Blair Aitken

Dr. Blair Aitken is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Swinburne University of Technology's School of Health Sciences. He is affiliated with the International Council on Alcohol, Drugs, and Traffic Safety (ICADTS) Special Interest Group on Driver State Monitoring Systems. His research focuses on the effects of recreational drugs, prescription medications, and 'smart drugs' on cognition, gaze behavior, and driving performance. He specializes in eye-tracking technologies to assess alertness, cognitive state, and impairment in real-time.

Education:

• Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), Swinburne University of Technology (2018)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology, Swinburne University of Technology (2019–2023)

Research Interests: His work examines the cognitive and behavioral impacts of psychoactive substances, including methylphenidate (Ritalin), on visual scanning efficiency, driving performance, and affective states like 'hangxiety.' He also investigates hangover-related impairments and the efficacy of purported 'hangover cures.'

Key Findings: Recent studies demonstrate that low-dose methylphenidate improves numeric memory and mitigates driving lane-weaving but does not enhance overall visual scanning efficiency. His work on methamphetamine-alcohol co-use reveals impaired oculomotor control during driving, highlighting eye-tracking as a potential tool for intoxication detection.

Awards:

• Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) Scholarship (2019–2023)

Grants & Projects:

• "Hungover in the ACT: A Survey on Public Attitudes and Incidence of Hangover-Impaired Driving" (ACT Department of Treasury grant, 2023–2025)

Advisory Role: Available to supervise Doctorate (PhD) students in psychopharmacology and driving safety research.