Attention Dynamics Lab

Research Overview

We are interested in:

  • Exploring the ways infants, children, and adults focus and maintain attention on one task amidst a sea of choices. We use a variety of neuroscience methods, including behavioural analyses, eye-tracking, and EEG to further our understanding of these processes.
  • Researching the cognitive and physiological differences associated with developmental disorders, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
  • Investigating the effects of exposure to nature (greenery) on concentration abilities.
  • Examining how children in the classroom are able to concentrate and listen to the teacher, how this skill is associated with learning, and how this relationship changes over time.
  • Studying the development of early attention and memory processes in infants.

Research Tools

RT_FFT_ExG_Analysis_Johnsonetal Matlab file (ZIP 2.2 KB)

Staff

  • Professor Katherine Johnson, Principal Investigator
  • Dr. Sumie Leung, Research Fellow
  • Dr. Shuting Li, Research Fellow
  • Jo Bowen, Casual Research Assistant

Current students

  • Selma Fjaestad, PhD student (2024+)
  • Blake Davis, Masters of Clinical Psychology student (2022-2023)
  • Sarah Candeloro, Masters of Clinical Neuropsychology student (2023-2024)
  • Isabel Chua, Masters of Clinical Psychology student (2023-2024)
  • Shannon Hawkes, Masters of Clinical Neuropsychology student (2024-2025)
  • Elisabetta Materazzo, Honours student (2024), with Dr Shuting Li (2024)

Completed PhD students

  • Dr. Rose Macaulay (with Prof Kathryn Williams, Dr Kate Lee)
  • Dr. Shuting Li – with Dr Emma Burrows, a Research Fellow at the Florey
  • Dr. Benita Green - with Associate Professor Lesley Bretherton, University of Melbourne
  • Dr. Keitaro Machida, University of Melbourne
  • Dr. Jesse Smith - with Professor Nick Allen and Dr Julian Simmons, University of Melbourne
  • Dr. Sally Richmond - with Professor Nick Allen, Associate Professor Sarah Whittle, Dr Marc Seal, Dr Richard Beare, University of Melbourne
  • Dr. Frances Lewis - with Associate Professor Bob Reeve, University of Melbourne
  • Dr. Chaille Breuer - with Associate Professor Bob Reeve, University of Melbourne
  • Associate Professor Jane McGrath - with Professor Louise Gallagher, Professor Hugh Garavan, Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin

Completed Masters students

  • Areej Hassan (2022-2023), Masters in Clinical Psychology
  • Nick Busuttil (2022-2023), Masters in Clinical Psychology
  • Mia Dear (2021-2022), Masters in Clinical Neuropsychology
  • Ruth Minkov (2020-2021), Masters in Clinical Neuropsychology, with Dr Marc Seal and Dr Gareth Ball
  • Abigail Aizenstros (2020-2021), Masters in Clinical Psychology, with Prof Kim Cornish and Dr Frances Lewis
  • Mihiri Weerasinghe (2019-2020), Masters in Educational and Developmental Psychology, with Dr Cheree Murrihy
  • Tim Doman (2019-2020), Masters in Clinical Psychology
  • Kok Hon Leuar (2018-2019), Masters in Clinical Neuropsychology
  • Yi-En Quek (2018-2019), Masters in Clinical Neuropsychology
  • Poh Wong (2016-2017) Masters in Educational Psychology
  • Max White (2016-2017) Masters in Educational Psychology
  • Dr. Scott McDonald (2016-2017) Masters in Clinical Neuropsychology
  • Mariana Theodorou (2013-2014) Masters in Clinical Psychology
  • Annalise Avitabile (2013-2014) Masters in Clinical Psychology
  • Emma Burrows (2011-2012) Masters in Clinical Psychology
  • Alicia Mulholland, Queen’s University of Belfast (2009-2010) MSc in Atypical Child Development
  • Chelsea Maguire, Queen’s University of Belfast (2009-2010) MSc in Atypical Child Development

