• Institution: University of Nottingham
• Department: School of Medicine: Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences

Brief biography

Her work mainly focuses translating insights from neuroscience into therapeutic training programs to help people with ADHD and other conditions that attention and self-regulation. Her interests include the role of oculomotor difficulties (control over where you are looking) in ADHD, as well as difficulties with autonomic control (e.g. control over the “fight or flight” response). She leads the development of RECOGNeyes, an eyetracker-based computer game designed to help improve attention and self-regulation in young people with ADHD.

Research Study Brief Summary

ADHD affects both control of attention and impulse control. Because we tend to pay attention to what we are looking at, controlling where you are looking (oculomotor control) is a key aspect of attentional control. It also involves control over impulsive gaze shifts towards distractors. The brain’s oculomotor network also underpins cognitive functions like working memory. Oculomotor impairments, common in ADHD, may therefore be a helpful target for therapy. In collaboration with young people with ADHD, we have developed an eyetracker-based computer game called RECOGNeyes, designed to exercise and strengthen the oculomotor system. Pilot studies indicate improved gaze-control, more fluent reading, and signs of brain “rewiring” on brain scans.  As a school-based resource, RECOGNeyes could be used early, as soon as a child’s difficulties are spotted. We have had enthusiastic responses from teachers, who will be involved in the next steps in RECOGNeyes development and testing.

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• Find out more about Elizabeth‘s teaching and research