Staff Profile
Career Summary
Biography
Dr. Hunter's research career started at the Institute of Psychiatry, London, working on models of learning, cognitive function, psychopathology and the inter-hemispheric transfer of training. During the 5 years of postgraduate and then postdoctoral research at the Institute, Dr. Hunter gained expertise in behavioural training, recovery surgery, unit recording and EEG/ERP techniques. Dr. Hunter then joined Aston University, Birmingham, and, while undertaking clinical training, collaborated with Professor G. F.A. Harding on research employing EEG and ERP experimental techniques in human subjects. Dr. Hunter moved to the School of Psychology at the University of Newcastle, N.S.W. as a lecturer in Psychology, specialising in Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology, in 1985. He has continued to use and develop EEG/ERP experimental techniques to investigate cognitive functions in normal and clinical groups. This research effort subsequently extended to the development of functional MRI neuro-imaging techniques. He is currently working on methods of using fMRI and MRS measures in an effort to identify brain chemistry changes associated with neural function. He has also continued his interests in neuroplasticity, in particular investigating the role of molecular and neurochemical changes in learning in a chicken model.
Qualifications
- PhD (Neuropsychology), University of London, 31/12/1976
- Graduate Certificate in Education and Higher Ed, University of London, 31/12/1976
- Bachelor of Science (Psychology)(Honours), University of London, 31/12/1970
Research
Research keywords
- Animal behaviour
- Electrophysiology
- Human behaviour
- Mental health and illness
- Neuroimaging
Research expertise
Dr. Hunter's research career started at the Institute of Psychiatry, London, working on models of learning, cognitive function, psychopathology and the inter-hemispheric transfer of training. During the 5 years of postgraduate and then postdoctoral research at the Institute, Dr. Hunter gained expertise in behavioural training, recovery surgery, unit recording and EEG/ERP techniques. Dr. Hunter then joined Aston University, Birmingham, and, while undertaking clinical training, collaborated with Professor G. F.A. Harding on research employing EEG and ERP experimental techniques in human subjects. Dr. Hunter moved to the School of Psychology at the University of Newcastle, N.S.W. as a lecturer in Psychology, specialising in Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology, in 1985. He has continued to use and develop EEG/ERP experimental techniques to investigate cognitive functions in normal and clinical groups. This research effort subsequently extended to the development of functional MRI neuro-imaging techniques. He is currently working on methods of using fMRI and MRS measures in an effort to identify brain chemistry changes associated with neural function. These research interests in human brain function and plasticity have led to fruitful collaborations with the colleagues in the Department of Neurology at the John Hunter Hospital and an interest in stroke and the functional sequelae of heart surgery. This line of research presents an experimental model capable of investigating subtle cognitive changes in response to mild and focused brain injury.
In addition Dr. Hunter has maintained his interest in the links both between psychopathology and learning and brain plasticity and learning. He is currently undertaking research into the causes and effects of child abuse and is also researching the roles of therapy and the mechanisms of behaviour change in therapy. He has also established a record of neuroscience research into the molecular changes involved in learning in the chicken model.
Dr. Hunter has a track record of some 30 years of research in the areas of psychology, clinical psychology and brain function. He maintains strong research collaborations with groups in both clinical and biomedical science and has published widely in those fields.
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 170101 | Biological Psychology (Neuropsychology, Psychopharmacology, Physiological Psychology) | 50 |
| 110900 | Neurosciences | 30 |
| 170299 | Cognitive Science Not Elsewhere Classified | 20 |
Collaboration
- Mapping and imaging of brain activity using ERP and functional MRI techniques
- Mechanisms of neurological and mental illness
- Clinical intervention strategies in abnormal behaviour
- Animal models of neural plasticity
Administrative
Administrative expertise
Dr Hunter currently serves as the Head of School of Psychology.
Teaching
Teaching keywords
- Clinical Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Psychobiology
Teaching expertise
As a qualified teacher Dr. Hunter has developed a wide-range of teaching skills and has instigated a number of innovative changes to the teaching of Psychology in the School.