Completed Honours students

  • 2023: Leilani Frost, Anastasia Liu, Sally Hill, Emily Hart
  • 2022: Claire Salmon, Anthony Chebaia
  • 2021: Georgia Radford
  • 2020: Isobel Bond, Vi Ly
  • 2019: Reeva Ashton, Annabelle Pontvianne, James Coleman
  • 2018: Yanchun Zheng, Tim Doman, Michaela Hughes
  • 2017: Nicole Nabout, Ashleigh De Winter, Ruby Pasquinelli, Phoebe Thomson
  • 2016: Sabbatical leave
  • 2015: Stella Milhailova, Brittany Cole, Jordana Mac
  • 2014: Marita Bryan, Kira Polonowita, Bowie Lau
  • 2013: Ebony Ziccardi, Neisha Kiernan, Jehan Gonsalkorale
  • 2012: Megan Antonucci
  • 2011: Phoebe Hammond, Kate Paton, Sarah Brcan
  • 2009/2010: Megan Whitehead, Catherine McElroy and Laura Bell (Queen’s University of Belfast)
  • 2008/2009: Sarah Denny (Trinity College Dublin)
  • 2007/2008 Michelle McCormick (Trinity College Dublin)
  • 2006/2007 Claire Waters (Trinity College Dublin)

Collaborators

  • Dr Emma Burrows, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
  • Dr. Philippe Chouinard and Dr Oriane Landry, La Trobe University
  • Professor Kim Cornish, Monash University
  • Professor Jennifer T. Coull, Aix-Marseille Université & CNRS
  • Dr Soumitra Das, Dr Thilini Jayasooriya (Adult ADHD clinicians)
  • Prof Terry Hartig, Uppsala University
  • A/Prof Jane McGrath, Trinity College Dublin
  • Prof Fiona McNicholas, University College Dublin
  • Professor Michael Saling, Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne
  • Associate Professor Sant-Rayn Pasricha, Dr Leila Larson, WEHI, Professor Beverley-Ann Biggs, Peter Doherty Institute, and Professor Jena Hamadani and Dr Imrul Hasan, icddr-Bangladesh, and Professor Stefan Bode and Dr Daniel Feuerriegel, Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne
  • Professor Kathryn Williams, Associate Professor Nick Williams, Dr Kate Lee, University of Melbourne and Professor Leisa Sargent, University of New South Wales

Funding

  • Contemplative Studies Centre, Academic Seed Funding Program (2022)
  • The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (2019-2023)
  • Decision Science Hub, MSPS, Seed Grant (2019)
  • Horticulture Innovation Australia (2018-2020)
  • Australian Research Council Discovery Project (2017-2020)

Research Outcomes

Research Publications

Published

Li, S., Machida, K., Burrows, E. L., Johnson, K. A. (2024). Quicker Exogenous Orienting and Slower Endogenous Orienting in Autistic People. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06311-8

Bond, I. G., Machida, K., & Johnson, K. A. (2024). Daily arousal variation has little effect on sustained attention performance. Current Psychology, 43(3), 2690-2703. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04473-9

Macaulay, R., Johnson, K., Lee, K., & Williams, K. (2024). Examining the facets of mindful engagement and mind wandering in nature. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 94, 102253. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102253

Lee, K., Wylie, B., Williams, N. S. G., Johnson, K. A., Sargent, L. D., & Williams, K. J. H. (2024). “It’s a little soap opera of its own”: Fascinating green roofs offer complexity, movement, sensory engagement, and vast vistas. Landscape and Urban Planning, 242, 104925. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2023.104925

Li, S., May, C., Pang, T. Y., Churilov, L., Hannan, A. J., Johnson, K. A., & Burrows, E. L. (2024). Mice with an autism-associated R451C mutation in neuroligin-3 show intact attention orienting but atypical responses to methylphenidate and atomoxetine in the mouse-Posner task. Psychopharmacology (Berl), 241(3), 555-567. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-023-06520-6

