HongKongDoll

Dr. Madhura Phansikar

Education & Training

2021: PhD and MS in Kinesiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

2017: MA in Psychology, University of Mumbai, India

2015: BA in Psychology, St. Xavier’s College, Autonomous, Mumbai, India

Teaching

Teaching Philosophy:

My teaching philosophy is grounded in the belief that education should help students develop professional expertise while also learning how to navigate and grow through the learning process. I emphasize three core principles in my teaching: applying concepts to real-world situations, recognizing and supporting students’ individual strengths and approaches to learning, and creating a classroom environment that emphasizes growth and support. I use experiential activities, discussion, and applied examples to help students move beyond memorization and develop meaningful conceptual understanding and critical-thinking skills. Ultimately, I hope to create a learning environment in which students feel challenged and supported as they build the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to apply what they learn beyond the classroom.

Frequently Taught Courses

KSR 1600: Introduction to Resistance Training

KSR 3720: Sport and Exercise Psychology

KSR 5270: Neuromuscular Physiology

Research & Creative Interests

My research focuses on understanding how physical activity and mind-body interventions can support cognitive and psychosocial well-being across middle-aged and older adulthood and in populations at increased risk for cognitive decline, such as individuals with multiple sclerosis. I am particularly interested in the behavioral and psychological mechanisms through which exercise, yoga, and mindfulness-based interventions influence cognition, stress, and quality of life. Additionally, I am interested in the psychological factors that influence adherence to these lifestyle interventions. My work uses both intervention-based and data-driven approaches to better understand individual differences in treatment response and health outcomes.

• Mind-body interventions for cognitive and psychosocial well-being
• Physical activity and cognition in Multiple Sclerosis
• Data-driven approaches to aging and health research

Publications

Selected Publications:

Phansikar, M., Fisher, M. E., Duraney, E. J., Shankar, A., McPherson, N., Canter, R., Aghamoosa, S., Andridge, R., & Prakash, R. S. (2026). Efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction for improving fluid and everyday cognitive functioning in older adults: A randomized controlled trial. Mindfulness.

Shankar, A., Phansikar, M., McPherson, N., Gorka, A. X., Way, B., Betzel, R., & Prakash, R. S. (2026). Biopsychosocial and demographic predictors of functional brain network specialization and segregation across the adult lifespan. Neurobiology of Aging, 166, 90–102.

Prakash, R. S., Phansikar, M., Fisher, M., Dove, S., Andridge, R., Scharre, D., Wright, K., Head, E., O’Callaghan, C., Meyerson, Q. K., Duraney, E. J., Schroeder, M., Chakrapani, N., Grant, E., Jones, T., Teng, J., Esterman, M., Smyth, J. M., Gregoire, T., & Malhas, R. (in press). Feasibility of Internet-Based Mind-Body Training (iMBT) for Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 15, e86276.

Fisher, M. E., Phansikar, M., McPherson, N., Duraney, E. J., McKenna, M. R., Shankar, A., Blau, C., Canter, R., Roberts, C., Aghamoosa, S., Wright, K. D., Andridge, R., & Prakash, R. S. (2026). Effects of mindfulness training on sustained attention and mind-wandering in older adults: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 81(2), gbaf235.

Phansikar, M., Duraney, E. J., & Prakash, R. S. (2025). Psychosocial correlates of adherence to mind-body interventions. Prevention Science, 1–10.

Phansikar, M., Duraney, E. J., Manglani, H. R., Shankar, A., Roberts, C., Andridge, R., Nicholas, J. A., Petosa, R., & Prakash, R. S. (2024). TRACking Health Behavior in People with Multiple Sclerosis: Effects of a randomized trial on physical activity and working memory. Rehabilitation Psychology.

Phansikar, M., Manglani, H. R., Duraney, E. J., McKenna, M. R., Canter, R., Nicholas, J., Andridge, R., & Prakash, R. S. (2023). Accelerometry measures of physical activity and sedentary behavior: Associations with cognitive functioning in Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 79, 104963.

Phansikar, M., Gothe, N., Hernandez, R., Lara-Cinisomo, S., & Mullen, S. P. (2023). Feasibility and impact of a remote flow-based, moderate-intensity yoga intervention on stress and executive functioning among working adults: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 46, 720–731.

Ashrafi, S. A., Phansikar, M., & Wilund, K. (2023). Subjective thirst in relation to interdialytic weight gain: A systematic review of observational studies. Blood Purification, 52(2), 201–209.

Phansikar, M., & Mullen, S. P. (2022). Cognitive and psychosocial effects of an acute sun salutation intervention among adults with stress. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 22, 100431