Principle Investigator
Dr Carmel Mevorach
Carmel completed his undergraduate degree in psychology and computer sciences at Tel Aviv University, Israel. He later moved on to develop a new computerised assessment and training batteries for children and adults with ADHD (together with Professor Yehoshua Tsal and Professor Lilach Shalev) following which he arrived at Birmingham to study for a Ph.D. with Professor Glyn Humphreys looking at mechanisms of salience-based selection. He then contunied his training in cognitive neuroscience methods in a couple of post-doc positions (ESRC, MRC) before taking up a lectureship position in 2010 becoming a senior lecturer (associate professor) in 2020.
Carmel completed his undergraduate degree in psychology and computer sciences at Tel Aviv University, Israel. He later moved on to develop a new computerised assessment and training batteries for children and adults with ADHD (together with Professor Yehoshua Tsal and Professor Lilach Shalev) following which he arrived at Birmingham to study for a Ph.D. with Professor Glyn Humphreys looking at mechanisms of salience-based selection. He then contunied his training in cognitive neuroscience methods in a couple of post-doc positions (ESRC, MRC) before taking up a lectureship position in 2010 becoming a senior lecturer (associate professor) in 2020.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1596-1026Post-docs
Dr Mayra Muller Spaniol
Mayra has completed her psychology degree in Brazil before coming to Birmingham to study for PhD under the supervision of Dr. Carmel Mevorach. Her PhD work focused on attention control in Autism including the application of an attention intervention program (CPAT) in children with ASD. Following her PhD she has continued her intervention work in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The project she is currently running in the lab involves measuring the effect of brain stimulation (tDCS) as a function of the individual's autism trait expression.
Mayra has completed her psychology degree in Brazil before coming to Birmingham to study for PhD under the supervision of Dr. Carmel Mevorach. Her PhD work focused on attention control in Autism including the application of an attention intervention program (CPAT) in children with ASD. Following her PhD she has continued her intervention work in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The project she is currently running in the lab involves measuring the effect of brain stimulation (tDCS) as a function of the individual's autism trait expression.
Phd
Current
Orli Azulai
Orli is an external student (Tel Aviv University) co-supervised with Prof. Lilach Shalev. Her PhD work focuses on perceptual learning in ADHD and controls and the role of attention processes in transfer effects of learning.
Orli is an external student (Tel Aviv University) co-supervised with Prof. Lilach Shalev. Her PhD work focuses on perceptual learning in ADHD and controls and the role of attention processes in transfer effects of learning.
Alumni
Dr. Tamar Kolodny (2018)
Tamar has been an external student (The Hebrew University, Jerusalem; co-supervised with Prof. Lilach Shalev). Her PhD work focused on brain mechanisms of response inhibition and how they are modulated in ADHD. Tamar currently holds a post-doc position at the University of Washington.
Tamar has been an external student (The Hebrew University, Jerusalem; co-supervised with Prof. Lilach Shalev). Her PhD work focused on brain mechanisms of response inhibition and how they are modulated in ADHD. Tamar currently holds a post-doc position at the University of Washington.
Dr. Brandon Ashinoff (2017)
Brandon’s PhD work focused on attention control mechanisms in healthy aging. Specifically the interplay between proactive and reactive distractor suppression and how the underlying brain mechanisms involved are modulated in old age. Brandon currently holds a post-doc position at Columbia University, NY
Brandon’s PhD work focused on attention control mechanisms in healthy aging. Specifically the interplay between proactive and reactive distractor suppression and how the underlying brain mechanisms involved are modulated in old age. Brandon currently holds a post-doc position at Columbia University, NY
Dr. Mayra Muller Spaniol (2017)
Mayra’s PhD work focused on attention control in the Broader Autism Phenotype (BAP) and the potential academic benefit from attention training in schools for children with autism. Mayra currently holds a post-doc position at Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and she is also a Rutherford Fellow in the lab.
Mayra’s PhD work focused on attention control in the Broader Autism Phenotype (BAP) and the potential academic benefit from attention training in schools for children with autism. Mayra currently holds a post-doc position at Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and she is also a Rutherford Fellow in the lab.
Dr. Ahmad Abu-Akel (2016)
Ahmad was a visiting PhD student in the lab. His work here focused on the implication of the diametrical model of autism and psychosis on attention control mechanisms. Ahmad currently holds a post-doc position at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland).
Ahmad was a visiting PhD student in the lab. His work here focused on the implication of the diametrical model of autism and psychosis on attention control mechanisms. Ahmad currently holds a post-doc position at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland).
Dr. Robin Green (2016)
Robin’s PhD work focused on salience based selection in stroke patients, specifically following bilateral parietal damage. Robin is currently a lecturer at the University of Leicester.
Robin’s PhD work focused on salience based selection in stroke patients, specifically following bilateral parietal damage. Robin is currently a lecturer at the University of Leicester.
Msc
Current
- Ellie Boot – Ellie's MSc project will focus on dynamic functional connectivity in autism in the context of reactive attention control.
- Yiying Huang – Yiying's MSc project will assess dynamic funciotns connectivity in autism focusoing on the link between attention control and belief update mechanisms.
- Shanshan Song - Shanna's MSc project will assess individual differences in contingent attention capture.
Alumni (recent)
- Laura Bravo Balsa (2020) - Laura's MSc project assessed the difference in dynamic functional connectivity in autistic adults and controls (the project is being prepared for publication).
- Danniel Smullen (2020) - Danny's MSc project assessed dynamic functional connectivity in participants with ADHD (Danny is now developing his projhect further in a PhD in the lab).
- Benjamin Jackson (2020) - Ben's MSc project assessed dynamic functiona connectivity in the fronto-pairetal network of autistic adults.
- Lydia Ravenscroft (2019)– Lydia’s MSc project demonstrated using brain stimulation (TMS) that the PrC is modulated by the relative expression of autism and psychosis and that this in turn drives attention function (the project is being prepared for publication).
- Holley Allen (2019) – Holly’s MSc project investigated the role of the PrC in reactive attention switching using brain stimulation (tDCS).
- Alice Sarhanis (2018) – Alice's MSc project investigated brain stimulation effects as a function of individual differences
- Iyin Oshinowo (2018) – Iyin’s MSc project investigated the differential contribution of the IPS and the Precuneus in attention allocation to target and distractors.
- Roksana Markiewicz (2018) – Roxy’s lab placement looked at individual differences in the 'mutations' paradigm.