As Convener of the postgraduate Clinical Psychology program from 1986 until 2002 he redeveloped the curriculum into a Problem-Based Learning program. He significantly changed the applicant selection processes and initiated the establishment of the School Psychology Clinic.
At undergraduate level he continues to teach into courses investigating the relationships between brain and behaviour. He has experience in teaching neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and behavioural neuroscience. And his wider interests in clinical psychology and neuropathology form a confluence of approaches that provides context to the learning of the underlying brain mechanisms. Throughout his career he has maintained a high rate of successful research supervision having supervised some 10 PhDs; 3 Professional Doctorates and 40 Clinical Masters students.
Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 28 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $1,019,282 |
For project grants received where the lead institution is other than the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics.
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
2011 (1 grants)
The effects of maternal infection on NMDA-related electrophysiological, behavioural and biochemical measures relevant to schizophrenia$25,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Professor Patricia Michie, Professor Deborah Hodgson, Professor Ulli Schall, Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Near Miss Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $25,000 | 2011 | 2011 |
| GNo:G1001051 | ||
2010 (1 grants)
Cultural differences in personality structure$3,000
Funding Body: Keats Endowment Research Fund
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Miles Bore, Conjoint Associate Professor Donald Munro, Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $3,000 | 2010 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0900111 | ||
2009 (2 grants)
Teaching Relief - Bowman$50,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Career Enhancement Fellowship for Academic Women | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $50,000 | 2009 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0189813 | ||
The role of early life infection in the predisposition to anxiety in adulthood$20,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Deborah Hodgson, Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter, Conjoint Associate Professor Vicki Clifton, Assoc. Prof Marie Dziaddek, Dr Jonathan Hirst | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Near Miss Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $20,000 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0189814 | ||
2008 (3 grants)
CEF Admin Relief - Hodgson and Karayanidis$99,962
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter, Professor Deborah Hodgson, Associate Professor Frini Karayanidis | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Career Enhancement Fellowship for Academic Women | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $99,962 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0189258 | ||
Brain electrical source analysis software (BESA)$11,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Professor Patricia Michie, Doctor Bill Budd, Associate Professor Frini Karayanidis, Doctor Juanita Todd, Doctor Janette Smith, Mr David McKenzie, Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $11,000 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0188542 | ||
Mind Pong$8,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Science & IT
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter, Doctor Janette Smith | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Pilot Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $8,000 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0189089 | ||
2006 (2 grants)
The visual form and motion test as a measure of post-cardiac surgery cognitive impairment$16,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ms Neva Bull, Conjoint Professor Chris Levi, Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $16,000 | 2006 | 2006 |
| GNo:G0186099 | ||
12th Annual Meeting of the Organisation for Human Brain Mapping June 11th - June 16th 2006$1,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $1,500 | 2006 | 2006 |
| GNo:G0186541 | ||
2005 (4 grants)
Facial expression processing deficits in schizophrenia patients and their biological 1st-degree relatives$70,000
Funding Body: Neuroscience Institute of Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ms Kathryn McCabe, Doctor Carmel Loughland, Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter, Mr Patrick Johnston | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Postgraduate Research Scholarship | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $70,000 | 2005 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0185368 | ||
The Australian EEG Database - Infrastructure Support$20,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Professor Patricia Michie, Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter, Professor John Rostas, Conjoint Associate Professor David Williams, Professor Pablo Moscato, Associate Professor Frans Henskens | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| HMRI Brain and Mental Health Research Program | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $20,000 | 2005 | 2005 |
