Associate Professor Sarah Wilson
BSc(Hons); PhD; MAPS; CCN
Associate Professor & Reader
Contact details:
| email: sarahw@unimelb.edu.au | |
| telephone: +61 3 8344 7391 |
I am a Clinical Neuropsychologist and research scientist with a particular interest in the interrelationships between brain processes, cognition and behaviour, and their psychosocial outworkings. This interest has issued two lines of research into the study of brain and behaviour that inform clinical practice: (1) clinical neuropsychology, with a specialty in epilepsy and extensions to other medical conditions, and (2) behavioural neuroscience, with a specialty in music neurocognition.
The first arm of my research profile investigates the health outcomes and psychosocial functioning of patients following major medical treatments for chronic illness, such as epilepsy surgery. It has led to the development of a new model of psychosocial adjustment that has subsequently been extended to other medical conditions, such as narcolepsy and cardiac disease.
The second arm of my research profile investigates the influence of genetic and environmental factors in effecting morphological and functional changes in the brain (cortical plasticity) and the relationship of these changes to cognitive skill development across different domains. My particular interest lies in the auditory domain, focusing on the development of musical abilities and expertise and their neurobiological basis, the effect of brain injury on the performance of musicians (amusia), the effect of brain injury on music performance (amusia) and the use of music to facilitate cerebral recovery.
Research Interests:
- Clinical Neuropsychology
Psychosocial and cognitive aspects of medical illness and treatment outcome, including epilepsy, narcolepsy, cardiac surgery, cerebral aneurysm and stroke
The neurobiological basis of mood and sexual functioning
Quality of life research
- Behavioural Neuroscience
- Methodologies of Interest
Qualitative research
Structural and functional neuroimaging
- Music Neuroscience Laboratory
Music, Auditory Cognition and Mind (MACAM) Research Group
Auditory perception and recognition, music perception, cognition, and memory
Musical ability and expertise, absolute pitch, amusia
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Williams Syndrome
Appointments & Professional Associations:
- Adjunct Senior Fellow, Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne (Austin Health & Northern Health)
- Co-Head, Cognitive Neuroscience Division, and Research Fellow, Florey Neuroscience Institutes; Brain Research Institute
- Director, Neuropsychological Research, Epilepsy Research Centre, Auin Healthst
- Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist, Consultant, Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, Austin Health
- Invited Visiting Professor, The International Laboratory of Brain, Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), and the University of Montreal, Canada, January–June, 2010
- President, Australian Music and Psychology Society (AMPS), 2010-2011.
- Invited Member, Editorial Board, Epilepsy & Behaviour, 2008-2010
- Specialist Registration, Clinical Neuropsychologist, The APS College of Clinical Neuropsychologists(CCN)
- Registered Psychologist, Psychologists Registration Board of Victoria
- Member, Australian Psychological Society (MAPS)
- Member, Epilepsy Society of Australia (ESA)
- Member, PRIMAL Network
Awards:
- Learning and Teaching Award, The University of Melbourne, 2009
- Epilepsy Association Research Scholarship, 2003
- Australian Research Council, Early Career Researcher Award, 2002
- Melbourne University Early Career Researcher Award, 2002
- Inaugural Sanofi-Synthallabo Prize for Assessing Costs in Epilepsy (IBE-SPACE), 1999
- GlaxoSmithKline Epilepsy Fellow, Austin Health, 1997-1999
- Australian Post-graduate Research Award (APRA), 1992-1995
- Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) Post-graduate Scholarships, 1991-1996
Recent Funded Research:
| Project: | Clinical genetic phenotyping of Autism Spectrum Disorders National Health & Medical Research Council |
| Year: | 2009-2011 |
| Funded by: | National Health & Medical Research Council |
| Project: | Autobiographical memory: A neuroimaging paradigm for improving diagnostic accuracy in epilepsy |
| Year: | 2010 |
| Funded by: | Austin Hospital Medical Research Foundation (AHMRF) |
| Project: | A study of acoustical, psycho-acoustical and musicological factors in tuned percussion ensemble design |
| Year: | 2006-2010 |
| Funded by: | Australian Research Council |
| Project: | Family and community study of the genetics of Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| Year: | 2006-2009 |
| Funded by: | Jack Brockoff Foundation Award |
| Project: | Predicting the evolution of psychosocial and cognitive difficulties in epilepsy: A preventive approach |
| Year: | 2004-2006 |
| Funded by: | Australian Research Council Linkage Grant with GlaxoSmithKline, Australia |
| Project: | Using musical training to examine brain plasticity and cognitive skill development |
| Year: | 2004-2005 |
| Funded by: | Australian Research Council |
| Project: | Williams Syndrome: A human model for elucidating links between brain, cognition, and behaviour |
| Year: | 2002 |
| Funded by: | Apex Foundation for Research into Intellectual Disability, and the Lew Karty Fund (Victoria) |
Selected Publications:
Journal Articles
Wilson SJ, Wrench, JM, McIntosh AM, Bladin PF, Berkovic, SF. (in press). Profiles of psychosocial outcome after epilepsy surgery: The role of personality. Epilepsia, doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02392.x.