Harding, R., Moya, E., Ataíde, R., Truwah, Z., Mzembe, G., Mhango, G., Demir, A., Stones, W., Randall, L., Seal, M., Johnson, K., Bode, S., Mwangi, M., Pasricha, S., Braat, S., & Phiri, K. (2023). Protocol and statistical analysis plan for a randomized controlled trial of the effect of intravenous iron on anemia in Malawian pregnant women in their third trimester (REVAMP ? TT) [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]. Gates Open Research, 7(117). https://doi.org/10.12688/gatesopenres.14710.2

Larson, L. M., Feuerriegel, D., Hasan, M. I., Braat, S., Jin, J., Tipu, S. M. U., Shiraji, S., Tofail, F., Biggs, B. A., Hamadani, J., Johnson, K., Pasricha, S. R., & Bode, S. (2023). Supplementation With Iron Syrup or Iron-Containing Multiple Micronutrient Powders Alters Resting Brain Activity in Bangladeshi Children. J Nutr, 153(1), 352-363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2022.12.026

Richmond, S., Beare, R., Johnson, K. A., Bray, K., Pozzi, E., Allen, N. B., Seal, M. L., & Whittle, S. (2022). Maternal warmth is associated with network segregation across late childhood: A longitudinal neuroimaging study [Original Research]. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.917189

Thomson, P., Johnson, K. A., Malpas, C. B., Efron, D., Sciberras, E., & Silk, T. J. (2021). Head Motion During MRI Predicted by out-of-Scanner Sustained Attention Performance in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. J Atten Disord, 25(10), 1429-1440. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054720911988

Johnson, K. A., Lewis, F. C., & Cornish, K. M. (2020). A child-focused version of the Attention Network Task designed to investigate interactions between the attention networks, including the endogenous orienting network. Child Neuropsychol, 26(5), 666-690. https://doi.org/10.1080/09297049.2019.1702635

Johnson, K. A., White, M., Wong, P. S., & Murrihy, C. (2020). Aspects of attention and inhibitory control are associated with on-task classroom behaviour and behavioural assessments, by both teachers and parents, in children with high and low symptoms of ADHD. Child Neuropsychol, 26(2), 219-241. https://doi.org/10.1080/09297049.2019.1639654

Thomson, P., Vijayakumar, N., Johnson, K. A., Malpas, C. B., Sciberras, E., Efron, D., Hazell, P., & Silk, T. J. (2020). Longitudinal Trajectories of Sustained Attention Development in Children and Adolescents with ADHD. J Abnorm Child Psychol, 48(12), 1529-1542. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-020-00698-5

Landry, O., Johnson, K. A., Fleming, S. J., Crewther, S. G., & Chouinard, P. A. (2019). A new look at the developmental profile of visual endogenous orienting. J Exp Child Psychol, 183, 158-171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2019.01.022

Machida, K., & Johnson, K. A. (2019). Integration and Segregation of the Brain Relate to Stability of Performance in Children and Adolescents with Varied Levels of Inattention and Impulsivity. Brain Connect, 9(9), 711-729. https://doi.org/10.1089/brain.2019.0671

Machida, K., Murias, M., & Johnson, K. A. (2019). Electrophysiological Correlates of Response Time Variability During a Sustained Attention Task [Original Research]. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2019.00363

Richmond, S., Beare, R., Johnson, K. A., Allen, N. B., Seal, M. L., & Whittle, S. (2019). Structural covariance networks in children and their associations with maternal behaviors. Neuroimage, 202, 115965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.06.043

Smith, J. D., Johnson, K. A., Whittle, S., Allen, N. B., & Simmons, J. G. (2019). Measurement of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone, and testosterone in the hair of children: Preliminary results and promising indications. Dev Psychobiol, 61(6), 962-970. https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.21807

Williams, K. J. H., Lee, K. E., Sargent, L. D., Johnson, K. A., Rayner, J. P., Farrell, C. E., Miller, R. E., & Williams, N. S. G. (2019). Appraising the psychological benefits of green roofs for city residents and workers. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 44, 126399. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2019.126399

