex differences in rumination explain sex differences in depression?
Journal of Neuroscience Research
2016
Rumination in major depressive disorder is associated with impaired neural activation during conflict monitoring
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
2015
Do sport-related concussions result in long-term cognitive impairment? A review of event-related potential research
International Journal of Psychophysiology
2018
Using event-related potentials to study the effects of chronic exercise on cognitive function
International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
2016
Associations of depression severity with heart rate and heart rate variability in young adults across normative and clinical populations
International Journal of Psychophysiology
2019
Lower resting cardiac autonomic balance in young adults with current major depression
Psychophysiology
2019
Active Workstations Do Not Impair Executive Function in Young and Middle-Age Adults
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
2017
A history of sport-related concussion is associated with sustained deficits in conflict and error monitoring
International Journal of Psychophysiology
2018
Does aerobic fitness moderate age-related cognitive slowing? Evidence from the P3 and lateralized readiness potentials
International Journal of Psychophysiology
2020
Psychophysiological and ergogenic effects of music in swimming
Comparative Exercise Physiology
2015
Acute aerobic exercise increases respiratory sinus arrythmia reactivity and recovery to a sad film among individuals at risk for depression
International Journal of Psychophysiology
2020
Effects of Low-Intensity Aerobic Exercise on Neurophysiological and Behavioral Correlates of Cognitive Function
Behavioral Sciences
2023
Prescribing Exercise for Mental Health
The Exercise Effect on Mental Health
2018
Neuropsychological Assessment of Sports-Related Concussion: Pediatric Challenges
Concussions in Athletics
2014

Education

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Ph.D., Nutritional Sciences / 2016

New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America

University of Wyoming

B.S., Kinesiology & Health Promotion / 2010

Laramie, Wyoming, United States of America

Experience

University of North Texas

Assistant Professor / 2016Present

Rutgers University

Research Assistant / 20102016

University of Wyoming

Research Assistant / 20052010

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