James Cotter, Academic staff, School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, New Zealand

Jim-Cotter Professor
BSc, BPhEd, MPhEd, PhD
Tel +64 3 479 9109
Email jim.cotter@otago.ac.nz

Background

Jim Cotter is a Professor at the School of Physical Education (Lecturer 2001-6). Jim obtained his BSc (1987, Physiology), BPhEd (1988, Distinction) and MPhEd (1992, Distinction) at Otago before heading to Australia to complete a PhD in Environmental Physiology at the University of Wollongong (1998). Following a lectureship there in 1997, he worked as a Research Scientist in the Australian Defence Science & Technology Organisation for three years (1998-2001), investigating human tolerance and adaptation under adverse ergonomic and environmental conditions. Now at The University of Otago, he researches, teaches and provides service in these fields in both health and performance contexts.

Teaching

SPEX102 Principles of Exercise for Health and Performance
SPEX203 Exercise Physiology
SPEX303 Exercise Energetics and Physiology

Research

Jim has three interrelated research interests

Which exercise stressors are important for health- and performance-related fitness adaptations; especially the separate and interactive roles and dose:response relations of different forms of stress (e.g., heat, hypoxia, hypohydration).
Such stressors are also environmental stressors, so to what extent can stressful environments supplement or replace those of exercise conditioning.
Thermoregulatory, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular control and determinants of tolerance under heat, hydrative or orthostatic stress, and subsequently the effects of physical and physiological strategies to reduce physiological strain and maximise tolerance.

Techniques used in the projects include measurement of body temperature, on-line sweat rate and composition, perfusion of the whole-body, brain and isolated limbs, blood volume and composition, respiratory function, perceived status, work performance, blood glucose, and plasma concentrations of cytokines, fluid-regulatory and stress hormones and oxidative stress markers. Funding for projects has been obtained from Lottery Health NZ, IOC Medical Commission, ITU, FINA, NZ Academy of Sport, SPARC, Otago Medical Research Foundation, NZ Rugby Union, Otago University, and industry.

Postgraduate Students

Current Students

Travis Gibbons (PhD)
Jamie Prout (PhD)
Leena Shoemaker (PhD)
Brendon Roxburgh (PhD)
Tom de Hamel (MSc)
Ben Smith (MSc)

Graduates

Carl Bradford (PhD)
Robert Creasy (PhD)
Kesava Sampath (PhD – co-supervisor)
Matthew Shallcrass (MPhE)
Lorenz Kissling (MPhEd)
Ashley Akerman (PhD)
Kate Thomas (PhD – co-supervisor)
Carissa Murrell (PhD – co-supervisor)
Luke Wilson (PhD – co-supervisor)
Rebekah Lucas (PhD – co-supervisor)
Samuel Lucas (PhD)
Stacy Sims (PhD – co-supervisor)
Shawnda Morrison (PhD)
Brad Wilsmore (PhD – co-supervisor)
Andrew Garrett (PhD)
Antony Stadnyk (MPhEd)
Ali Davies (MPhEd)
Ryan Sixtus (MPhEd)
Brett Harris (MPhEd –co-supervisor)
Terrence Hill (MPhEd –co-supervisor)
Michael Dessoulavy (MPhEd –co-supervisor)
Monique Francois (MPhEd)
Matthew Graham (MPhEd)
Evelyn Parr (MPhEd –co-supervisor)
Braid MacRae (MPhEd –co-supervisor)
Craig Harrison (MPhEd)
Olivia MacLaren (MPhEd)
Hayley Guiney (MSc – co-supervisor)
Julian Fan (MSc – co-supervisor)
Linda Groenewegen (MSc – co-supervisor)
Marc Levine (MSc – co-supervisor)
Guy Scoon (MSc – co-supervisor)

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Publications

Hawley, J. A., Lundby, C., Cotter, J. D., & Burke, L. M. (2018). Maximizing cellular adaptation to endurance exercise in skeletal muscle. Cell Metabolism, 27(5), 962-976. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.04.014

Akerman, A. P., Lucas, S. J. E., Katare, R., & Cotter, J. D. (2017). Heat and dehydration additively enhance cardiovascular outcomes following orthostatically-stressful calisthenics exercise. Frontiers in Physiology, 8, 756. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00756

Lucas, R. A. I., Wilson, L. C., Ainslie, P. N., Fan, J. L., Thomas, K. N., & Cotter, J. D. (2018). Independent and interactive effects of incremental heat strain, orthostatic stress, and mild hypohydration on cerebral perfusion. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative & Comparative Physiology, 314(3), R415-R426. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00109.2017

Francois, M. E., Graham, M. J., Parr, E. B., Rehrer, N. J., Lucas, S. J. E., Stavrianeas, S., & Cotter, J. D. (2017). Similar metabolic response to lower- versus upper-body interval exercise or endurance exercise. Metabolism, 68, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2016.11.009

