Christine Simmonds-Moore

Christine Simmonds-Moore is a Professor of Psychology at the University of West Georgia, affiliated with the Department of Psychology in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Northampton (UK) and has prior academic roles at Liverpool Hope University (UK) and the Rhine Research Center (USA). Her research focuses on anomalous experiences, parapsychology, transpersonal psychology, and the cognitive/neurobiological underpinnings of phenomena like schizotypy, transliminality, and aphantasia. She leads Bial Foundation-funded projects and has authored/co-authored books and articles on topics including exceptional experiences and health.

Education:

• B.A., Psychology, University of Wales, Swansea (1993)
• M.Phil., Cognitive Science, Dundee University (1999)
• Ph.D., Psychology, University of Northampton (2003)
• Postgraduate Diploma, Consciousness and Transpersonal Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University (2008)
• Graduate Certificate, Transpersonal coaching psychology, Alef Trust (2023)

Research Interests: Christine investigates personality traits linked to anomalous experiences (e.g., positive schizotypy), transpersonal states, parapsychology-mental health overlaps, and neurocognitive correlates of phenomena like synesthesia, ASMR, and aphantasia. Recent work explores interoception’s role in anomalous experiences and Bial-funded studies on aphantasia’s cognitive mechanisms.

Teaching & Mentorship: Teaches courses on parapsychology, psychedelics, transpersonal development, and consciousness studies. Advises graduate students in research projects, including thesis supervision in parapsychology and transpersonal psychology.

Professional Contributions: Editor of Exceptional Experience and Health, co-author of an anomalistic psychology textbook, and a frequent presenter at international conferences on parapsychology and transpersonal psychology.