Dr Alexandra Adams completed her PhD at the University of Queensland in 2020, before joining the University of Newcastle as an Associate Lecturer in early 2021. Her research to date has focused primarily on social cognitive function following stroke. Social cognition refers broadly to how we process and respond to social information, and is fundamental to the development and maintenance of strong interpersonal relationships.
In her PhD, Alexandra used two complementary methodological approaches to enhance current understanding of post-stroke social cognitive impairment: meta-analysis, and empirical assessment. In addition to these PhD studies, Alexandra has also led a major longitudinal research project which provided the first direct test of whether the social cognitive difficulties evident acutely post-stroke have potentially important prognostic validity. She has also collaborated on a large-scale study examining the neural substrates involved in post-stroke social cognitive dysfunction, as well as on research studies focused on social cognitive function in other groups including healthy older adults, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.
Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Queensland
Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours), University of Queensland
Keywords
Affective empathy
Social behaviour
Social cognition
Social perception
Stroke
Theory of Mind
Languages
English (Mother)
Fields of Research
Code
Description
Percentage
520401
Cognition
40
520207
Social and affective neuroscience
60
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
Title
Organisation / Department
Associate Lecturer
University of Newcastle School of Psychology Australia
Associate Lecturer
University of Newcastle School of Psychological Sciences Australia
Coundouris SP, Adams AG, Henry JD, 'Empathy and theory of mind in Parkinson's disease: A meta-analysis', NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS, 109 92-102 (2020)
Grainger SA, Rakunathan V, Adams AG, Canty AL, Henry JD, 'An assessment of age differences in theory of mind using the virtual assessment of mentalizing ability', AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION, 28 97-107 (2020)
Adams AG, Henry JD, Molenberghs P, Robinson GA, Nott Z, von Hippel W, 'The relationship between social cognitive difficulties in the acute stages of stroke and later functional outcomes', SOCIAL NEUROSCIENCE, 15 158-169 (2019)
DomÃnguez D JF, Nott Z, Horne K, Prangley T, Adams AG, Henry JD, Molenberghs P, 'Structural and functional brain correlates of theory of mind impairment post-stroke.', Cortex, 121 427-442 (2019)
Adams AG, Schweitzer D, Molenberghs P, Henry JD, 'A meta-analytic review of social cognitive function following stroke.', Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 102 400-416 (2019)
Coundouris SP, Adams AG, Grainger SA, Henry JD, 'Social perceptual function in parkinson's disease: A meta-analysis.', Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 104 255-267 (2019)