Lei, T.-H., Stannard, S. R., Perry, B. G., Schlader, Z. J., Cotter, J. D., & Mündel, T. (2017). Influence of menstrual phase and arid vs. humid heat stress on autonomic and behavioural thermoregulation during exercise in trained but unacclimated women. Journal of Physiology, 595(9), 2823-2837. doi: 10.1113/jp273176

Journal - Research Other

Journal - Research Article

Stadnyk, A. M. J., Rehrer, N. J., Handcock, P. J., Meredith-Jones, K. A., & Cotter, J. D. (2018). No clear benefit of muscle heating on hypertrophy and strength with resistance training. Temperature, 5(2), 175-183. doi: 10.1080/23328940.2017.1391366

Journal - Research Article

Thomas, K. N., van Rij, A. M., Lucas, S. J. E., & Cotter, J. D. (2017). Lower-limb hot-water immersion acutely induces beneficial hemodynamic and cardiovascular responses in peripheral arterial disease and healthy, elderly controls. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative & Comparative Physiology, 312(3), R281-R291. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00404.2016

Journal - Research Article

Akerman, A. P., Tipton, M., Minson, C. T., & Cotter, J. D. (2016). Heat stress and dehydration in adapting for performance: Good, bad, both, or neither? Temperature, 3(3), 412-436. doi: 10.1080/23328940.2016.1216255

Journal - Research Article

Graham, M. J., Lucas, S. J. E., Francois, M. E., Stavrianeas, S., Parr, E. B., Thomas, K. N., & Cotter, J. D. (2016). Low-volume intense exercise elicits post-exercise hypotension and subsequent hypervolemia, irrespective of which limbs are exercised. Frontiers in Physiology, 7, 199. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2016.00199

Journal - Research Article

Bradford, C. D., Lucas, S. J. E., Gerrard, D. F., & Cotter, J. D. (2015). Swimming in warm water is ineffective in heat acclimation and is non-ergogenic for swimmers. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 25 (Suppl. 1), 277-286. doi: 10.1111/sms.12351

Journal - Research Article

Francois, M. E., Baldi, J. C., Manning, P. J., Lucas, S. J. E., Hawley, J. A., Williams, M. J. A., & Cotter, J. D. (2014). ‘Exercise snacks’ before meals: A novel strategy to improve glycaemic control in individuals with insulin resistance. Diabetologia, 57(7), 1437-1445. doi: 10.1007/s00125-014-3244-6

Journal - Research Article

Cotter, J. D., & Tipton, M. J. (2014). Moving in extreme environments: What's extreme and who decides? Extreme Physiology & Medicine, 3, 11. doi: 10.1186/2046-7648-3-11

Journal - Research Article

Cotter, J. D., Thornton, S. N., Lee, J. K. W., & Laursen, P. B. (2014). Are we being drowned in hydration advice? Thirsty for more? Extreme Physiology & Medicine, 3, 18. doi: 10.1186/2046-7648-3-18

Journal - Research Article

Lucas, S. J. E., Cotter, J. D., Brassard, P., & Bailey, D. M. (2015). High-intensity interval exercise and cerebrovascular health: Curiosity, cause, and consequence. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism, 35, 902-911. doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.2015.49

Journal - Research Article

Cotter, J. D. (2013). Novel stress conditioning for health and performance [Minipaper]. In J. D. Cotter, S. J. E. Lucas & T. Mündel (Eds.), Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Environmental Ergonomics (ICEE). (pp. 149-150). International Society for Environmental Ergonomics. [Full Paper]

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Minson, C. T., & Cotter, J. D. (2016). CrossTalk proposal: Heat acclimatization does improve performance in a cool condition. Journal of Physiology, 594(2), 241-243. doi: 10.1113/jp270879

Journal - Research Other

Murrell, C. J., Cotter, J. D., Thomas, K. N., Lucas, S. J. E., Williams, M. J. A., & Ainslie, P. N. (2013). Cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular reactivity at rest and during sub-maximal exercise: Effect of age and 12-week exercise training. Age, 35(3), 905-920. doi: 10.1007/s11357-012-9414-x

Journal - Research Article

Guiney, H., Lucas, S. J., Cotter, J. D., & Machado, L. (2015). Evidence cerebral blood-flow regulation mediates exercise-cognition links in healthy young adults. Neuropsychology, 29(1), 1-9. doi: 10.1037/neu0000124

Journal - Research Article

Garrett, A. T., Goosens, N. G., Rehrer, N. J., Patterson, M. J., Harrison, J., Sammut, I., & Cotter, J. D. (2014). Short-term heat acclimation is effective and may be enhanced rather than impaired by dehydration. American Journal of Human Biology, 26(3), 311-320. doi: 10.1002/ajhb.22509

