BBSc(Hons) MPsych(Clin.Neuropsych) LaT PhD Monash

Lecturer

Coordinator Bachelor of Psychology – Launceston Campus. Undergraduate Coordinator of Psychology – Launceston Campus. I am currently a registered Psychologist in Tasmania and member of the APS College of Clinical Neuropsychologists. In addition to teaching psychology, conducting and supervising research projects, I operate a private practice as a Consultant Neuropsychologist in Launceston.

Research Interests

My research interests are in the general area of neuropsychology and more specifically in the area of memory, learning, attention and concentration. I am currently investigating neuropsychological markers of risk for developing Alzheimer’s dementia in adults with mild cognitive impairment.
Other areas of research interest include: rehabilitation and recovery from traumatic brain injury; cognitive effects of strokes; cognitive deficits associated with the dementias; and the role of the frontal lobes in mediating attentional processes.
TASMANIAN HEALTH BRAIN STUDY The Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre in conjunction with the University of Tasmania is planning a world-first study on the potential for tertiary education later in life to protect against ageing-related cognitive decline and dementia.

Research Areas:

• Cognitive Neuropsychology  Read More

Teaching

I teach into the areas of: Neuropsychology, Neuroscience, Abnormal/Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, and Psychological Assessment

Units

• KHA101 - Psychology 1A
  
• KHA102 - Psychology 1B
  
• KHA255 - Clinical and Counselling Psychology
  
• KHA352 - Assessment & Individual Differences
  
• KHA355 - Clinical and Counselling Psychology
  
• KHA358 - Behavioural Neuroscience & Neuropsychology
  

Selected Publications:

• Saunders, N.L.J. & Summers, M.J., 2009, 'Attention and working memory impairments in mild cognitive impairment', Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, iFirst, pgs. 1-8
• Summers, M.J., Oliver, K., Coombes, J.S., & Fassett, R.G., , 2007, ''The effect of atorvastatin on cognitive function in lipid lowering and onset of renal disease (LORD) study patients'', Pharmacotherapy, 27, pgs. 183-190
• Summers, M.J, , 206, ''Increased inattentional blindness in severe traumatic brain injury: Evidence for reduced distractibility?', Brain Injury, pgs. , 21,, pgs. 51-60

Full Publication List

Current and Supervised Project/s:

• Tasmanian Healthy Brain Study
• Risk and protective factors for the development of psychopathology in at-risk adolescents
• Attention deficits as predictors of the development of Alzheimer’s dementia in adults with MCI
• Neural correlates of performance trade-offs and interference in dual tasks
• A longitudinal study of neuropsychological and neuromotor effects of low level manganese exposure