Researcher

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, Neurosciences

Biography

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

v


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
 

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Location

NeuRA Villas

Contact

+61432296921
+61432296921