Journal - Research Article

Bierre, K. L., Lucas, S. J. E., Guiney, H., Cotter, J. D., & Machado, L. (2017). Cognitive difficulty intensifies age-related changes in anterior frontal hemodynamics: Novel evidence from near-infrared spectroscopy. Journals of Gerontology Series A, 72(2), 181-188. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glw061

Journal - Research Article

Bradford, C. D., Cotter, J. D., Thorburn, M. S., Walker, R. J., & Gerrard, D. F. (2007). Exercise can be pyrogenic in humans. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative & Comparative Physiology, 292, R143-R149. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00926.2005

Journal - Research Article

Merry, T. L., Ainslie, P. N., & Cotter, J. D. (2010). Effects of aerobic fitness on hypohydration-induced physiological strain and exercise impairment. Acta Physiologica, 198(2), 179-190. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.2009.02051.x

Journal - Research Article

Ross, E. Z., Cotter, J. D., Wilson, L., Fan, J.-L., Lucas, S. J. E., & Ainslie, P. N. (2012). Cerebrovascular and corticomotor function during progressive passive hyperthermia in humans. Journal of Applied Physiology, 112(5), 748-758. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00988.2011

Journal - Research Article

Lucas, R. A. I., Ainslie, P. N., Morrison, S. A., & Cotter, J. D. (2012). Compression leggings modestly affect cardiovascular but not cerebrovascular responses to heat and orthostatic stress in young and older adults. Age, 34(2), 439-449. doi: 10.1007/s11357-011-9250-4

Journal - Research Article

Lind-Holst, M., Cotter, J. D., Helge, J. W., Boushel, R., Augustesen, H., Van Lieshout, J. J., & Pott, F. C. (2011). Cerebral autoregulation dynamics in endurance-trained individuals. Journal of Applied Physiology, 110(5), 1327-1333. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01497.2010

Journal - Research Article

Garrett, A. T., Creasy, R., Rehrer, N. J., Patterson, M. J., & Cotter, J. D. (2012). Effectiveness of short-term heat acclimation for highly trained athletes. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 112(5), 1827-1837. doi: 10.1007/s00421-011-2153-3

Journal - Research Article

Lucas, S. J. E., Burgess, K. R., Thomas, K. N., Donnelly, J., Peebles, K. C., Lucas, R. A. I., Fan, J.-L., Cotter, J. D., … Ainslie, P. N. (2011). Alterations in cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular reactivity during 14 days at 5050 m. Journal of Physiology, 589(3), 741-753. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2010.192534

Journal - Research Article

Murrell, C. J., Cotter, J. D., George, K., Shave, R., Wilson, L., Thomas, K., Williams, M. J. A., & Ainslie, P. N. (2011). Cardiorespiratory and cerebrovascular responses to head-up tilt I: Influence of age and training status. Experimental Gerontology, 46(1), 9-17. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2010.06.005

Journal - Research Article

Murrell, C. J., Cotter, J. D., George, K., Shave, R., Wilson, L., Thomas, K., Williams, M. J. A., & Ainslie, P. N. (2011). Cardiorespiratory and cerebrovascular responses to head-up tilt II: Influence of age, training status and acute exercise. Experimental Gerontology, 46(1), 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2010.06.004

Journal - Research Article

MacRae, B. A., Cotter, J. D., & Laing, R. M. (2011). Compression garments and exercise: Garment considerations, physiology and performance. Sports Medicine, 41(10), 815-843. doi: 10.2165/11591420-000000000-00000

Journal - Research Other

Murrell, C. J., Cotter, J. D., George, K., Shave, R., Wilson, L., Thomas, K., Williams, M. J. A., & Ainslie, P. N. (2011). Syncope is unrelated to supine and postural hypotension following prolonged exercise. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 111(3), 469-476. doi: 10.1007/s00421-010-1671-8

Journal - Research Article

Wilson, L. C., Cotter, J. D., Fan, J.-L., Lucas, R. A. I., Thomas, K. N., & Ainslie, P. N. (2010). Cerebrovascular reactivity and dynamic autoregulation in tetraplegia. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative & Comparative Physiology, 298, R1035-R1042. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00815.2009

Journal - Research Article

Fan, J.-L., Burgess, K. R., Basnyat, R., Thomas, K. N., Peebles, K. C., Lucas, S. J., Lucas, R. A., Donnelly, J., Cotter, J. D., & Ainslie, P. N. (2010). Influence of high altitude on cerebrovascular responsiveness to CO₂. Journal of Physiology, 588(3), 539-549. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2009.184051

