Cathy Macpherson

Cathy Macpherson is a Research Fellow at Macquarie University's School of Psychological Sciences, affiliated with the Performance and Expertise Research Centre. Her ORCID identifier is 0000-0003-3434-9334.

Her research interests center on the dynamics of social interaction, focusing on interpersonal coordination mechanisms, anxiety modulation through environmental factors, and mental health impacts on everyday behavior. She employs advanced methodologies such as fractal dynamics analysis and gaze-tracking to investigate how attentional focus and partner gaze influence social connections. Her work also explores the role of sensory environments (e.g., background noise) in shaping collaborative motor behaviors.

Recent publications highlight her exploration of attentional focus effects on coordination patterns, the interplay between social anxiety and motor synchronization, and textbook contributions explaining fundamental social psychology concepts. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned in the provided texts.

While no formal advisees or grant details are listed, she actively participates in academic presentations. In 2023, she co-presented at three events including 'Social connection on the dance floor: Movement coordination in small group silent disco leads to greater self-other overlap' and 'Investigating the influence of partner gaze on the relationship between interpersonal coordination and social anxiety', demonstrating her engagement in collaborative research dissemination.

Her primary research hub is the Performance and Expertise Research Centre, where she collaborates with experts like Lynden Miles and Michael Richardson on projects analyzing social motor coordination and psychological state dynamics.