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Liana Machado

Email liana.machado@otago.ac.nz
Tel:+64 3 479 7622


Associate Professor Liana Machado's primary areas of expertise are neuropsychology and cognitive psychology. Research in her laboratory investigates the mechanisms and machinery underlying healthy brain functions and the cognitive deficits that emerge as a result of brain disease and healthy aging. Associate Professor Machado has published extensively in high impact international journals, and these articles have been cited in many other research articles around the world. She collaborates with scientists in Europe and the USA, as well as within New Zealand.

In addition to lecturing on her areas of expertise to university students, Associate Professor Machado serves the community through public presentations and media appearances, as well as through fundraising and service on scientific advisory committees.

Liana earned a bachelor's degree in psychology at UCLA in 1994 and a PhD in Neuroscience at UC Davis in 1998. After conducting postdoctoral research for five years in the laboratory of a neurologist in the UK, she joined the Department of Psychology at the University of Otago in 2003.

Teaching

Research Interests

  • Mechanisms and machinery underlying healthy brain functions
  • Cognitive deficits that emerge as a result of brain disease and healthy aging

Find out more about Associate Professor Machado's research interests

Media Links

Brain day lecture
Public lecture at Otago Museum, 7 March 2020

The brain on exercise
Brain Buzz Podcast, 13 September 2019

Using electrical brain stimulation (transcranial direct current stimulation) to enhance cognitive functioning
Saturday Morning with Kim Hill, Radio New Zealand National. Interview, 23 May 2015

Research findings from my laboratory on exercise and brain function
Dunedin Television Nightly Interview, 22 Jan 2015

Publications

Stenling, A., Quensell, J., Kaur, N., & Machado, L. (2024). Stair climbing improves cognitive switching performance and mood in healthy young adults: A randomized controlled crossover trial. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s41465-024-00294-1 Journal - Research Article

Alexander, M., & Machado, L. (2024). Chronic exercise and neuropsychological function in healthy young adults: A randomised controlled trial investigating a running intervention. Cognitive Processing. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s10339-024-01177-1 Journal - Research Article

Ramos, A. A., & Machado, L. (2024). 3-Year test-retest reliability in Parkinson's disease and healthy older adults: The Parkinson's progression markers initiative study. Applied Neuropsychology: Adult. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/23279095.2024.2303718 Journal - Research Article

Berryman, A., & Machado, L. (2023). Cognition and electrophysiological biomarkers of chronic pelvic pain in women with endometriosis. Proceedings of the Psycolloquy Symposium. (pp. 22). Dunedin, New Zealand: Department of Psychology, University of Otago. Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/psychology/research/otago059081.html Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

McNeill, R., & Machado, L. (2023). COVID-19 may adversely impact brain haemodynamics and exercise-cognition relationships in undergraduate students without compromising cognitive performance. Proceedings of the Psycolloquy Symposium. (pp. 20). Dunedin, New Zealand: Department of Psychology, University of Otago. Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/psychology/research/otago059081.html Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

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