Sarah MacPherson

Sarah MacPherson is a Professor in the Department of Psychology within the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. She specializes in neuropsychological assessment and research on cognitive and behavioral impairments related to brain injuries, neurological conditions, and healthy aging.

Her research interests include:

• Neuropsychological assessment methodologies
• Cognitive neuroscience of aging and neurological disorders
• Development of computerized and virtual reality assessment tools
• Social cognition and theory of mind
• Creative cognition and semantic processing
• Interventions for cognitive impairment

Professor MacPherson's work bridges theoretical cognitive neuroscience with practical clinical applications, particularly through her development of immersive virtual reality assessment tools that enhance ecological validity in cognitive testing. Her research has significant implications for diagnosing and evaluating cognitive disorders across various neurological conditions, with a focus on creating more accurate and clinically relevant assessment methods.

Her scientific contributions include numerous publications on social cognition assessment frameworks, virtual reality applications in neuropsychology, and cognitive changes in aging. She has been instrumental in developing the Edinburgh Social Cognition Test (ESCoT) and related assessment tools that are now used internationally for evaluating theory of mind and social norm understanding in clinical populations.

Professor MacPherson's research program demonstrates a consistent trajectory toward improving diagnostic accuracy for cognitive disorders and developing more effective interventions through innovative assessment methodologies that better reflect real-world cognitive demands.