Maria Ekblom

About me
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About me

Bachelor of Physiotherapy, 1998, Linköping University
PhD, 2004, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet

Research

My research concerns exercise neurophysiology, i.e. how neural control of
movement is affected by fatigue, learning and exercise, and how exercise and
our habitual physical activity patterns affect neurophysiological mechanisms
underlying brain health.

Teaching

My teaching mainly concerns the neurophysiological basis of motor control and
learning, and methods for investigating this. My teaching also concerns
biomechanics and research design.

Articles

Article: ACTA PAEDIATRICA. 2023;112(5):1011-1018

Effects of prolonged sitting and physical activity breaks on measures of arterial stiffness and cortisol in adolescents.

Fernström M; Heiland EG; Kjellenberg K; Ponten M; Tarassova O; Nyberg G; Helgadottir B; Ekblom MM; Ekblom Ö
Article: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM. 2023;324(5):E390-E401

Insulin resistance after a 3-day fast is associated with an increased capacity of skeletal muscle to oxidize lipids.

Blackwood SJ; Horwath O; Moberg M; Pontén M; Apró W; Ekblom MM; Larsen FJ; Katz A
Article: BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH. 2022;430:113926

Acute effects of physical activity patterns on plasma cortisol and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in relation to corticospinal excitability.

Ekblom MM; Bojsen-Møller E; Blom V; Tarassova O; Moberg M; Pontén M; Wang R; Ekblom O
Article: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM. 2022;107(7):E2729-E2737

Extreme Variations in Muscle Fiber Composition Enable Detection of Insulin Resistance and Excessive Insulin Secretion.

Blackwood SJ; Horwath O; Moberg M; Pontén M; Apró W; Ekblom MM; Larsen FJ; Katz A
Article: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH. 2022;22(1):1082

The effect of two multi-component behavior change interventions on cognitive functions.

Bojsen-Møller E; Wang R; Nilsson J; Heiland EG; Boraxbekk C-J; Kallings LV; Ekblom M
Article: BLOOD. 2022;139(20):3040-3057

Critical role of Lama4 for hematopoiesis regeneration and acute myeloid leukemia progression.

Cai H; Kondo M; Sandhow L; Xiao P; Johansson A-S; Sasaki T; Zawacka-Pankau J; Tryggvason K; Ungerstedt J; Walfridsson J; Ekblom M; Qian H
Article: PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORT AND EXERCISE. 2022;60:102171

Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity with latent cognitive abilities in older adults

Nilsson J; Ekblom M; Lovden M
Article: TRIALS. 2022;23(1):22

ABBaH teens: Activity Breaks for Brain Health in adolescents: study protocol for a randomized crossover trial.

Heiland EG; Kjellenberg K; Tarassova O; Fernström M; Nyberg G; Ekblom MM; Helgadottir B; Ekblom Ö
Article: FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH. 2022;10:1035521

The interrelationship between physical activity intensity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and executive function in middle-aged adults: An observational study of office workers.

Wang R; Ekblom MM; Arvidsson D; Fridolfsson J; Börjesson M; Ekblom Ö
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2021;19(1):266

The Role of Executive Function in the Effectiveness of Multi-Component Interventions Targeting Physical Activity Behavior in Office Workers.

Wang R; Blom V; Nooijen CFJ; Kallings LV; Ekblom Ö; Ekblom MM
Article: BMC PSYCHIATRY. 2021;21(1):629

Inattention and hyperactivity symptoms in childhood predict physical activity in adolescence.

Selinus EN; Durbeej N; Zhan Y; Lichtenstein P; Lundström S; Ekblom M
Article: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 2021;11(1):16724

Higher VO2max is associated with thicker cortex and lower grey matter blood flow in older adults.

Olivo G; Nilsson J; Garzón B; Lebedev A; Wåhlin A; Tarassova O; Ekblom MM; Lövdén M
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2021;18(15):7999

Bi-Directional, Day-to-Day Associations between Objectively-Measured Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep among Office Workers.

