Jason M. DeFreitas

Education

• Ph.D., University of Oklahoma
• M.S., University of Oklahoma, . Major: Exercise Physiology
• B.S., University of Connecticut, . Major: Exercise Science Area of Emphasis: Concentration: Strength and Conditioning

Specialization

• Neurosciences, Exercise physiology, Motor control, Behavioural neuroscience

Teaching

Currently Teaching

• EXE 606 - Current Literature in Exercise and Sport Science
• EXE 999 - Dissertation

Active Research

Sponsored Research

• Jason DeFreitas (PD/PI) , Mechanisms Of Degradation Across The Lifespan: The Role Of Descending Tract Function On Age-Related Sensory-Motor Deficits - American Federation for Aging Research - Not for Profit/Foundation Grant. End Date: 2026-12-31

Published Scholarship

Publications

• Shields, J.E., Hernandez-Sarabia, J.A., Lanza, M.B., Barrera-Curiel, A., Luera, M.J. and DeFreitas, J.M., 2025. A Comparison of Popular Filters for the Electromyography Beginner. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, [online] pp.1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/1091367x.2025.2589872.
• SHIELDS, J.E., SMITH, C.M., REESE, S.M., DOS SANTOS, M.L., PARODI, M. and DEFREITAS, J.M., 2025. An Exercise Intervention May Counteract the Degradation of Nerve Conduction from Age-Related Disuse. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, [online] 57(10), pp.2101–2107. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000003767.
• Carr, J.C., Voskuil, C.C., Andrushko, J.W., MacLennan, R.J., DeFreitas, J.M., Stock, M.S. and Farthing, J.P., 2025. Cross‐education attenuates muscle weakness and facilitates strength recovery after orthopedic immobilization in females: A pilot study. Physiological Reports, [online] 13(8). https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70329.
• Stute, K., Gossé, L.K., Montero-Hernandez, S., Perkins, G.A., Yücel, M.A., Cutini, S., Durduran, T., Ehlis, A.-C., Ferrari, M., Gervain, J., Mesquita, R.C., Orihuela-Espina, F., Quaresima, V., Scholkmann, F., Tachtsidis, I., Torricelli, A., Wabnitz, H., Yodh, A.G., Carp, S.A., Dehghani, H., Fang, Q., Fantini, S., Hoshi, Y., Niu, H., Obrig, H., Klein, F., Artemenko, C., Bajracharya, A., Barth, B., Bartkowski, C., Borot, L., Bulgarelli, C., Busch, D.R., Chojak, M., DeFreitas, J.M., Diprossimo, L., Dresler, T., Eken, A., Elsherif, M.M., Emberson, L.L., Exner, A., Ferdous, T.R., Fiske, A., Forbes, S.H., Gemignani, J., Gerloff, C., Guérin, S.M.R., Guevara, E., Hamilton, A.F. de C., Hadi Hosseini, S.M., Jain, D., Kerr-German, A.N., Kong, H., Kroczek, A., Longhurst, J.K., Lührs, M., MacLennan, R.J., Mehler, D.M.A., Meidenbauer, K.L., Moreau, D., Mutlu, M.C., Orti, R., Paranawithana, I., Pinti, P., Jounghani, A.R., Reindl, V., Ross, N.A., Sanchez-Alonso, S., Seidel-Marzi, O., Shukla, M., Usama, S.A., Talati, M., Vergotte, G., Atif Yaqub, M., Yu, C.-C. and Zainodini, H., 2025. The fNIRS glossary project: a consensus-based resource for functional near-infrared spectroscopy terminology. Neurophotonics, [online] 12(02). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.nph.12.2.027801.
• Luera, M.J., Shields, J.E., Bozarth, E., MacLennan, R.J., Walker, N.P., Hernandez-Sarabia, J.A., Estrada, C.A., DeFreitas, J.M. and Crawford, S.K., 2025. Comparison of manual and semi-automated algorithm for measuring architectural features during different isometric knee extension intensities: a reliability and comparative study in novice raters. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, [online] 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2025.1539804.
• Beausejour, J.P., Rusch, J., Knowles, K.S., Pagan, J.I., Chaput, M., Norte, G.E., DeFreitas, J.M. and Stock, M.S., 2024. A comparison of techniques to determine active motor threshold for transcranial magnetic stimulation research. Brain Research, [online] 1842, p.149111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2024.149111.
• MacLennan, R.J., Hernandez-Sarabia, J.A., Reese, S.M., Shields, J.E., Smith, C.M., Stute, K., Collyar, J., Olmos, A.A., Danielson, T.L., MacLennan, D.L., Pagan, J.I., Girts, R.M., Harmon, K.K., Coker, N., Carr, J.C., Ye, X., Perry, J.W., Stock, M.S. and DeFreitas, J.M., 2024. fNIRS is capable of distinguishing laterality of lower body contractions. Experimental Brain Research, [online] 242(5), pp.1115–1126. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-024-06798-8.
• Danielson, T.L., Gould, L.A., DeFreitas, J.M., MacLennan, R.J., Ekstrand, C., Borowsky, R., Farthing, J.P. and Andrushko, J.W., 2024. Activity in the pontine reticular nuclei scales with handgrip force in humans. Journal of Neurophysiology, [online] 131(5), pp.807–814. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00407.2023.
• Andrushko, J.W., Carr, J.C., Farthing, J.P., Lepley, L.K., DeFreitas, J.M., Goodall, S., Hendy, A.M., Howatson, G., Grooms, D.R., Zult, T., Hortobagyi, T., Harput, G., Papandreou, M., Nosaka, K., Carson, R.G., Manca, A., Deriu, F., Behm, D.G., Kidgell, D.J., Clark, N.C. and Boyd, L.A., 2023. Potential role of cross-education in early-stage rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. British Journal of Sports Medicine, [online] 57(23), pp.1474–1475. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2023-107456.
• Pagan, J.I., Harmon, K.K., Girts, R.M., MacLennan, R.J., Beausejour, J.P., Hernandez-Sarabia, J.A., Coker, N.A., Carr, J.C., Ye, X., DeFreitas, J.M. and Stock, M.S., 2023. Sex-Specific Reliability of Lower-Limb Corticospinal Excitability and Silent Periods. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, [online] 37(9), pp.1882–1887. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000004525.

