Personal profile
Research interests
My main research interests centre on human memory, specializing in cognitive neuropsychology. My research interests fit broadly into three themes:
- Priming false memories in older adults and people with Alzheimer’s disease.
- Theoretical aspects of autobiographical memory including its cognitive and neurological structure;
- Applications of memory research, in particular the interaction between memory and law encompassing false memory detection/prevention, memories of trauma, adult recollections of childhood events and juror decision making in relation to memory-based evidence;
- Best practice in methods (qualitative and quantitative) and statistics in psychological research.
Overview
I was awarded my PhD at the University of Leeds investigating Metamemory in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment under the supervision of Professor Chris Moulin. After a short break, I began work as a postdoctoral researcher at City University of London, supervised by Professor Martin Conway and Professor Mark Howe investigating people’s earliest memories and priming false memories. I then worked as a senior research associate at Bradford University, under the supervision of Professor Catriona Morrison. I took up a lectureship in the department of Life and Medical Sciences at University of Hertfordshire in May 2019.
My main research interests centre on human memory, specializing in cognitive neuropsychology. My research interests fit broadly into three themes:
- Priming false memories in older adults and people with Alzheimer’s disease.
- Theoretical aspects of autobiographical memory including its cognitive and neurological structure;
- Applications of memory research, in particular the interaction between memory and law encompassing false memory detection/prevention, memories of trauma, adult recollections of childhood events and juror decision making in relation to memory-based evidence;
- Best practice in methods (qualitative and quantitative) and statistics in psychological research.
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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In my life: memory, self and The Beatles
Akhtar, S., Conway, M. A., Justice, L. V. & Morrison, C. M., 5 Mar 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Memory. 32, 3, p. 296-307 12 p., 2314510.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)30 Downloads (Pure) -
True and False Memory Priming of Perceptual Closure Problems in Healthy Older Adults and Older Adults with Alzheimer’s Disease
Howe, M. L. & Akhtar, S., 22 Jan 2024, In: Neuropsychology. 38, 3, p. 239-248 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus)80 Downloads (Pure) -
Paranormal beliefs and cognitive function: A systematic review and assessment of study quality across four decades of research
Dean, C. E., Akhtar, S., Gale, T. M., Irvine, K., Grohmann, D. & Laws, K. R., 4 May 2022, In: PLoS ONE. 17, 5, 31 p., e0267360.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile28 Citations (Scopus)82 Downloads (Pure) -
Development and Validation of the Body Compassion Questionnaire
Beadle, E., Cain, A., Akhtar, S., Lennox, J., McGuire, L. & Troop, N., 21 Nov 2021, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine. 9, 1, p. 951-988 38 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access16 Citations (Scopus)2 Downloads (Pure) -
Development of the Paranormal and Supernatural Beliefs Scale using classical and modern test theory
Dean, C. E., Akhtar, S., Gale, T. M., Irvine, K., Wiseman, R. & Laws, K. R., 23 Jun 2021, In: BMC Psychology. 9, 1, 98.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile19 Citations (Scopus)85 Downloads (Pure)