Cognition and Neuropsychology
Dr Alena Galilee
Recent Publications:
Wilcox, G., Galilee, A., Makarenko, E., Stamp, J., MacMaster, F. (2020, in revision). The importance of research on integrating transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) with evidence-based reading interventions. Journal of Pediatric Neuropsychology.
Clarke, D. B., Galilee A., Kureshi, N., Fenerty, L., Hong, M., D’Arcy, R. (2020, in revision). Knowledge retention and transfer of simulation-based learning for neurosurgical instruments: A randomized trial of 100 perioperative nurses. British Medical Journal.
Galilee A, Stefanidou C, McCleery JP. (2017). Atypical speech versus non-speech detection and discrimination in 4- to 6- yr old children with autism spectrum disorder: An ERP study. PLoS One, 12(7), e0181354. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0181354.
Galilee A, McCleery JP. (2016). Neural mechanisms of the observation of human and non-human object touch in children: An event-related potential study. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 34(1), 86-100. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjdp.12119.
For a full list of publications see my Staff Profile.
Research Interests:
I am interested in interdisciplinary research, broadly at the cross-section of cognitive, educational, and clinical psychology. Over the past few years, I have conducted research focusing on understanding brain mechanisms and developing interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and dyslexia. I am also involved in research aiming to understand reading abilities in typically developing children. I conduct cognitive and clinical assessments with both children and adults, as well as neurophysiological assessments and treatments using neuroscience techniques (EEG, MRI, TDCS).
Current Research Projects:
I am currently working on completing two projects, both funded by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Canada, that investigate:
- Brain and cognitive predictors of reading abilities in young children.
- Neuroscience-based interventions for children with reading difficulties.
I collaborate with Dr. Helene Deacon and Professor Aaron Newman at the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University; and with Dr. Gabrielle Wilcox (School of Education) and Dr. Frank MacMaster (Alberta Children’s Hospital) at the University of Calgary.
Developing Research Areas:
I am interested in developing further research in the following areas: social cognition, educational neuroscience, social-emotional development, and clinical interventions for children at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Recent Research Grant Awards:
- $15,000 grant from the University of Calgary, Canada. (2020-2022). This is a grant which I am both a co-applicant and co-investigator on.
- $90,000 grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Canada. (2019-2021). This is a grant for which I’m a principal investigator.
- $55,000 grant from Eyes High Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Calgary, Canada (2019-2020). This is a grant which I was the principal applicant on.