| GNo:G0185719 | ||
Neural consequences of cardiac surgery: a study using magnetic resonance measures of functional brain activation and brain metabolism$11,305
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter, Emeritus Professor Patricia Michie, Professor Mark Parsons | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $11,305 | 2005 | 2005 |
| GNo:G0184634 | ||
The use of mixture time-series models and simulation based statistics in developing classification rules for interpreting clinical EEG signals$6,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Richard Gerlach, Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $6,000 | 2005 | 2005 |
| GNo:G0184697 | ||
2004 (1 grants)
Organisation for Human Brain Mapping, 10th Annual Meeting, 13-17 June 2004, Hungary$2,400
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,400 | 2004 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0184065 | ||
2003 (3 grants)
Quantitative EEG analysis of the maturational changes associated with childhood and juvenile absence epilepsy.$28,000
Funding Body: John Hunter Children`s Hospital Research Foundation
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Robert Smith, Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter, Professor John Rostas | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant (Defunct) | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $28,000 | 2003 | 2003 |
| GNo:G0181850 | ||
Characterisation of the Pre-pulse Inhibition learning paradigm in chickens$6,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter, Professor John Rostas | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $6,000 | 2003 | 2003 |
| GNo:G0182457 | ||
Visit by Dr Osvaldo Rosso 4/08/03 to 19/09/03$3,771
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Visitor Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $3,771 | 2003 | 2003 |
| GNo:G0183277 | ||
2002 (2 grants)
Mechanisms of Glutamate Receptor Maturation in Chicken Brain$417,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor John Rostas, Dr Martin Cammarota, Professor Alistair Sim, Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter, Professor Ulli Schall | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $417,000 | 2002 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0180913 | ||
Biochemical characerization of the DTAL learning task: comparison between immature and mature chickens$12,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor John Rostas, Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $12,000 | 2002 | 2002 |
| GNo:G0181301 | ||
2001 (1 grants)
Executive Dysfunction in Children and Adolescents with Acquired$6,344
Funding Body: Keats Endowment Research Fund
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $6,344 | 2001 | 2001 |
| GNo:G0180580 | ||
2000 (3 grants)
Brain Impairment after Cardiac Surgery.$14,000
Funding Body: Brain Foundation (NSW Branch)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter, Conjoint Professor Chris Levi | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $14,000 | 2000 | 2000 |
| GNo:G0180157 | ||
On the mechanisms involved in learning and memory in the mature chicken brain.$7,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter, Professor John Rostas | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $7,000 | 2000 | 2000 |
| GNo:G0178909 | ||
Functional imaging of brain activity during the visual perception of illusory movement.$6,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $6,000 | 2000 | 2000 |
| GNo:G0178917 | ||
1998 (1 grants)
Pharmaco-behavioural study of changes in the biochemical pathways involved in learning and memory in immature and mature chicken brain.$14,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter, Professor John Rostas | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $14,000 | 1998 | 1998 |
| GNo:G0177408 | ||
1996 (1 grants)
Localisation of Function within Human Visual Cortex using Evoked Potentials, MRI and fMRI.$126,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor David Finlay, Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Large Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $126,000 | 1996 | 1998 |
| GNo:G0175298 | ||
1995 (1 grants)
Habituation of Event-Related Potentials in Attention Deficit Disorder$6,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter, Associate Professor Peter Pfister, Dr Stephen Provost | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Small Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $6,000 | 1995 | 1995 |
| GNo:G0174884 | ||
1994 (1 grants)
Modelling of human event related potential responses.$4,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $4,000 | 1994 | 1994 |
| GNo:G0174747 | ||
1991 (1 grants)
Cognitive Deficits, Event-related Potentials (erp) And Reading Retardation$25,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Associate Professor Mick Hunter | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Large Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $25,000 | 1991 | 1991 |
| GNo:G0173832 | ||
Research Supervision
| Number of current supervisions | 5 |
|---|---|
| Total current UoN PhD EFTSL | 1.5 |
For supervisions undertaken at an institution other that the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics, and the institution name is listed below the program name.
