Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Heather completed her BPsych(hons) and Combined PhD/Master of Clinical Neuropsychology at Macquarie University in 2008 and 2013 respectively. She has held positions as a Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Neurology Department at Liverpool Hospital and as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of New South Wales and Macquarie University. Currently, she is a Lecturer in Clinical Neuropsychology at Macquarie University and holds a position as a Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Royal North Shore Hospital Neurology Department.
Research interests
Heather's primary research interest is in the area of nutritional neuroscience. Her studies have examined the effect of Western-style diets, high in saturated fat, refined sugar and processed foods, on cognition and mood. And conversely, the therapeutic potential of consuming a healthy, Mediterranean-style diet on improving symptoms of depressed mood.
Heather's has additional interest in the assessment and remediation of cognition and social function in neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis and brain injury. Current projects include the role of inflammation in cognitive fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis, the efficacy of a group memory training program in people with multiple sclerosis, and the impact of a group therapy program on cognition and mood in binge eating disorder.
Research student supervision
Heather supervises students in PhD, Masters of Clinical Neuropsychology and Honours. Topics include nutritional neuroscience, Western-style diet impact on cognition, therapeutic potential of Mediterranean-style diet, eating behaviour and cognitive remediation.
Teaching
Heather currently convenes and teaches on the following units:
1) PSYN855 (Convenor) Neuroanatomy for Neuropsychologists
2) PSYN916 (Lecturer) Advanced Neuropsychological Assessment
3) PSYN917 (Lecturer) Neuropsychological Practice
4) PSYN918 (Lecturer) Clinical Neuropsychology Research Proposal
5) PSY344 (Lecturer) Neuropsychology in Clinical Practice
6) MEDI921 (Lecturer) Musculoskeletal, Neurosciences and Aging
Education/Academic qualification
Psychology, Combined PhD/Masters of Clinical Neuropsychology, Macquarie University
2009 → 2013
Award Date: 11 Nov 2013
Psychology, Bachelor of Psychology (honours), Macquarie University
2005 → 2008
Award Date: 3 Nov 2008
External positions
Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist, Royal North Shore Hospital
20 Mar 2019 → …
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Examining the real world effectiveness and potential of a remotely-delivered psychological treatment for people with MS
Gandy, M., Dear, B., Titov, N., Karin, E., Balakumar, T., Francis, H., Oxenham, V., Fontes Villalba , A. & Parratt, J.
1/01/22 → 31/12/24
Project: Research
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The regulation of desire by bodily state
Stevenson, D., Francis, H. & Yeomans, M.
4/06/21 → 3/06/24
Project: Research
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Diet, inflammation and mood: An intervention study and a causal analysis of physiological mechanisms
1/04/17 → …
Project: Research
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BDRC: Biomolecular Discovery Research Centre
Sunna, A., Packer, N., Paulsen, I., Guillemin, G., Li, M., Sofronov, G., Haynes, P., Mabbutt, B., Tetu, S., Thaysen-Andersen, M., Ponton, F., Garcia-Bennett, A., Wang, Y., Cain, A., Kroukamp, H., Maselko, M., Francis, H., Liquet-Weiland, B., Rodger, A., Lee, A., Connor, M., Inglis, D., Carthey, A. & Asadniaye Fard Jahromi, M.
1/01/20 → 31/12/22
Project: Other
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The role of the hippocampus in context dependent inhibition: implications for regulation of food intake
1/01/19 → 31/12/20
Project: Other
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Diet impacts on brain and mind
Stevenson, R. J. & Francis, H. M., Feb 2023, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press (CUP). 481 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
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Habitual intake of fat and sugar is associated with poorer memory and greater impulsivity in humans
Yeomans, M. R., Armitage, R., Atkinson, R., Francis, H. & Stevenson, R. J., 24 Aug 2023, In: PLoS ONE. 18, 8, p. 1-31 31 p., e0290308.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure) -
Human hunger as a memory process
Stevenson, R. J., Yeomans, M. R. & Francis, H. M., 12 Jan 2023, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Psychological Review. 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2 Citations (Scopus) -
Interoceptive hunger, eating attitudes and beliefs
Stevenson, R. J., Hill, B. J., Hughes, A., Wright, M., Bartlett, J., Saluja, S. & Francis, H. M., 21 Apr 2023, In: Frontiers in Psychology. 14, p. 1-8 8 p., 1148413.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile14 Downloads (Pure) -
Predictors of state-based changes in wanting and liking
Stevenson, R. J., Francis, H. M., Hughes, A., Wylie, F. & Yeomans, M. R., 1 Sep 2023, In: Appetite. 188, p. 1-9 9 p., 106640.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure)