Marc Roig
Associate Professor

Postdoc Neurophysiology. University of Copenhagen (Denmark)
PhD Rehabilitation Science. University of British Columbia (Canada)
MSc Sports and Exercise Medicine. Nottingham University (United Kingdom)
BSc Physical Therapy. University Ramon Llull (Spain)
BSc Physical Education and Sports Sciences. National Institute of Physical Education (Spain).
Clinical Exercise Physiology
Neuroplasticity
I am interested in understanding mechanisms underlying motor memory consolidation. Specifically, the neural processes taking place after motor practice, which are indispensable for the acquisition of motor skills. The basic idea of my research is to look beyond rehabilitate interventions to study the formation of motor memories once the physical treatment has ended. I am also interested in developing new strategies (e.g. cardiovascular exercise) to optimize the consolidation of motor memories. I am also studying how, after being encoded, motor memories can be either enhanced or disrupted when different memory processes coincide after motor practice. I am particularly interested in understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying memory interference and how this knowledge can be used to optimize physical therapy practice in older populations. My goal is to improve motor function in people with mobility deficits such as patients with stroke or Parkinson's disease.
Memory
Neuroplasticity
Exercise
Neurorehabilitation
2022
Loprinzi P, Roig M, Tomporowski PD, Javadi AH, Kelemen WL. Effects of acute exercise on memory: considerations of exercise intensity, post-exercise recovery period and aerobic endurance. Memory and Cognition. 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36401115/
Wiley E, Moncion K, Noguchi KS, Moncion K, D’Isabella N, Shkredova DA, Fang H, Richardson J, MacDermid J, Rodrigues L, Roig M, Tang A. The association between global cognitive function and walking capacity in individuals with broad ranges of cognitive and physical function: are there sex differences? Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36188989/
Rodrigues L, Moncion K, Eng JJ, Noguchi KS, Wiley E, De Las Heras B, Sweet NS, Fung J, MacKay-Lyons M, Nelson AJ, Medeiros D, Crozier J, Thiel A, Tang A, Roig M. Intensity matters in stroke recovery: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial exercise intervention for individuals with chronic stroke. Trials. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35610659/
Moncion K, Pryzbek M, Noguchi KS, Roig M, McDonnald MJ, Richardson J, Tang A. Cardiorespiratory fitness benefits of long-term maintenance phase cardiac rehabilitation in males and females: a retrospective cohort study. Physiotherapy Canada. In press.
Moncion K, Allison E, Al-Khazraji B, MacDonald MJ, Roig M, Tang A. What are the effects of exercise on cerebrovascular physiology following stroke? A systematic review. Journal of Applied Physiology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35482325/
Roig M, Cristini J, Parwanta Z, Rodrigues L, Ayotte B, Nepveu JF, Huber R, Carrier J, Steib S, Youngstedt S, Wright D. Exercising the sleepy-ing brain: exercise, sleep, and lack of sleep on memory. Exercise and Sport Science Reviews. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34669627/
2021
Loprinzi P, Roig M, Etnier J, Tomporowski PD, Voss M. Acute and chronic exercise on human memory: what we know and where to go from here. Journal of Clinical Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34768329/
Moncion K, Rodrigues L, MacKay-Lyons M, Eng J, Billinger S, Ploughman M, Bailey D, Trivino M, Roig M, Tang A. COVID-19 pandemic: guidance for current and future aerobic exercise-based stroke rehabilitation. Neurorehabilitation & Neural Repair. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34711094/
Noguchi KS, Moncion K, Wiley E, McDonnald MJ, Richardson J, Roig M, Tang A. The effect of acute aerobic exercise on arterial stiffness in individuals with chronic stroke. Frontiers of Physiology. 12:666171. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34079473/
Hung A, Roig M, Sabiston CM, Swardfager W, Cheng J. Aerobic fitness does not modify exercise effects on motor skill learning. Scientific Reports. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33686100/
Cristini J, Weiss M, De Las Heras B, Medina Rincón A, Dagher A, Postuma RB, Huber R, Carrier J, Roig M. The effects of exercise on sleep quality in persons with Parkinson’s Disease: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Sleep Medicine Reviews. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32987321/
Edwards J, Black SE, Boe S, Boyd L, Chaves A, Chen R, Dukelow S, Fung J, Kirton A, Meltzer J, Moussavi Z, Neva J, Paquette C, Ploughman M, Rajji T, Roig M, Tremblay F, Thiel A. Canadian platform for trials in non-invasive brain stimulation (CanStim) consensus recommendations for the use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in stroke rehabilitation trials for upper extremity motor recovery. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33410386/
2020
De Las Heras B, Rodrigues L, Cristini J, Weiss M, Prats-Puig A, Roig M. Does the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met Polymorphism Modulate the Effects of Physical Activity and Exercise on Cognition? Neuroscientist. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33300425/
Calverley TA, Ogoh S, Marley C, Steggall M, Marchi N, Brassard P, Lucas SJE, Cotter JD, Roig M, Ainslie PN, Wisloff U, Bailey DM. HIITing the brain with exercise; mechanisms, consequences and practical recommendations. Journal of Physiology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32347544
Beck MM, Grandjean MU, Hartmand S, Spedden E, Christiansen L, Roig M, Lundbye-Jensen J. Acute exercise protects newly formed motor memories against r-TMS induced interference targeting the primary motor cortex. Neuroscience. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32311411.
