معرفی
Sophie Andrews is an Adjunct Research Fellow in Psychology at Monash University, where she works in the Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (StoutLab). Her research focuses on investigating exercise and brain stimulation as modifiers of brain plasticity in Huntington's disease, with the goal of potentially slowing or delaying disease progression.
Dr. Andrews completed her Doctorate of Clinical Neuropsychology at Monash University in 2013. Prior to her current position, she worked as a clinical neuropsychologist at the Alfred Hospital and Calvary Healthcare Bethlehem from 2013-2014.
Her research expertise lies at the intersection of neuropsychology and neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Huntington's disease. Dr. Andrews employs neurobehavioural and neurophysiological techniques, including transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalogram, to investigate social cognitive difficulties in various neurological disorders. Her research extends beyond Huntington's disease to include studies on social cognitive deficits in Motor Neuron Disease and Parkinson's disease, examining their impact on psychosocial functioning. Recent work demonstrates that aerobic exercise improves motor learning in premanifest and early Huntington's disease, while her investigations into apathy and physical activity reveal important behavioral patterns in neurodegenerative conditions.
Dr. Andrews has secured significant research funding from the Huntington's Disease Society of America for her project examining exercise and brain stimulation as modifiers of neuroplasticity in Huntington's disease. She has also contributed as an Associate Investigator to research on remote assessment of cognition in Huntington's disease, investigating day-to-day variability and its relationship to sleep and physical activity.
Her laboratory work is centered in the Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (StoutLab) at Monash University, where she collaborates with a multidisciplinary team investigating various aspects of cognitive neuroscience and neurodegenerative diseases. Current projects examine how aging affects exercise-enhanced motor cortical plasticity and the impact of Huntington's disease on cognitive and physical motivation, reflecting her commitment to understanding the complex interplay between neurological function, behavior, and potential interventions.
