- B220, Portland Square, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 584869
- alastair.smith@plymouth.ac.uk

Profiles
Dr Alastair Smith
Associate Professor in Psychology
School of Psychology (Faculty of Health)
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Brain stimulation
- Case–control studies
- Cognitive assessment
- Experimental methods
- Multivariate statistics
- Psychometrics
- Quantitative research
Email publicrelations@plymouth.ac.uk to enquire.
Biography
Biography
I am an Associate Professor (Reader) in the School of Psychology. My work concentrates on the cognitive and neural processes by which we use spatial information to interact with the world around us. Much of the current research in my laboratory focuses on the processes that allow us to search, navigate, and represent our location within different environments. This work has concentrated on the typical development of spatial abilities (in adults and children) and atypical development in individuals with Hydrocephalus, Williams Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Conditions, as well as changes associated with typical and pathological ageing. I also conduct research on neuropsychological assessment, with a particular focus on drawing behaviour. This has involved detailed individual case and group studies of neurological patients with acquired disorders of spatial representation in various functional domains (i.e. integrative agnosia, constructional apraxia, hemispatial neglect). I have employed and developed a broad range of methods to study these behaviours, including virtual reality, GPS tracking, and transcranial electrical stimulation.
I currently hold the following roles within the University:
- Associate Head of the School of Psychology (Student Experience)
- Head of the Cognition and Behaviour Lab, Brain Research and Imaging Centre (BRIC)
- Mind and Brain theme lead, Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research (PIHR)
Qualifications
- PGCHE, University of Nottingham
- PhD (MRC Scholar), University of Bristol
- BSc (First class Honours) Psychology, University of Birmingham
Positions held
- 2017-date: Associate Professor (Reader), University of Plymouth
- 2008-2017: Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham
- 2005-2008: MRC Research Associate, University of Bristol
- 2004-2005: ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Bristol
- 2003-2004: BBSRC Research Associate, University of Bristol
- 2000-2008: Honorary Neuropsychologist, North Bristol NHS Trust
Professional membership
- Higher Education Academy (Fellow)
- Applied Vision Association (Life member)
- British Neuropsychological Society
- Experimental Psychology Society (Committee member: 2018-2021)
- NSF Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center (SILC) Spatial Network
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
I currently teach on the following Undergraduate and Masters modules:
- PSYC412 Psychological Science (Module Lead)
- PSYC416 Connecting Psychology
- PSYC514 Individual Differences, Social and Developmental Psychology
- PSYC605 Research Project
- PSYC606 Applications of Psychological Theory
- PSYC704 Individual Differences, Social and Developmental Psychology
- PSYC707 MSc Research Project
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
JournalsPersonal
Personal
Links
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-7335-4083
Scopus Author ID: 55574239834
Loop profile: 163061
ResearcherID: O-3220-2017