McLachlan N, Wilson SJ. (2010). The central role of recognition in auditory perception: A neurobiological model. Psychological Review, 117, 175-196.
Wan CY, Reutens DC, Wood AG, Wilson SJ. (2010). Early but not late blindness leads to enhanced auditory perception. Neuropsychologia, 48, 344-348.
Wan CY, Wood AG, Reutens DC, Wilson SJ. (2010). Congenital blindness leads to enhanced vibrotactile perception. Neuropsychologia, 48, 631-635.
Wilson SJ, Lusher D, Wan CY, Dudgeon P, Reutens DC. (2009). The neurocognitive components of pitch processing: Insights from absolute pitch. Cerebral Cortex, 19, 724-732.
Wilson SJ, Wrench, JM, McIntosh AM, Bladin PF, Berkovic, SF. (2009). Personality development in the context of intractable epilepsy. Archives of Neurology, 66, 68-72.
Beecham R, Reeve R, Wilson SJ. (2009). Spatial representations are specific to different domains of knowledge. PLoS ONE, 4, e5543.
Martens MA, Wilson SJ, Dudgeon P, Reutens DC. (2009). Approachability and the amygdala: Insights from Williams Syndrome. Neuropsychologia, 47, 2446-2453.
Shirbin C, McIntosh AM, Wilson SJ. (2009). The experience of seizures after epilepsy surgery. Epilepsy & Behavior, 16, 82-85.
Velissaris SL, Wilson SJ, Newton MR, Berkovic SF, Saling MM. (2009). Cognitive complaints after a first seizure in adulthood: Influence of psychological adjustment. Epilepsia, 50, 1012-1021.
Wrench J, Wilson SJ, Bladin PF, Reutens DC. (2009). Hippocampal volume and major depression: Insights from epilepsy surgery. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 80, 539-544.
Wrench J, Wilson SJ, O’Shea MF, Reutens DC. (2009). Characterising de novo depression after epilepsy surgery. Epilepsy Research, 83, 81-88.
Wilson SJ, Saling MM. (2008). Contributions of the left and right mesial temporal lobes to music memory: Evidence from melodic learning difficulties. Music Perception, 25, 285-296.
Genardini N, Wilson SJ, Lawrence JA, Hare DL. (2008). Patterns of psychosocial adjustment following cardiac surgery. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention, 28, 397-401.
Martens M, Wilson SJ, Reutens DC. (2008). Williams syndrome: A critical review of the cognitive, behavioural, and neuroanatomical phenotype. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49, 576-608.
Wilson SJ, Bladin PF, Saling MM. (2007). The burden of normality: A framework for rehabilitation after epilepsy surgery. Epilepsia, 48 (Suppl. 9), 13-16.
Wilson SJ, Frazer DW, Lawrence JA, Bladin PF. (2007). Psychosocial adjustment following relief of chronic narcolepsy. Sleep Medicine, 8, 252-259.
Baird AD, Wilson SJ, Bladin PF, Saling MM, Reutens DC. (2007). Neurological control of human sexual behaviour: Insights from lesion studies. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, & Psychiatry. 78, 1042-1049.
Willetts SW, Wilson SJ, Saling MM, Newton MR, Berkovic SF. (2007). The psychosocial impact of a newly-diagnosed seizure: Losing and restoring perceived control. Epilepsy & Behavior, 10, 223-233.
