Derek Fisher

Dr. Derek Fisher is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU), holding adjunct professorships at Dalhousie University, Acadia University, and Saint Mary’s University. He is also an Affiliated Scientist with the Nova Scotia Health Authority’s Department of Psychiatry. His research focuses on cognitive and clinical neuroscience, particularly using event-related potentials (ERPs) to investigate auditory processing deficits in schizophrenia and the effects of neuropharmacological agents like nicotine and caffeine on brain function. Key collaborations include projects with Dr. Natalia Jaworska at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and CIHR-funded studies on auditory hallucinations in bipolar disorder.

Research interests include ERP methodology, schizophrenia neurophysiology, and the impact of psychiatric conditions on sensory processing. His work explores how auditory hallucinations alter early information processing and how common drugs modulate brain function, with a focus on women’s health through menstrual cycle studies. He has published extensively on mismatch negativity (MMN), P3a components, and EEG microstates in clinical populations.

Dr. Fisher’s recent publications highlight advancements in understanding EEG markers of psychosis across illness phases, caffeine’s effects on alpha rhythms, and pharmacological interventions targeting α7 nicotinic receptors. His research bridges basic neuroscience with clinical applications, aiming to identify neurophysiological biomarkers for psychiatric disorders.