Heiland EG; Ekblom Ö; Bojsen-Møller E; Larisch L-M; Blom V; Ekblom MM
Article: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH. 2021;21(1):1048

The effects on self-efficacy, motivation and perceived barriers of an intervention targeting physical activity and sedentary behaviours in office workers: a cluster randomized control trial.

Blom V; Drake E; Kallings LV; Ekblom MM; Nooijen CFJ
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2021;18(8):4191

Effects of Two Randomized and Controlled Multi-Component Interventions Focusing On 24-Hour Movement Behavior among Office Workers: A Compositional Data Analysis.

Larisch L-M; Bojsen-Møller E; Nooijen CFJ; Blom V; Ekblom M; Ekblom Ö; Arvidsson D; Fridolfsson J; Hallman DM; Mathiassen SE; Wang R; Kallings LV
Article: JOURNAL OF STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING RESEARCH. 2021;35(2):428-435

Abdominal Muscle Activation During Common Modifications of the Trunk Curl-up Exercise.

Crommert ME; Bjerkefors A; Tarassova O; Ekblom MM
Article: NEUROIMAGE. 2021;225:117500

Immediate effects of a single session of physical exercise on cognition and cerebral blood flow: A randomized controlled study of older adults.

Olivo G; Nilsson J; Garzón B; Lebedev A; Wåhlin A; Tarassova O; Ekblom M; Lövdén M
Article: FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE. 2021;15:719509

Frequent, Short Physical Activity Breaks Reduce Prefrontal Cortex Activation but Preserve Working Memory in Middle-Aged Adults: ABBaH Study.

Heiland EG; Tarassova O; Fernström M; English C; Ekblom Ö; Ekblom MM
Article: EXPERIMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH. 2020;238(11):2497-2506

The effect of breaking up prolonged sitting on paired associative stimulation-induced plasticity.

Bojsen-Møller E; Ekblom MM; Tarassova O; Dunstan DW; Ekblom O
Article: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH. 2020;20(1):1329

The effectiveness of multi-component interventions targeting physical activity or sedentary behaviour amongst office workers: a three-arm cluster randomised controlled trial.

Nooijen CFJ; Blom V; Ekblom Ö; Heiland EG; Larisch L-M; Bojsen-Møller E; Ekblom MM; Kallings LV
Article: BMJ OPEN. 2020;10(7):e037659

Unfavourable sedentary and physical activity behaviour before and after retirement: a population-based cohort study.

Ter Hoeve N; Ekblom M; Galanti MR; Forsell Y; Nooijen CFJ
Article: JOURNAL OF STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING RESEARCH. 2020;34(6):1600-1608

Post Activation Potentiation and Concentric Contraction Performance: Effects on Rate of Torque Development, Neuromuscular Efficiency, and Tensile Properties.

Gago P; Zoellner A; Cézar Lima da Silva J; Ekblom MM
Article: BRITISH JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE. 2020;54(10):599-604

Effects of moderately increased testosterone concentration on physical performance in young women: a double blind, randomised, placebo controlled study.

Hirschberg AL; Elings Knutsson J; Helge T; Godhe M; Ekblom M; Bermon S; Ekblom B
Article: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY. 2020;128(5):1240-1250

Fiber type-specific hypertrophy and increased capillarization in skeletal muscle following testosterone administration in young women.

Horwath O; Apró W; Moberg M; Godhe M; Helge T; Ekblom M; Hirschberg AL; Ekblom B
Article: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 2020;10(1):4395

Acute increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor in plasma following physical exercise relates to subsequent learning in older adults.

Nilsson J; Ekblom Ö; Ekblom M; Lebedev A; Tarassova O; Moberg M; Lövdén M
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY. 2020;120(2):307-316

Criterion validity of the Ekblom-Bak and the Åstrand submaximal test in an elderly population.

Väisänen D; Ekblom Ö; Ekblom-Bak E; Andersson E; Nilsson J; Ekblom M
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2020;17(2):E628-628

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Device-Measured Sedentary Behaviour are Associated with Sickness Absence in Office Workers.

Drake E; Ekblom MM; Ekblom Ö; Kallings LV; Blom V
Article: FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY. 2020;11:1080

Peripheral BDNF Response to Physical and Cognitive Exercise and Its Association With Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Healthy Older Adults.