Coull, J. T., Johnson, K. A., & Droit-Volet, S. (2018). A Mental Timeline for Duration From the Age of 5 Years Old [Original Research]. Frontiers in Psychology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01155

Lewis, F. C., Reeve, R. A., & Johnson, K. A. (2018). A longitudinal analysis of the attention networks in 6- to 11-year-old children. Child Neuropsychol, 24(2), 145-165. https://doi.org/10.1080/09297049.2016.1235145

Machida, K., Chin, M., & Johnson, K. A. (2018). The provision of partial notes is not associated with improved student attention in lectures or subsequent understanding of the lecture material. Active Learning in Higher Education, 19(2), 101-115. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787417723241

McCarthy, H., Stanley, J., Piech, R., Skokauskas, N., Mulligan, A., Donohoe, G., Mullins, D., Kelly, J., Johnson, K., Fagan, A., Gill, M., Meaney, J., & Frodl, T. (2018). Childhood-Diagnosed ADHD, Symptom Progression, and Reversal Learning in Adulthood. J Atten Disord, 22(6), 561-570. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054716661233

Pasanen, T., Johnson, K., Lee, K., & Korpela, K. (2018). Can Nature Walks With Psychological Tasks Improve Mood, Self-Reported Restoration, and Sustained Attention? Results From Two Experimental Field Studies [Original Research]. Frontiers in Psychology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02057

Williams, K. J. H., Lee, K. E., Hartig, T., Sargent, L. D., Williams, N. S. G., & Johnson, K. A. (2018). Conceptualising creativity benefits of nature experience: Attention restoration and mind wandering as complementary processes. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 59, 36-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2018.08.005

Lewis, F.C., Reeve, R., Kelly, S.P., Johnson, K.A. Sustained attention to a predictable, unengaging Go/No-Go task shows ongoing development between 6 and 11 years. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 2017, 79(6), 1726-1741. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13414-017-1351-4

Lewis, F.C., Reeve, R., Kelly, S.P., Johnson, K.A. Evidence of substantial development of inhibitory control and sustained attention between 6 and 8 years on an unpredictable Go/No-Go task. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 2017, 157, May, 66-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2016.12.008

Johnson, K.A., Bryan, M., Polonowita, K., Decroupet, D., Coull, J.T. Isochronous sequential presentation helps children orient their attention in time. Frontiers in Psychology, 2016, Sep 22:7, 1417. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.0141

Richmond, S., Johnson, K.A., Seal, M., Allen, N.B., Whittle, S. (2016). Development of Brain Networks and Relevance of Environmental and Genetic Factors: A Systematic Review. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 2016, 71(12), 215-239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.08.024

Johnson, K.A., Kelly, S. P., Asherson, P., Kuntsi, J., Ashwood, K.L., Azadi, B., Bolton, P., & McLoughlin, G. Response time variability under slow and fast-incentive conditions in children with ASD, ADHD and ASD+ADHD. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2016, 57(12), 1414-1423. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12608

Johnson, K.A., Warr, D.J., Hegarty, K., Guillemin, M. Small wins: an initiative to promote gender equity in higher education. The Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 2015, 37(6), 689-701. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2015.1102820

Johnson, K.A., Burrowes, E., Coull, J.T. Children can implicitly, but not voluntarily, direct attention in time. PLOS ONE, 2015, 10(4):e0123625. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0123625

Fitzgerald, J., Johnson, K.A., Kehoe, E., Bodke, A., Garavan, H., Gallagher, L., McGrath, J.  Disrupted functional connectivity in dorsal and ventral attention networks during attention orienting in autism spectrum disorders. Autism Research, 2015, 8(2), 136-152. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.1430

Johnson, K.A., Healy, E., Dooley, B., Kelly, S.P., McNicholas, F.  Children born with very low birth weight show difficulties with sustained attention but not response inhibition. Child Neuropsychology, 2015, 21(5),629-647. https://doi.org/10.1080/09297049.2014.964193