Journal - Research Article

Fan, J.-L., Burgess, K. R., Thomas, K. N., Peebles, K. C., Lucas, S. J. E., Lucas, R. A. I., Cotter, J. D., & Ainslie, P. N. (2010). Influence of indomethacin on ventilatory and cerebrovascular responsiveness to CO₂ and breathing stability: The influence of PCO₂ gradients. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative & Comparative Physiology, 298, 1648-1658. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00721.2009

Journal - Research Article

Lucas, R. A. I., Ainslie, P. N., Fan, J.-L., Wilson, L. C., Thomas, K. N., & Cotter, J. D. (2010). Skin cooling aids cerebrovascular function more effectively under severe than moderate heat stress. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 109, 101-108. doi: 10.1007/s00421-009-1298-9

Journal - Research Article

Ainslie, P. N., Cotter, J. D., George, K. P., Lucas, S., Murrell, C., Shave, R., Thomas, K. N., Williams, M. J. A., & Atkinson, G. (2008). Elevation in cerebral blood flow velocity with aerobic fitness throughout healthy human ageing. Journal of Physiology, 586(16), 4005-4010. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2008.158279

Journal - Research Article

Palmer, C. D., Jones, A. M., Kennedy, G. J., & Cotter, J. D. (2009). Effects of prior heavy exercise on energy supply and 4000-m cycling performance. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 41(1), 221-229.

Journal - Research Article

Garrett, A. T., Goosens, N. G., Rehrer, N. J., Patterson, M. J., & Cotter, J. D. (2009). Induction and decay of short-term heat acclimation. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 107, 659-670. doi: 10.1007/s00421-009-1182-7

Journal - Research Article

Merry, T. L., Ainslie, P. N., Walker, R., & Cotter, J. D. (2008). Fitness alters fluid regulatory but not behavioural responses to hypohydrated exercise. Physiology & Behavior, 95(3), 348-352.

Journal - Research Article

Sims, S. T., Rehrer, N. J., Bell, M. L., & Cotter, J. D. (2008). Endogenous and exogenous female sex hormones and renal electrolyte handling: Effects of an acute sodium load on plasma volume at rest. Journal of Applied Physiology, 105(1), 121-127.

Journal - Research Article

Murrell, C. J., Cotter, J. D., George, K. P., Shave, R., Wilson, L. C., Thomas, K. N., Williams, M. J. A., … Ainslie, P. N. (2009). Influence of age on syncope following prolonged exercise: Differential responses but similar orthostatic intolerance. Journal of Physiology, 587(24), 5959-5969. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2009.179549

Journal - Research Article

Thomas, K. N., Cotter, J. D., Galvin, S. D., Williams, M. J. A., Willie, C. K., & Ainslie, P. N. (2009). Initial orthostatic hypotension is unrelated to orthostatic tolerance in healthy young subjects. Journal of Applied Physiology, 107(2), 506-517. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.91650.2008

Journal - Research Article

Lucas, S. J. E., Anson, J. G., Palmer, C. D., Hellemans, I. J., & Cotter, J. D. (2009). The impact of 100 hours of exercise and sleep deprivation on cognitive function and physical capacities. Journal of Sports Sciences, 27(7), 719-728.

Journal - Research Article

Button, C., Croft, J. L., Cotter, J. D., Graham, M. J., & Lucas, S. J. E. (2015). Integrative physiological and behavioral responses to sudden cold-water immersion are similar in skilled and less-skilled swimmers. Physiology & Behavior, 138, 254-259. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.10.024

Journal - Research Article

Morrison, S. A., Cheung, S. S., & Cotter, J. D. (2014). Bovine colostrum, training status, and gastrointestinal permeability during exercise in the heat: A placebo-controlled double-blind study. Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism, 39, 1070-1082. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2013-0583

Journal - Research Article

Lewis, N. C. S., Bailey, D. M., duManoir, G. R., Messinger, L., Lucas, S. J. E., Cotter, J. D., Donnelly, J., … Ainslie, P. N. (2014). Conduit artery structure and function in lowlanders and native highlanders: Relationships with oxidative stress and role of sympathoexcitation. Journal of Physiology, 592(5), 1009-1024. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.268615

Journal - Research Article

Morrison, S. A., Cheung, S., & Cotter, J. D. (2014). Importance of airflow for physiologic and ergogenic effects of precooling. Journal of Athletic Training, 49(5), 632-639. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-49.3.27

Journal - Research Article

Stembridge, M., Ainslie, P. N., Hughes, M. G., Stöhr, E. J., Cotter, J. D., Nio, A. Q. X., & Shave, R. (2014). Ventricular structure, function and mechanics at high altitude: Chronic remodelling in Sherpa vs. short-term lowlander adaptation. Journal of Applied Physiology, 117(3), 334-343. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00233.2014

Journal - Research Article

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