Tarassova O; Ekblom MM; Moberg M; Lövdén M; Nilsson J
Article: FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE. 2020;14:273

ABBaH: Activity Breaks for Brain Health. A Protocol for a Randomized Crossover Trial.

Heiland EG; Ekblom Ö; Tarassova O; Fernström M; English C; Ekblom MM
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2019;16(24):E5136-5136

Device-Measured Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity and Aerobic Fitness Are Independent Correlates of Cognitive Performance in Healthy Middle-Aged Adults-Results from the SCAPIS Pilot Study.

Ekblom MM; Ekblom ÖB; Börjesson M; Bergström G; Jern C; Wallin A
Article: CLINICAL BIOMECHANICS. 2019;70:115-122

Effects of post activation potentiation on electromechanical delay.

Gago PR; Arndt A; Marques MC; Marinho DA; Ekblom MM
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2019;16(23):E4721-4721

Relationships between Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Cognitive Functions in Office Workers.

Bojsen-Møller E; Boraxbekk C-J; Ekblom Ö; Blom V; Ekblom MM
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE. 2019;50(7):3133-3140

Investigating the effects of muscle contraction and conditioning stimulus intensity on short-interval intracortical inhibition.

Hendy AM; Ekblom MM; Latella C; Teo W-P
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2019;16(18):E3370-3370

Job Demand-Control-Support Model as Related to Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in Working Women and Men.

Larsson K; Ekblom Ö; Kallings LV; Ekblom M; Blom V
Article: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY. 2019;126(6):1636-1645

Effects of training, detraining, and retraining on strength, hypertrophy, and myonuclear number in human skeletal muscle.

Psilander N; Eftestøl E; Cumming KT; Juvkam I; Ekblom MM; Sunding K; Wernbom M; Holmberg H-C; Ekblom B; Bruusgaard JC; Raastad T; Gundersen K
Article: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH. 2019;19(1):266

Improving office workers' mental health and cognition: a 3-arm cluster randomized controlled trial targeting physical activity and sedentary behavior in multi-component interventions.

Nooijen CFJ; Blom V; Ekblom Ö; Ekblom MM; Kallings LV
Article: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH. 2019;19(1):17

Criterion validity and test-retest reliability of SED-GIH, a single item question for assessment of daily sitting time.

Larsson K; Kallings LV; Ekblom Ö; Blom V; Andersson E; Ekblom MM
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2018;15(4):E792-792

Common Perceived Barriers and Facilitators for Reducing Sedentary Behaviour among Office Workers.

Nooijen CFJ; Kallings LV; Blom V; Ekblom Ö; Forsell Y; Ekblom MM
Article: FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY. 2018;9:2612

Relationships Between Aerobic Fitness Levels and Cognitive Performance in Swedish Office Workers.

Pantzar A; Jonasson LS; Ekblom Ö; Boraxbekk C-J; Ekblom MM
Article: PLOS ONE. 2018;13(8):e0201014

Effect of increasing workload on knee extensor and flexor muscular activity during cycling as measured with intramuscular electromyography.

da Silva JCL; Ekblom MM; Tarassova O; Andersson E; Rönquist G; Grundström H; Arndt A
Article: PREVENTIVE MEDICINE. 2017;101:23-27

Do unfavourable alcohol, smoking, nutrition and physical activity predict sustained leisure time sedentary behaviour? A population-based cohort study.

Nooijen CFJ; Möller J; Forsell Y; Ekblom M; Galanti MR; Engström K
Article: JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS. 2017;(125)

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People.

Andersson EA; Frank P; Pontén M; Ekblom B; Ekblom M; Moberg M; Sahlin K
Article: JOURNAL OF HUMAN KINETICS. 2017;57:29-38

Post Activation Potentiation of the Plantarflexors: Implications of Knee Angle Variations.

Gago P; Arndt A; Ekblom MM
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY. 2016;116(9):1807-1817

Quadriceps and hamstring muscle activity during cycling as measured with intramuscular electromyography.

da Silva JCL; Tarassova O; Ekblom MM; Andersson E; Rönquist G; Arndt A
Article: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS. 2016;26(7):764-773

Strength training improves muscle aerobic capacity and glucose tolerance in elderly.

