Dr Brent Alsop, Our People, Department of Psychology

Email brent.alsop@otago.ac.nz
Tel 64 3 479 7615

Dr Brent Alsop has been an Associate Editor of the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, and is currently on the Board of Directors for the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behaviour. His current research interests include the effects of reward on choice and decision making in humans and animals, and he has authored numerous articles in these areas.

Brent completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology at the University of Auckland, receiving his PhD in 1989. He spent 2 years in Canada at Dalhousie University as a Killam Postdoctoral Scholar before coming to the University of Otago. He has 20 years of university teaching experience, teaching at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, and over 25 years of research experience.

Teaching

PSYC 111 Biological Bases of Behaviour
PSYC 401 Behaviour Analysis
PSYC 425 Advanced Topics in Behaviour Analysis

Research Interests

The effects of reward on choice and decision making in humans and animals.

Find out more about Dr Alsop's research interests

Publications

Hulsbosch, A.-K., Alsop, B., Danckaerts, M., Van Liefferinge, D., Tripp, G., & Van der Oord, S. (2024). Behavioral and emotional responding to punishment in ADHD: Is increased emotionality related to altered behavioral responding? Research on Child & Adolescent Psychopathology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s10802-024-01238-1 Journal - Research Article

Furukawa, E., Alsop, B., Alves, H., Vorderstrasse, V., Carrasco, K. D., Chuang, C.-C., & Tripp, G. (2023). Disrupted waiting behavior in ADHD: Exploring the impact of reward availability and predictive cues. Child Neuropsychology, 29(1), 76-95. doi: 10.1080/09297049.2022.2068518 Journal - Research Article

Hannula, C., Jimenez-Gomez, C., Wu, W., Brewer, A. T., Kodak, T., Gilroy, S. P., … Alsop, B., & Podlesnik, C. A. (2020). Quantifying errors of bias and discriminability in conditional-discrimination performance in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Learning & Motivation, 71, 101659. doi: 10.1016/j.lmot.2020.101659 Journal - Research Article

Furukawa, E., Alsop, B., Shimabukuro, S., & Tripp, G. (2019). Is increased sensitivity to punishment a common characteristic of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder? An experimental study of response allocation in Japanese children. Attention Deficit & Hyperactivity Disorders, 11, 433-443. doi: 10.1007/s12402-019-00307-6 Journal - Research Article

Furukawa, E., Alsop, B., Caparelli-Dáquer, E. M., Casella, E. B., da Costa, R. Q. M., de Moura Queiroz, P., … Tripp, G. (2019). Behavioral adjustment to asymmetric reward availability among children with and without ADHD: Effects of past and current reinforcement contingencies. Attention Deficit & Hyperactivity Disorders, 11, 149-158. doi: 10.1007/s12402-018-0265-x Journal - Research Article

2024

Journal - Research Article

2023

Journal - Research Article

2020

Journal - Research Article

2019

Journal - Research Article

2017

Journal - Research Article

Furukawa, E., Shimabukuro, S., Alsop, B., & Tripp, G. (2017). Behavioral sensitivity of Japanese children with and without ADHD to changing reinforcer availability: An experimental study using signal detection methodology. Behavioral & Brain Functions, 13, 13. doi: 10.1186/s12993-017-0131-6

Beeby, E., & Alsop, B. (2017). Choosing among multiple alternatives: Relative and overall reinforcer rates. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 108(2), 204-222. doi: 10.1002/jeab.269

Beeby, E., & Alsop, B. (2017). Choice among two and three alternatives. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 107(3), 369-387. doi: 10.1002/jeab.258

Furukawa, E., Alsop, B., Sowerby, P., Jensen, S., & Tripp, G. (2017). Evidence for increased behavioral control by punishment in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 58(3), 248-257. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12635

2016

Journal - Research Article

Alsop, B., Furukawa, E., Sowerby, P., Jensen, S., Moffat, C., & Tripp, G. (2016). Behavioral sensitivity to changing reinforcement contingencies in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 57(8), 947-956. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12561

2014

Journal - Research Article

Furukawa, E., Bado, P., Tripp, G., Mattos, P., Wickens, J. R., Bramati, I. E., Alsop, B., … Moll, J. (2014). Abnormal striatal BOLD responses to reward anticipation and reward delivery in ADHD. PLoS ONE, 9(2), e89129. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089129

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Beeby, E., & Alsop, B. (2014). Are pigeons' choices affected by the number of alternatives available? Proceedings of the Psycolloquy Seminar. (pp. 14). Dunedin, New Zealand: Department of Psychology, University of Otago. Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/psychology/research/otago059081.html

