Research Interests

I focus on the effectiveness of lifestyle physical activity and mind-body interventions, such as yoga, in reducing age-related cognitive decline and improving psychosocial functioning. I am also interested in the feasibility of tech-based delivery of behavioral interventions, as well as looking at factors that predict engagement in such interventions. 

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Hobbies

I love hanging out with friends, traveling, and eating delicious home-made food (made by others)! 

 

Publications

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, A., 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. https://doi.org/10.1037/rep0000578

 

Mullen, S. P., Luo, Yan., Adamek, J. F., Phansikar, M., Mackenzie, M., Roberts, B., & Larrison, C. (2023). Path Analysis of Effects of First-Generation Status on Physical Activity and 4-Year College Degree Completion. Journal of Evidence-based Social Work, 21(1), 104–116. https://doi.org/10.1080/26408066.2023.2265922

 

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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2023.104963

 

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. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-022-00385-4

 

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. https://doi.org/10.1159/000525498

 

Prakash, R. S., Fountain-Zaragoza, S., Fisher, M., … Phansikar, M., & Canter, R. (2022). Protocol for mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention to improve behavioral and neural markers of attention control in older adults (HealthyAgers trial). BMC Geriatrics, 22, 666. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03334-7

 

Johnson, A., Pukin, F., Krishna, V., Phansikar, M., & Mullen, S. P. (2022). Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of two technology-assisted vocal interventions for older adults living in a residential facility. Journal of Voice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2022.07.019

 

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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2021.100431

 

Phansikar, M., Ashrafi, S.A., Khan, N.A., Massey, W.V, & Mullen, S.P. (2019). Active Commute in relation to cognition and academic achievement in children and adolescents: A systematic review and future recommendations. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 16(24), 5103; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16245103

 

Phansikar, M., & Mullen, S. P. (2019). Exploring Active Travel and Leisure-Time Physical Activity Relationships with Cognition among Older Adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 28(4), 580-587. https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2019-0125

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Selected Presentations

Talks

Phansikar, M., Fisher, M., Duraney, E. J., McPherson, N., Andridge, R., & Prakash, R. S. (March 2025). Efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction for improving everyday cognitive functioning in healthy older adults: Results from a randomized controlled trial. A live research spotlight given at the Annual Meeting for the Society of Behavioral Medicine, in San Francisco, CA.

 

Manglani, H. R., Phansikar, M., Duraney, E. J., Canter, R., Nicholas, J. A., & Prakash, R. S. (April 2023) Increase physical activity or decrease sedentary behavior? A multivariate signature associated with cognition in multiple sclerosis. A research talk given at the Annual Meeting for the Society of Behavioral Medicine, in Phoenix, AZ.

 

Phansikar, M., Duraney, E. J., Manglani, H. R., Shankar, A., Roberts, C., Andridge, A., Nicholas, J. A., Petosa, R., & Prakash, R. S. (April 2023). Efficacy of a digital health intervention on improving physical activity and working memory in people with multiple sclerosis. A research talk given at the Annual Meeting for the Society of Behavioral Medicine, in Phoenix, AZ.

 

Phansikar, M., Gothe, N., Hernandez, R., Lara-Cinisomo, S., & Mullen, S.P. (February 2023). Efficacy of a remote yoga intervention on improving positive psychological well-being. A research talk given at the Inaugural Annual Conference for the International Society for Contemplative Research, in San Diego, CA.

 

Phansikar, M., Gothe, N., Hernandez, R., Lara-Cinisomo, S., & Mullen, S.P. (May 2022). Feasibility and impact of a remote flow-based, moderate-intensity yoga intervention on executive functioning, during a pandemic, among working adults. A research talk given at the Annual Meeting for the North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, in Waikoloa, HI.

 

Mullen, S.P., Shen, S.A., Phansikar, M., Taggart, A., Thomas, D., Lussier, M., Kramer, A., & McAuley, E. (May 2022). Primary outcomes of the cognitive regulation training and exercise (CORTEX)-II trial: Effects on physical activity engagement. A research talk given at the Annual Meeting for the North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, in Waikoloa, HI. 

 

Phansikar, M., & Mullen, S.P. (April 2021). Acute effects of sun salutations on cognitive functioning and psychosocial stress among low-active adults. A research talk given at the Annual Meeting for the Society of Behavioral Medicine. 

 

Posters

Jones, T. D. H., Phansikar, M., McPherson, N. R., Christian, L. M., & Prakash, R. S. (February 2025). A preliminary look at the association between spousal dementia caregiving stress and cognition. A poster presented at the International Neuropsychological Society in New Orleans, LA.

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Schroeder, M.W., McKenna, M.R., Phansikar, M., Pugh, E. A, & Prakash, R. S. (February 2025). The association between neighborhood disadvantage and cognitive functioning across ethnoracial groups. A poster presented at the International Neuropsychological Society in New Orleans, LA.

 

Shankar, A., Phansikar, M., Betzel, R., & Prakash, R. S. (June 2024). Biopsychosocial correlates of edge-community entropy and modularity across the adult lifespan. A poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping, in Seoul, Korea.  

 

Fisher, M. E., Phansikar, M., McPherson, N., Canter, R., McKenna, M., Andridge, R., & Prakash, R. S. (October 2023). Mindfulness training on attentional control in older adults: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. A poster presented at the Mindfulness Mechanisms & Methods Meeting (M4), in St. Louis, MO. 

 

Duraney, E. J., Phansikar, M., Fisher, M. E., & Prakash, R. S. (February 2023). Exploring predictors of adherence to mindfulness-based training and health education training interventions. A poster presented at the Inaugural Annual Conference for the International Society for Contemplative Research, in San Diego, CA. 

 

Phansikar, M., Wong, B. & Mullen, S.P. (April 2020). Relationship between perceived stress and executive functioning: the moderating role of combined exercise and thermotherapy. A poster presented at the Annual Meeting for the Society of Behavioral Medicine.   

 

Phansikar, M., & Mullen, S.P. (March 2019). Exploring non-recreational and recreational physical activity relationships with cognition. A poster presented at the Annual Meeting for the Society of Behavioral Medicine, in Washington D.C.   

 

Phansikar, M., Palac, D., Cohen, J. D., Bullard, T., North, J. R., Wilund, K., Wong, B., & Mullen, S. P. (April, 2018). Complementary effects of exercise and heat therapy on mindfulness and cognition. A poster presented at the Annual Meeting for the Society of Behavioral Medicine, in New Orleans, LA. 

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