Wilson SJ, Parsons K, Reutens DC . (2006). Preserved singing in aphasia: A case study of the efficacy of Melodic Intonation Therapy. Music Perception, 24, 23-36.
Crncec R, Wilson SJ, Prior M. (2006). No evidence for the Mozart effect in children. Music Perception, 23,305-317.
Crncec R, Wilson SJ, Prior M. (2006). The cognitive and academic benefits of music to children: Facts and fictions. Educational Psychology, 26, 579-594.
Wilson SJ, Bladin PF, Saling MM, Pattison PE. (2005). Characterising psychosocial outcome trajectories following seizure surgery. Epilepsy & Behavior, 6, 570-580.
Wilson SJ, Bladin PF, Saling MM. (2004). Paradoxical results in the cure of chronic illness: The ‘burden of normality’ as exemplified following seizure surgery. Epilepsy & Behavior, 5, 13-21.
Baird AD, Wilson SJ, Bladin PF, Saling MM, Reutens D. (2004). The amygdala and sexual drive: Insights from temporal lobe epilepsy surgery. Annals of Neurology, 55, 87-96.
Wrench J, Wilson SJ, Bladin PF. (2004). Mood disturbance before and after seizure surgery: A comparison of temporal and extra-temporal resections. Epilepsia, 45, 534-543.
Baird AD, Wilson SJ, Bladin PF, Saling MM, Reutens D (2003). Sexual outcome after epilepsy surgery. Epilepsy & Behaviour, 4, 268-278.
Wilson SJ, Pressing J, Wales RJ. (2002). Rhythmic timing in a musician post-stroke. Neuropsychologia, 40, 1494-1505.
Baird AD, Wilson SJ, Bladin PF, Saling MM, Reutens D. (2002). Hypersexuality after temporal lobe resection. Epilepsy & Behaviour, 3, 173-181.
Wilson SJ, Bladin PF, Saling MM. (2001). The ‘Burden of Normality’: Concepts of adjustment after seizure surgery. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 70, 649-656.
Wilson SJ, Bladin PF, Saling MM, McIntosh AM, Lawrence J. (2001). The longitudinal course of adjustment after seizure surgery. Seizure, 10, 165-172.
McIntosh AM, Wilson SJ, Berkovic SF. (2001). Seizure outcome after temporal lobectomy: Current research practice and findings. Epilepsia, 42, 1288-1307.
Wilson SJ, Pressing J, Wales RJ, Pattison P. (1999). Cognitive models of music psychology and the lateralisation of musical function within the brain. Australian Journal of Psychology, 51, 125-139.
Wilson SJ, Saling MM, Lawrence J, Bladin PF. (1999). Outcome of temporal lobectomy: Expectations and the prediction of perceived success. Epilepsy Research, 36, 1-14.
Wilson SJ, Kincade P, Saling MM, Bladin PF. (1998). Patient readmission and support utilisation post-anterior temporal lobectomy. Seizure, 7, 1-6.
Wilson SJ, Saling MM, Kincade P, Bladin PF. (1998). Patient expectations of temporal lobe surgery. Epilepsia, 39, 167-174.
Wilson SJ, Wales RJ, Pattison P. (1997). The representation of tonality and meter in children aged 7 and 9. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 64, 42-66.
Wilson SJ, Wales RJ. (1995). An exploration of children's musical compositions. Journal of Research in Music Education, 43, 94-111.
Graduate Students under Supervision in Clinical Neuropsychology:
Jessie Bendavid, Dr Natasha Brown, Dr Kheng Seang Lim, Lucy Mackintosh, Dr Silvana Micallef, Genevieve Rayner, Joyce Sim
Alumni
Dr Amee Baird, Dr Ruth Drackford, Dr Duncan Frazer, Dr Natalie Genardini, Dr Asa Killedar, Dr Sarah Willetts, Dr Joanne Wrench
Graduate Students under Supervision in Music Neurocognition:
Catherine Wan, Rashika Perera, , Catherine Martin, Ellen Gentle, Rebecca Sussex, Dave Marco, Dougal PhillipsAlumni
Dr Rowena Beecham, Dr Rudi Crncec, Dr Marilee Martens, Dr Anthony Paolini, Christopher Sommervelle, Dr Catherine Wan