2013

Journal - Research Article

Lie, C., Baxter, J., & Alsop, B. (2013). The effect of opponent type on human performance in a three-alternative choice task. Behavioural Processes, 99, 87-94. doi: 10.1016/j.beproc.2013.07.005

Douglas, K. M., Porter, R. J., Knight, R. G., & Alsop, B. (2013). The dynamics of word retrieval in major depression. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 47, 276-283. doi: 10.1177/0004867412465124

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Lie, C., Alsop, B., & Goh, R. (2013). Human performance in a five-alternative choice task. Proceedings of the 10th Annual New Zealand Association for Behaviour Analysis (NZABA) Conference. (pp. 6). Retrieved from https://nzaba.org

2012

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Lie, C., Alsop, B., Roker, J., & Baxter, J. (2012). Decision making in a three choice game. Proceedings of the New Zealand Association for Behaviour Analysis (NZABA) Annual Conference. Retrieved from https://nzaba.org

Everdon, R., Leland, L. S., & Alsop, B. (2012). Behaviour based safety reduces risk for NZ truck drivers. Injury Prevention, 18(Suppl. 1), (pp. A157). doi: 10.1136/injuryprev-2012-040590m.9

2011

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Alsop, B. L. (2011). Patterns of responding in a three-alternative concurrent schedule. Proceedings of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) 37th Annual Conference. Retrieved from http://www.abainternational.org/

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Furukawa, E., Bado, P., Tripp, G., Mattos, P., Wickens, J., Bramati, I. E., Alsop, B., … Moll, J. (2011, November). Reward sensitivity in ADHS: Exploring distinctive effects of reward cues and outcomes of functional fMRI. Poster session presented at the International Neuroethics Society Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.

2010

Chapter in Book - Research

Schaughency, E., Alsop, B., & Dawson, A. (2010). The school psychologist's role is assisting school staff in establishing systems to manage, understand, and use data. In G. G. Peacock, R. A. Ervin, E. J. Daly, III & K. W. Merrell (Eds.), Practical handbook of school psychology: Effective practices for the 21st century. (pp. 548-565). New York: Guilford Press.

Journal - Research Article

Lie, C., & Alsop, B. (2010). Stimulus disparity and punisher control of human signal-detection performance. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 93(2), 185-201. doi: 10.1901/jeab.2010.93-185

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Alsop, B. L. (2010). Effects of feedback on repeat observations in a detection task. Proceedings of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) 36th Annual Conference. Retrieved from http://www.abainternational.org/

Everdon, R., Leland, Jr, L., & Alsop, B. (2010). A behaviour based safety strategy for New Zealand truck drivers: An ongoing programme. Proceedings of the International Conference on Commercial Driver Health and Wellness. Retrieved from http://pressamp.trb.org/conferences/programs/program.asp?event=562

Furukawa, E., McAlpine, C., Alsop, B., Ito, K., & Tripp, G. (2010). Cultural contributions to reinforcement sensitivity. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 19(Suppl. 1), (pp. S51). doi: 10.1007/s00787-010-0117-5

Jensen, S., McAlpine, C., & Alsop, B. (2010). Reward sensitivity and choice behaviour of children with ADHD. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 19(Suppl. 1), (pp. S79-S80). doi: 10.1007/s00787-010-0117-5

Sowerby, P., Seal, S., Alsop, B., & Tripp, G. (2010). Impaired working memory in ADHD: Deficit or delay? European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 19(Suppl. 1), (pp. S66). doi: 10.1007/s00787-010-0117-5

Lie, C., Jack, F., Healey, D., Murachver, T., & Alsop, B. (2010). Forward versus backward classical conditioning: A laboratory demonstration. Proceedings of the New Zealand Association for Behaviour Analysis Annual Conference. NZABA. Retrieved from http://nzaba.org/previous-conferences/

2009

Journal - Research Article

Sutherland, K. R., Alsop, B., McNaughton, N., Hyland, B. I., Tripp, G., & Wickens, J. R. (2009). Sensitivity to delay of reinforcement in two animal models of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Behavioural Brain Research, 205(2), 372-376. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2009.07.011

Lie, C., & Alsop, B. (2009). Effects of point-loss punishers on human signal-detection performance. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 92(1), 17-39. doi: 10.1901/jeab.2009.92-17

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Alsop, B. L., & Leland, Jr, L. S. (2009). Keep your britches out of the ditches: Behavior-based safety for New Zealand truck drivers. Proceedings of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) 35th Annual Conference. Retrieved from http://portal.abainternational.org/Public/ProgramOnTheWeb/frmProgram.aspx?intConvID=3

Lie, C., & Alsop, B. (2009). Effects of punishment on choice in a concurrent schedule gambling task. Proceedings of the New Zealand Association for Behaviour Analysis 6th Annual Conference. (pp. 8). NZABA. Retrieved from http://nzaba.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/nzaba_info_and_prgm2.pdf

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Sowerby, P., Tripp, G., Alsop, B., & McEachen, B. (2009, September). Altered sensitivity to reinforcer frequency in ADHD. Verbal presentation at the Reinforcement and ADHD Workshop, Okinawa, Japan.

