Conjoint A/Prof. Michael ( Mick ) Hunter

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, 1976
• Graduate Certificate in Education and Higher Ed, University of London, 1976
• Bachelor of Science (Psychology)(Honours), University of London, 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.

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

Fields of Research

Centres and Groups

Centre

• Hunter Medical Research Institute
• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health (CTNMH)

Group

• Hunter Medical Research Institute - Brain and Mental Health

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.

Teaching interests

• Psychobiology
• Clinical Psychology