Frank P; Andersson E; Pontén M; Ekblom B; Ekblom M; Sahlin K
Article: PLOS ONE. 2015;10(11):e0141777

Trunk Muscle Activation at the Initiation and Braking of Bilateral Shoulder Flexion Movements of Different Amplitudes.

Eriksson Crommert M; Halvorsen K; Ekblom MM
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY. 2014;114(11):2299-2308

Post activation potentiation can be induced without impairing tendon stiffness.

Gago P; Arndt A; Tarassova O; Ekblom MM
Article: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS. 2014;24(5):758-763

Motor control of the trunk during a modified clean and jerk lift.

Eriksson Crommert M; Ekblom MM; Thorstensson A
Article: MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS & EXERCISE. 2014;46(7):1334-1342

Passive muscle length changes affect twitch potentiation in power athletes.

Gago P; Marques MC; Marinho DA; Ekblom MM
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY. 2012;112(5):1899-1905

Concurrent EMG feedback acutely improves strength and muscle activation.

Ekblom MM; Eriksson M
Article: MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS & EXERCISE. 2011;43(10):1933-1939

Effects of prolonged vibration on H-reflexes, muscle activation, and dynamic strength.

Ekblom MMN; Thorstensson A
Article: GAIT & POSTURE. 2011;33(3):473-477

Activation of transversus abdominis varies with postural demand in standing.

Crommert ME; Ekblom MM; Thorstensson A
Article: MANUAL THERAPY. 2010;15(5):502-507

Deep and superficial abdominal muscle activation during trunk stabilization exercises with and without instruction to hollow.

Bjerkefors A; Ekblom MM; Josefsson K; Thorstensson A
Article: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY. 2010;109(1):19-26

Improvements in dynamic plantar flexor strength after resistance training are associated with increased voluntary activation and V-to-M ratio.

Ekblom MMN
Article: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS. 2008;18(3):383-388

Central fatigue affects plantar flexor strength after prolonged running.

Saldanha A; Nordlund Ekblom MM; Thorstensson A
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY. 2007;101(5):603-611

Neuromuscular and circulatory adaptation during combined arm and leg exercise with different maximal work loads.

Brink-Elfegoun T; Holmberg H-C; Ekblom MN; Ekblom B
Article: NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS. 2004;366(3):250-253

Conditioning Ia-afferent stimulation reduces the soleus Hoffman reflex in humans when muscle spindles are assumed to be inactive.

Nordlund MM; Thorstensson A; Cresswell AG
Article: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY. 2004;96(1):218-225

Central and peripheral contributions to fatigue in relation to level of activation during repeated maximal voluntary isometric plantar flexions.

Nordlund MM; Thorstensson A; Cresswell AG
Article: BRAIN RESEARCH. 2002;952(2):301-307

Variations in the soleus H-reflex as a function of activation during controlled lengthening and shortening actions.

Nordlund MM; Thorstensson A; Cresswell AG
Article: MUSCLE & NERVE. 2002;25(6):864-872

Central fatigue and motor cortical excitability during repeated shortening and lengthening actions.

Löscher WN; Nordlund MM
Article: JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON. 2001;534(Pt 3):913-923

H-reflex modulation during passive lengthening and shortening of the human triceps surae.

Pinniger GJ; Nordlund M; Steele JR; Cresswell AG
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Letter: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY. 2020;128(2):456-457

Muscle memory: are myonuclei ever lost?

Eftestøl E; Psilander N; Cumming KT; Juvkam I; Ekblom M; Sunding K; Wernbom M; Holmberg H-C; Ekblom B; Bruusgaard JC; Raastad T; Gundersen K
Review: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS. 2007;17(1):12-17

Strength training effects of whole-body vibration?

Nordlund MM; Thorstensson A
Published conference paper: ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION. 2004;85(8):1224-1230

Plantar- and dorsiflexor strength in prepubertal girls with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Broström E; Nordlund MM; Cresswell AG

Employments

Affiliated to Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 2024-2025

Degrees and Education

Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 2004

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