Fiona Kumfor

Associate Professor Fiona Kumfor is a prominent researcher in the School of Psychology at the University of New South Wales. She conducts her research at FRONTIER, Neuroscience Research Australia, where she investigates aspects of social cognition in dementia. Her work combines experimental techniques, neurophysiological assessment, and advanced neuroimaging (MRI, MEG) in healthy older adults and patient groups to understand how brain damage affects complex social abilities.

Dr. Kumfor's research primarily focuses on social cognition, including emotion recognition, face processing, and empathy, with special emphasis on frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease. These dementia syndromes affect individuals before age 65, and her work aims to improve diagnosis, management, and treatment while advancing theoretical understanding of social cognition. Her research program examines how different brain regions support social cognitive abilities and how these abilities are compromised in neurodegenerative conditions.

Her extensive publication record shows a clear trajectory toward understanding the neural basis of social cognitive deficits in dementia, with recent work expanding into cultural influences on emotion perception, risk behaviors in dementia, and developing taxonomies for social cognition assessment. She has published numerous high-impact papers in leading journals across neuropsychology, cognitive neuroscience, and clinical neurology.

Dr. Kumfor collaborates with researchers internationally and contributes to important initiatives addressing diversity and disparities in frontotemporal dementia research. Her work has significant clinical implications for improving dementia diagnosis and care pathways, particularly regarding post-diagnostic support for families and understanding behavioral changes in dementia syndromes.