Alsop, B. (2009, September). Experimental behavioural analysis and ADHD: General issues and recent research. Verbal presentation at the Reinforcement and ADHD Workshop, Okinawa, Japan.

2008

Journal - Research Article

Alsop, B., & Jones, B. M. (2008). Reinforcer control by comparison-stimulus color and location in a delayed matching-to-sample task. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 89(3), 311-331.

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Sowerby, P., Seal, S., Alsop, B., & Tripp, G. (2008, October). Working memory in ADHD: What roles do age and measurement play? Poster session presented at the 19th Eunethydis Meeting, Mannheim, Germany.

2007

Journal - Research Article

Lie, C., & Alsop, B. (2007). Reinforcement and punishment in behavioral models of signal detection. Mexican Journal of Behavior Analysis, 33, 45-55.

Crawford, M. A., Knight, R. G., & Alsop, B. L. (2007). Speed of word retrieval in postconcussion syndrome. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 13, 178-182. doi: 10.10170S135561770707021X

Alsop, B. (2007). Problems with spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) as a model of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 162, 42-48. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2006.12.002

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Lie, C., & Alsop, B. L. (2007, August). Signal detection and punishment for errors. Verbal presentation at the Association for Behavior Analysis 4th International Conference, Sydney, Australia.

2006

Journal - Research Article

Alsop, B., & Porritt, M. (2006). Discriminability and sensitivity to reinforcer magnitude in a detection task. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 85, 41-56. doi: 10.1901/jeab.2006.91-04

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Alsop, B. (2006, November). Reward sensitivity and ADHD. Verbal presentation at the Psycolloquy Seminar, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2005

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

McEachen, B., Tripp, G., Alsop, B., & Sowerby, P. (2005, November). Reward sensitivity in ADHD: A putative model. Poster session presented at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies 39th Annual Convention, Washington, DC.

Sowerby, P., Tripp, G., Alsop, B., & McEachen, B. (2005, November). Working memory and altered reward sensitivity: Unitary or discrete characteristics? Poster session presented at the 39th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, DC.

2001

Journal - Research Article

Gallagher, S., & Alsop, B. L. (2001). Effects of responce disparity on stimulus and reinforcer control in human detection tasks. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 75(2), 183-203.

Tripp, G., & Alsop, B. (2001). Sensitivity to reward delay in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 42(5), 691-698.

2000

Journal - Research Article

Johnstone, V., & Alsop, B. L. (2000). Reinforcer control and human signal-detection performance. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 73, 275-290.

1999

Journal - Research Article

Johnstone, V., & Alsop, B. L. (1999). Stimulus presentation ratios and the outcomes for correct responses in signal-detection procedures. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 72, 1-20.

Tripp, G., & Alsop, B. (1999). Sensitivity to reward frequency in boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 28(3), 366-375.

Tripp, G., & Alsop, B. (1999). Age-related changes in sensitivity to relative reward frequency. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 28(1), 30-36.

1998

Journal - Research Article

Alsop, B. (1998). Receiver operating characteristics from non-human animals: Some implications and directions for research with humans. Psychonomic Science, 5(2), 239-252.

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Tripp, E. G., & Alsop, B. L. (1998). Age-related changes in human's sensitivity to reward frequency. International Journal of Neuroscience, 94(1-2), (pp. 117). [Abstract]

1997

Journal - Research Article

Colombo, M., Swain, N. R., Harper, D., & Alsop, B. (1997). The effects of hippocampal and area parahippocampalis lesions in pigeons I: Delayed matching to sample. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section B, 50(2), 149-171.

1996

Journal - Research Article

Alsop, B. L., & Rowley, R. (1996). Types of responding in a signal-detection task. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 65, 561-574.

Johnstone, V., & Alsop, B. L. (1996). Human signal-detection performance: effects of signal presentation probabilities and reinforcer distributions. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 66, 243-263.

Elliffe, D., & Alsop, B. L. (1996). Concurrent choice: effects of overall reinforcer rate and the temporal distribution of reinforcers. Journal of Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 65, 445-463.

1995

Journal - Research Article

Jones, B. M., White, K., & Alsop, B. L. (1995). On two effects of signaling the consequences for remembering. Animal Learning & Behavior, 23(3), 256-272.