McAvinue, L., Vangkilde, S., Johnson, K.A., Habekost, T., Kyllingsbaek, S., Bundesen, C., Robertson, I.H. A componential analysis of visual attention in children with ADHD.  Journal of Attention Disorders, 2015, 19(10), 882-894. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054712461935

Green, B., Johnson, K.A., Bretherton, L.  Pragmatic language difficulties in children with hyperactivity and attention problems: an integrated review. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 2014, 49(1), 15-29. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12056

Paton, K., Hammond, P., Barry, E., Fitzgerald, M., McNicholas, F., Kirley, A., Robertson, I., Bellgrove, M A., Gill, M., Johnson, K A. Methylphenidate improves some but not all measures of attention, as measured by the TEA-Ch in medication-naïve children with ADHD. Child Neuropsychology, 2014, 20(3), 303-318. https://doi.org/10.1080/09297049.2013.790358

Adamo, N., Di Martino, A., Esu, L., Petkova, E., Johnson, K.A., Kelly, S., Castellanos, F.X., Zuddas, A. Increased RT variability across different cognitive tasks in children with ADHD.  Journal of Attention Disorders, 2014, 18(5), 434-446. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054712439419

Johnson, K.A., Barry, E., Lambert, D., Fitzgerald, M., McNicholas, F., Kirley, A., Gill, M., Bellgrove, M.A., Hawi, Z. Methylphenidate side-effect profile is influenced by genetic variation in the ADHD-associated CES1 gene. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 2013, 23(10), 655-664. https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2013.0032

McGrath, J., Johnson, K.A., O’Hanlon, E., Garavan, H., Leemans, A., Gallagher, L.  Abnormal functional connectivity during visuospatial processing is associated with disrupted organisation of white matter in autism. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2013, 7:434. 34-52. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00434

McCarthy, H., Skokauskas, N., Mulligan, A., Donohoe, G., Mullins, D., Kelly, J., Johnson, K A., Fagan, A., Gill, M., Meaney, J., Frodl, T. Attention network hypoconnectivity with default and affective network hyperconnectivity in adults diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Childhood. JAMA Psychiatry, 2013, 70(12), 1329-1337. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.2174

McGrath, J., Johnson, K.A., O’Hanlon, E., Garavan, H., Gallagher, L., Leemans, A.  White matter and visuospatial processing in autism: a constrained spherical deconvolution tractography study. Autism Research, 2013, 6(5), 307-319, published on-line 18 March 2013. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.1290

McAvinue, L.P., Habekost, T., Johnson, K.A., Kyllingsbaek, S., Vangkilde, S., Bundesen, C., Robertson, I.H. Sustained attention, attentional selectivity, and attentional capacity across the lifespan. Attention, Perception and Psychophysics, 2012, 74(8), 1570-1582. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13414-012-0352-6

McGrath, J., Johnson, K.A., Ecker, C., O’Hanlon, E., Gill, M., Gallagher, L., Garavan, H. Atypical visuospatial processing in autism: insights from functional connectivity analysis. Autism Research, 2012, 5(5), 314-330. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.1245

Badawy, R., Johnson, K.A., Cook, M.J., Harvey, A.S.  A mechanistic appraisal of cognitive dysfunction in epilepsy. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 2012, 36(8), 1885-1896. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2012.05.002

McAvinue, L., Vangkilde, S., Johnson, K.A., Habekost, T., Kyllingsbaek, S., Robertson, I.H., Bundesen, C.  The relationship between sustained attention, attentional selectivity and capacity.  Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 2012, 24(3), 313-328.  https://doi.org/10.1080/20445911.2011.628653

Braet, W., Johnson, K.A., Tobin, C.T., Acheson, R., McDonnell, C., Hawi, Z., Barry, E., Mulligan, A., Gill, M., Bellgrove, M.A., Robertson, I.H., Garavan, H.  fMRI activation during response inhibition and error processing: The role of the DAT1 gene in typically developing adolescents and those diagnosed with ADHD.  Neuropsychologia, 2011, 49(7), 1641-1650.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2011.01.001