Chen J, Roig M, Wright DL. Exercise reduces competition between procedural and declarative memory systems. eNeuro. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32616624.
Roig M. Exercise, brain plasticity and sleep: slowing the neurodegenerative effects of Parkinson’s Disease. Neurodiem. https://www.neurodiem.ca/news/exercise-brain-plasticity-and-sleep-slowin....
De Las Heras B, Li O, Rodrigues L, Nepveu JF, Roig M. Exercise improves video game performance: A win-win situation. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31977638.
2019
Christiansen L, Thomas, Beck MM, Pingel J, Andersen JD, Mang CS, Madsen MAJ, Roig M, Lundbye-Jensen J. The beneficial effect of acute exercise on motor memory consolidation is modulated by dopaminergic gene profile. Journal of Clinical Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31035583.
De Las Heras B, Li O, Rodrigues L, Nepveu JF, Roig M. A single bout of exercise improves accuracy in videogaming: a pilot study. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 2019. 51:5. Suppl.
Ghosh A, Dal Maso F, Roig M, Mitsis GD, Boudrias MH. Unfolding the effects of acute cardiovascular exercise on neural correlates of motor learning using convolutional neural networks. Frontiers of Human Neuroscience. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31798403/.
2018
Centeno C, Medeiros D, Beck MM, Lugassy L, Hernandez D, Nepveu JF, Roig M. The effects of aging on cortico-spinal excitability and motor memory consolidation. Neurobiology of Aging. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30053741.
Jo JS, Reichman S, Roig M, Wright DL. The protective effects of acute cardiovascular exercise on the interference of procedural memory. Psychological Research. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29637259.
Roig M, De Las Heras B. Acute cardiovascular exercise does not enhance locomotor learning in people with stroke. Journal of Physiology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29603752.
Dal Maso F, Desormeau B, Boudrias MH, Roig M. Acute cardiovascular exercise promotes functional neuroplastic changes in corticomotor networks during the early stages of motor memory consolidation. Neuroimage. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29555428.
Crozier J, Roig M, Eng JJ, MacKay-Lyons M, Ploughman M, Fung J, Giacomantonio N, Bailey D, Sweet S, Thiel A, Tang A. High-intensity interval training in stroke: an opportunity to promote neurorecovery and cardiovascular health in stroke rehabilitation. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29676956.
2017
Nepveu JF, Thiel A, Tang A, Fung J, Lundbye-Jensen J, Boyd LA, Roig M. A single bout of high-intensity interval training improves motor skill retention in individuals with stroke. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28691645.
Lundbye-Jensen J, Skriver K, Nielsen JB, Roig M. Intense exercise improves long-term motor memory in pre-adolescent children. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28473761.
Thomas R, Flindtgaard M, Skriver K, Geertsen SS, Christiansen L, Johnsen LK, Ritz C, Roig M, Lundbye-Jensen J. Acute exercise and motor memory consolidation: does exercise type play a role? Scandinavian Journal of Sports Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27790760.
2016
Ostadan F, Centeno CP, Daloze JF, Frenn M, Lundbye-Jensen J, Roig M. Changes in corticospinal excitability during consolidation predict acute exercise-induced off-line gains in procedural memory. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27773595.
Thomas R, Rasmussen R, Beck M, Geertsen SS, Christiansen L, Ritz C, Roig M, Lundbye-Jensen J. Acute exercise and motor memory consolidation: the role of exercise timing. Neural Plasticity. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/6205452.
Thomas R, Johnsen LK, Geertsen SS, Christiansen L, Roig M, Lundbye-Jensen J. Acute exercise and motor memory consolidation: the role of exercise intensity. PLoS ONE. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0159589.
Roig M, Thomas R, Mang CS, Snow NJ, Boyd LA, Lundbye-Jensen J. Time-dependent effects of exercise on memory. Exercise & Sport Science Reviews. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26872291.
Snow NJ, Mang CS, Roig M, McDonnell M, Campbell K, Boyd LA. Effects of an acute bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on motor learning in a continuous tracking task. PLoS ONE. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0150039.
2014
Roig M, Rosenbaum A, Lundbye-Jensen J, Nielsen JB. Ageing increases the susceptibility to motor memory interference and reduces off-line gains in motor skill learning. Neurobiology of Aging. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24680325.
Skriver K, Roig M, Lundbye-Jensen J, Pingel J, Helge JW, Kiens B, Nielsen JB. Acute exercise improves motor memory: exploring potential biomarkers. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25128877.
2013
Roig M, Nordbrandt S, Geertsen SS, Nielsen JB. The effects of cardiovascular exercise on human memory: a review with meta-analysis. Neuroscience Biobehavioural Reviews. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23806438.
Maffullietti N, Roig M, Karatzanos E, Nanas S. Effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation for preserving muscle mass and function in critically ill patients. BMC Medicine. 11:137.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23701811/
Roig M, Skriver K, Lundbye-Jensen J, Kiens B, Nielsen JB. A single bout of exercise improves motor memory. PLoS ONE. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22973462.