Presentations

• DeFreitas, J.M., 2025. Neural adaptations to strength training: How much do we actually know?. In MARC - Middle Atlantic Regional Conference 2025. ACSM - American College of Sports Medicine.
• Smith, C.D. et al., 2025. Comparing Corticospinal and Reticulospinal Tract Influences on Upper Limb Motor Control: A Preliminary Analysis. In MARC - Middle Atlantic Regional Conference 2025. ACSM - American College of Sports Medicine.
• Smith, C.M. et al., 2025. Do Proprioception and the Vestibular System Influence Fear of Falling in Older Adults?. In MARC - Middle Atlantic Regional Conference 2025. ACSM - American College of Sports Medicine.
• Washington, S.M. et al., 2025. Influences of Methodology on Nerve Conduction Studies: Does Probe Pressure Influence M-Wave Variability?. In MARC - Middle Atlantic Regional Conference 2025. ACSM - American College of Sports Medicine.
• Shields, J.E. et al., 2025. Short-Term Handgrip Training Does Not Alter Muscle Echo Intensity in Older Adults. In MARC - Middle Atlantic Regional Conference 2025. ACSM - American College of Sports Medicine.
• DeFreitas, J.M., 2025. Mechanisms of Degradation across the Lifespan: The Role of Descending Tract Function on Age-Related Sensory-Motor Deficits. In Ritz-Carlton Bacara. 2025 AFAR Grantee Conference. AFAR - American Federation for Aging Research.
• DeFreitas, J.M., 2023. Neural adaptations to strength training: How much do we actually know?. In Virtual. Tarleton State University.
• Hernandez-Sarabia, J.A. et al., 2022. Inhibiting muscle spindles through prolonged muscle vibration reduces motor and somatosensory cortical activity. In American College of Sports Medicine – 2022 Annual Meeting.
• Chavez, L. et al., 2022. Is there a relationship between antagonist coactivation and reaction time during dual-tasks?. In American College of Sports Medicine – 2022 Annual Meeting.
• MacLennan, R.J. et al., 2022. Sensitivity of fNIRS brain imaging to determine hemispheric laterality during lower-body motor tasks. In American College of Sports Medicine – 2022 Annual Meeting.

Active Service

Professional Service

• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, American Journal of Physiology – Regulatory, Integrative, and Comparative Physiology
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Biology of Sex Differences
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Current Psychology
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, European Journal of Applied Physiology
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, European Journal of Neuroscience
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Experimental Physiology
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Expert Review of Medical Devices
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Human Movement Science
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Aging and Physical Activity
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Applied Physiology
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Biomechanics
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Research
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Neural Engineering
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Neurophysiology
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Physiology
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Measurement Science and Technology
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Medical Engineering and Physics
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Perceptual & Motor Skills
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Physiological Measurement
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Public Library of Science (PLoS One)
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience
• Ad-Hoc Reviewer, Sensors
• Editorial Review Board Member, Experimental Brain Research
• Awards Committee Member, Central States ACSM Annual Meeting (active since: 2019)

Honors, Awards, and Recognition

• President’s Fellows Faculty Research Award, Oklahoma State University
• Distinguished Early Career Faculty Award, Oklahoma State University
• Distinguished Researcher, Oklahoma State University, School of Kinesiology, Applied Health & Recreation
• OSU App Idea Competition Winner, Oklahoma State University
• Regents Distinguished Research Award, Oklahoma State University
• Advising Excellence Award Winner, Oklahoma State University
• Phoenix Award Winner, Oklahoma State University

Memberships

• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
• American Physiological Society (APS)
• International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology (ISEK)
• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
• Society for Neuroscience (SfN)

Recent Media Mentions:

• Anon, 2026.