Current Supervision
| Commenced | Proposed Completion | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2016 | PhD (Clinical Psychology) | Principal Supervisor | Cognitive, Emotional and Behavioural Consequences of Child Maltreatment in Saudi Arabia |
| 2010 | 2015 | PhD (Psychology - Science) | Principal Supervisor | The Impact of Environmental Factors on Reading Acquisition in Children with Working Memory Deficits |
| 2009 | 2016 | PhD (Clinical Psychology) | Co-Supervisor | Facial Expression Processing in Individuals with Schizophrenia: Associations with Psychopathy, Symptomatology amd Emotion Regulation |
| 2008 | 2012 | PhD (Psychology - Science) | Co-Supervisor | Properties of Hyperopic and Myopic Defocus in the Guinea Pig Eye |
| 2007 | 2015 | PhD (Psychology - Science) | Principal Supervisor | Helping Children and Families; Keeping Out of Harms Way |
Past Supervision
| Year | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | PhD (Psychiatry) | Co-Supervisor | Face Emotion Processing Deficits in Schizophrenia: Identification and Remediation Utilising Visual Scanpath Technology |
| 2008 | M Psychology (Clinical) [R] | Sole Supervisor | Smoking Cessation for Methadone Clients: A Matter of Having the 'Where-With-All'? |
| 2008 | PhD (Psychology - Science) | Principal Supervisor | Brain Maturation in Chickens: Biochemical, Behavioural and Electrophysiological Investigations |
| 2008 | PhD (Clinical Psychology) | Co-Supervisor | Antisocial Behaviour and Empathic Processing: Differing Pathways to Empathy Deficits in Adolescents with Antisocial and Psychopathic Traits |
| 2007 | M Psychology (Clinical) [R] | Sole Supervisor | The Role of Executive Functions in Reading - Delayed Primary School-Aged Children |
| 2006 | M Psychology (Clinical) [R] | Co-Supervisor | Investigating inhibitory control in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder using a task switching paradigm: A Behavioural Study |
| 2006 | M Psychology (Clinical) [R] | Sole Supervisor | Parenting Stress and the Subjective Quality of Life Experienced by Mothers of Children with Developmental Disabilities |
| 2006 | M Psychology (Clinical) [R] | Sole Supervisor | The Relationship Between Personality Traits, Trauma Exposure and PTSD in a Population of N.S.W. Prisoners |
| 2006 | M Psychology (Clinical) [R] | Co-Supervisor | EMDR for PTSD Following Motor Vehicle Accidents: A Psychological, Physiological and Phenemological Case Study Exploration |
| 2006 | M Psychology (Clinical) [R] | Sole Supervisor | The Contribution of False Belief Task Performance and Perceived Intention to Deceive in Young Children's Judgements about Secrets and Lies |
| 2006 | PhD (Psychology - Science) | Sole Supervisor | Neuropsychological and functional imaging investigations of visual perception following coronary artery bypass grafting |
| 2005 | PhD (Psychology - Science) | Sole Supervisor | Random dot letter reading as a measure of post-cardiac surgery brain injury |
| 2004 | M Psychology (Clinical) [R] | Sole Supervisor | Cognitive Distortions and Social Self-esteem in Sexual Offending Behaviour: A Comparative Investigation of Sexual Offenders, Violent Offenders and University Students in Australia |
| 2004 | M Psychology (Clinical) [R] | Sole Supervisor | A six-month study of the impact of the Active Linkage Initiative on Quality of Life in Licensed Boarding Houses in New South Wales |
| 2004 | M Psychology (Clinical) [R] | Principal Supervisor | Performance in Extremely Low Birth Weight Children followed up at 8 years of age |
| 2003 | PhD (Psychology - Science) | Principal Supervisor | Human Differential Alpha Conditioning |
Conjoint Associate Professor (Mick) Hunter
| Work Phone | (02) |
|---|---|
| Fax | (02) 4921 6980 |
| Mick.Hunter@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Position | Conjoint Associate Professor School of Psychology Faculty of Science and Information Technology |
| Focus Area | Psychology |
| Office | W209., Behavioural Sciences, Callaghan University Drive Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia |
| URL: | www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/mick-hunter |
