
My Expertise
microneurography - efferent and afferent nerve activity
sympathetic nervous system
somatosensory neurophysiology
neural control in muscle fatigue
neural control of blood pressure
exercise physiology
autonomic control in chronic fatigue syndrome
Keywords
Fields of Research (FoR)
Exercise physiology, NeurosciencesBiography
Dr Boulton is an early career researcher (PhD 2018) with a strong background in exercise physiology and neurophysiology. He is one of the most experienced and skilful microneurographers in Australia. After receiving an Academic Excellence Scholarship (Western Sydney University, WSU), Dr Boulton was listed on the Dean’s Merit List (Top 2% across the School of Science and Health, WSU). Following this, he was awarded both the University Medal...view more
Dr Boulton is an early career researcher (PhD 2018) with a strong background in exercise physiology and neurophysiology. He is one of the most experienced and skilful microneurographers in Australia. After receiving an Academic Excellence Scholarship (Western Sydney University, WSU), Dr Boulton was listed on the Dean’s Merit List (Top 2% across the School of Science and Health, WSU). Following this, he was awarded both the University Medal and Dean’s Medal for excellence in research and education for his achievements in their Honours and undergraduate degree (Sport and Exercise Science).
Dr Boulton has attracted grant funding, worth approximately $1.64 mil from prestigious organisations. In 2023, he was a CI for a NHMRC Ideas Grant 2028446 to explore neurophysiological effects of sensory technology for balance rehabilitation. Another relevant successful grant source has been from The Mason Foundation, exploring the role of the metaboreflex in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Dr Boulton works in the areas of neurophysiology, integrative physiology and neurological dysfunction in pain, fatigue, and exercise. He holds conjoint research and lecturing positions at the University of New South Wales and Neuroscience Research Australia and currently supervises 2 PhD students.
Dr Boulton has developed original techniques and protocols to measure and analyse nerve activity, which is important for many innovative studies. Dr Boulton has become a renowned microneurographer, utilising innovative approaches to be the first to record nerve activity in CFS, one of only a few to directly record nerve activity to contracting muscle, and successfully carried out sympathetic nerve activity-fMRI coupled experiments to identify origins of sympathetic nerve activity in the brain, central dysfunction in hypertension, and chronic pain. He has applied this unique skillset within numerous projects and has substantial experience in assessing all types of nerve activity in healthy and clinical populations.
My Grants
Grants and Awards - total $1 639 285
2025 CAPEX, Office of the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research, Enterprise and Global), Western Sydney University, Chief Investigator (CI), $74,000, Blood pressure monitoring system
2024 Research Infrastructure Scheme (RIS), UNSW, Chief Investigator (CI), $55,750, AI-Enabled, portable, and versatile ultrasound system for movement, sensory physiology and pain research
2023 NHMRC Ideas Grant 2028446, Chief Investigator (CIH), $864,535, Losing touch: Exploring the neurophysiological effects of bionic sensory insole technology for balance rehabilitation
2022 Mason Foundation, Chief Investigator (CIB), Philanthropic, (APP ID: MASONMECFS076) $285,000 over 3 years. Do exaggerated muscle metaboreflex responses to physical activity underpin chronic fatigue syndrome?
2019 Mason Foundation ID: MAS2018F00023, Associate Investigator, $360,000 over 2 years, The role of muscle sympathetic nerve activity in CFS symptomatology
My Qualifications
2013-2017 PhD – The control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity to a contracting muscle group in humans, Western Sydney University
2012 Honours (Health Science) Class I – Neurocardiovascular and integrative physiology, Western Sydney University
2009 – 2011 Bachelor of Applied Science (Sport and Exercise Science) – Distinction, Western Sydney University
My Awards
University Medal (graduate bachelor’s degree with distinction and Honours with Class I), Western Sydney University 2013
Dean’s Medal (Top 2% of graduating students in the School of Science and Health), Western Sydney University 2012
Aspire Future Leaders program (elite professional development), Western Sydney University 2009-2012
Dean’s Merit List (Top 2% of students across the School of Science and Health), Western Sydney University 2009-2011
Academic Excellence Scholarship, Western Sydney University 2009-2012
My Research Activities
autonomic control in chronic fatigue syndrome and long covid
neurophysiological effects of bionic sensory insole technology
neurophysiological and proteomic mechanisms of pain
cardiovascular control at rest and in exercise
neurophysiology of fatigue
My Research Supervision
Supervision keywords
Areas of supervision
integrative physiology
exercise physiology
cardiovascular control
muscle fatigue
chronic fatigue syndrome and long covid
somatosensory physiology
transcutaneous vagal nerve activity
microneurography
Currently supervising
2 PhD candidates (one in integrative physiology - auntonomic control in chronic fatigue syndrome and long covid; one in neurophysiological and proteomic mechanisms of pain)
My Engagement
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My Teaching
clinical physiology
exercise physiology
cardiovascular physiology, muscle physiology, neurophysiology, respiratory physiology
introduction to physiology, advanced physiology
introduction, advanced and functional anatomy
problem based learning tutorials (PBL) - medicine