Wood A.C., Rijsdijk F., Johnson K.A., Andreou P., Albrecht B., Arias-Vasquez A., Buitelaar J.K., McLoughlin G., Rommelse N.N.J., Sergeant J.A., Sonuga-Barke E.J.S., Uebel H., van der Meere J.J., Banaschewski T., Gill M., Manor I., Miranda A., Mulas F., Oades R.D., Roeyers H., Rothenberger A., Steinhausen H.C., Faraone S.V., Asherson P., & Kuntsi J.  The relationship between ADHD and cognitive phenotypes is not mediated by shared familial effects with IQ. Psychological Medicine, 2011, 41(4), 861-871. https://doi.org/10.1017/S003329171000108X

Kuntsi, J., Wood, A.C., Rijsdijk, F., Johnson, K.A., Andreou, P., Albrecht, B., Arias-Vasquez, A., Buitelaar, J.K., McLoughlin, G., Rommelse, N.N.J., Sergeant, J.A., Sonuga-Barke, E.J., Uebel, H., van der Meere, J.J., Banaschewski, T., Gill, M., Manor, I., Miranda, A., Mulas, F., Oades, R.D., Roeyers, H.D., Rothenberger, A., Steinhausen, H-C., Faraone, S.V., Asherson, P.  Separation of cognitive impairments in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder into two familial factors.  Archives of General Psychiatry, 2010, 67(11), 1159-1166.  https://doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.139

Johnson, K.A., Dáibhis, A., Tobin, C., Acheson, R., Watchorn, A., Mulligan, A., Barry, E., Bradshaw, J.L., Gill, M., Robertson, I.H.  Right-sided spatial difficulties in ADHD demonstrated in continuous movement control. Neuropsychologia, 2010, 48(5), 1255-1264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2009.12.026

Braet, W., Johnson, K.A., Tobin, C., Acheson, R., Bellgrove, M.A., Robertson, I.H., Garavan, H.  Functional developmental changes underlying response inhibition and error-detection processes. Neuropsychologia, 2009, 47(14), 3143-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2009.07.018

Bellgrove, M.A., Johnson, K.A., Barry, E., Mulligan, A., Hawi, Z., Gill, M., Robertson, I.H., Chambers, C.D.  Dopaminergic haplotype as a predictor of spatial inattention in children with ADHD. Archives of General Psychiatry, 2009, 66(10), 1135-1142. https://doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2009.120

Johnson, K.A., Wiersema, J. R., Kuntsi, J.  What would Karl Popper say - Are current psychological theories of ADHD falsifiable? Behavioral and Brain Functions, 2009, 5:15 (Highly Accessed). https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-9081-5-15

Johnson, K.A., Robertson, I.H. Barry, E., Mulligan, A., Dáibhis, A., Daly, M., Watchorn, A., Gill, M., Bellgrove, M.A. Impaired conflict resolution and alerting in children with ADHD: evidence from the Attention Network Task (ANT).  Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2008, 49(12), 1339-1347. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.01936.x

Johnson, K.A., Kelly, S.P., Robertson, I.H. Barry, E., Mulligan, A., Daly, M., Lambert, D., McDonnell, C., Connor, T.J., Hawi, Z., Gill, M., Bellgrove, M.A.  Absence of the 7-repeat variant of the DRD4 VNTR is associated with drifting sustained attention in children with ADHD but not in controls.  American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics, 2008, 147B(6), 927-937. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.b.30718 Winner of the European Psychiatric Association Research Prize (Child & Adolescent Psychiatry) 2009

Greene, C.M., Braet, W., Johnson, K.A., Bellgrove, M.A. Imaging the genetics of executive function.  Biological Psychology, 2008, 79, 30-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2007.11.009

Bellgrove, M.A., Barry, E., Johnson, K.A., Cox, M., Dáibhis, A., Daly, M., Hawi, Z., Lambert, D., Lawlor, M., Moran, T., Fitzgerald, M., McNicholas, F., Robertson, I. H., Gill, M., Kirley, A. Spatial attentional bias as a marker of genetic risk, symptom severity and stimulant response in ADHD.  Neuropsychopharmacology,2008, 33(10), 2536-2545.  https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1301637

Johnson, K.A., Barry, E., Bellgrove, M.A., Cox, M., Kelly, S.P., Dáibhis, A., Daly, M., Fitzgerald, M., McNicholas, F., Kirley, A., Robertson, I.H., Gill, M.  Dissociation in response to methylphenidate administration on sustained attention in a group of medication naïve children with ADHD.  Neuropsychologia, 2008, 46(5), 1532-1541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2008.01.002

Sanders, J., Johnson, K.A.., Garavan, H., Gill, M., Gallagher, L.  A review of neuropsychological and neuroimaging research in Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Attention, inhibition and cognitive flexibility.  Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2008, 2(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2007.03.005

Bellgrove, M.A., Chambers, C.D., Johnson, K.A., Dáibhis, A., Daly, M., Hawi, Z., Lambert, D., Gill, M., Robertson, I.H.  Dopaminergic genotype biases spatial attention in healthy children.  Molecular Psychiatry, 2007, 12(8), 786-792. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4002022

Johnson, K.A., Robertson, I.H., Kelly, S.P., Silk, T.J., Barry, E., Dáibhis, A., Watchorn, M., Keavey, M., Fitzgerald, M., Gallagher, L., Gill, M., Bellgrove, M.A.  Dissociation in performance of children with ADHD and autism on a task of sustained attention.  Neuropsychologia,2007, 45(10), 2234-2245.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2007.02.019

Johnson, K.A., Kelly, S.P., Bellgrove, M.A., Barry, E., Cox, M., Gill, M., Robertson, I.H.  Response variability in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: evidence for neuropsychological heterogeneity. Neuropsychologia, 2007, 45(4), 630-638. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2006.03.034

Rinehart NJ, Tonge BJ, Bradshaw J, L., Iansek R, Enticott PG, Johnson KA.  Movement-Related Potentials in Autism and Asperger's disorder. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 2006, 48(4), 272-277.  https://doi.org/10.1017/S0012162206000594

Johnson. K.A., Cunnington. R., Bradshaw. J.L., Chiu. E., Iansek. R.  Effect of an attentional strategy on movement-related potentials recorded from subjects with Huntington’s disease.  Movement Disorders, 2002, 17(5), 998 – 1003.  https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.10204

Johnson. K.A., Cunnington. R., Iansek. R.,Bradshaw. J.L., Georgiou. N., Chiu. E. Movement related potentials in Huntington’s disease – movement preparation and execution.  Experimental Brain Research, 2001, 138(4), 492 - 499.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s002210100733

Bellgrove, M.A., Bradshaw, J.L., Velakoulis, D., Johnson, K.A., Rogers, M.A., Smith, D., Pantelis, C. Bimanual coordination in chronic schizophrenia. Brain and Cognition, 2001, 45(3), 325-341.  https://doi.org/10.1006/brcg.2000.1261

Johnson. K.A., Bennett., J.E., Georgiou, N., Bradshaw, J.L., Chiu, E., Cunnington, R., Iansek, R.  Bimanual co-ordination in Huntington’s disease.  Experimental Brain Research, 2000, 134(4), 483-489. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002210000485

Johnson, K.A., Cunnington, R., Bradshaw, J.L., Phillips, J., Iansek, R., Rogers, M. Bimanual Coordination in Parkinson’s disease. Brain, 1998, 121(4), 734-753.  https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/121.4.743

Cunnington, R., Iansek, R., Johnson, K.A., Bradshaw, J.L.  Movement-related potentials in Parkinson’s Disease. Motor imagery and movement preparation. Brain, 1997, 120(8), 1339-1353.  https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/120.8.1339

Research Projects

Faculty Research Themes

Neuroscience, Child Health

School Research Themes

Cognitive Psychology and Behavioural Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology

Key Contact

For further information about this research, please contact Laboratory Director Professor Katherine Johnson

Department / Centre

Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences

Unit / Centre

MDHS Research library
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