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
Kouwenhoven, M., & Machado, L. (2023). Age differences in inhibitory and working memory functioning: Limited evidence of system interactions. Aging, Neuropsychology & Cognition. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/13825585.2023.2214348
Journal - Research Article
Wong, Y.-S., Pat, N., & Machado, L. (2023). Commonalities between mind wandering and task-set switching: An event-related potential study. Neuropsychologia, 185, 108585. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108585
Journal - Research Article
Wong, Y.-S., Willoughby, A. R., & Machado, L. (2023). Reconceptualizing mind wandering from a switching perspective. Psychological Research, 87, 357-372. doi: 10.1007/s00426-022-01676-w
Journal - Research Other
Ramos, A. A., Galiano-Castillo, N., & Machado, L. (2022). Cognitive functioning of unaffected first-degree relatives of individuals with late-onset Alzheimer's disease: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Neuropsychology Review. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s11065-022-09555-2
Journal - Research Article
Wong, Y.-S., Willoughby, A. R., & Machado, L. (2022). Spontaneous mind-wandering tendencies linked to cognitive flexibility in young adults. Consciousness & Cognition, 102, 103335. doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2022.103335
Journal - Research Article
Kouwenhoven, M., & Machado, L. (2023). Age differences in inhibitory and working memory functioning: Limited evidence of system interactions. Aging, Neuropsychology & Cognition. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/13825585.2023.2214348
Journal - Research Article
Wong, Y.-S., Pat, N., & Machado, L. (2023). Commonalities between mind wandering and task-set switching: An event-related potential study. Neuropsychologia, 185, 108585. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108585
Journal - Research Article
Nasrollahi, N., Jowett, T., & Machado, L. (2022). Emotional information processing in young and older adults: Meta-analysis reveals faces elicit distinct biases. European Journal of Ageing, 19, 369-379. doi: 10.1007/s10433-021-00676-w
Journal - Research Article
Ramos, A. A., Galiano-Castillo, N., & Machado, L. (2022). Cognitive functioning of unaffected first-degree relatives of individuals with late-onset Alzheimer's disease: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Neuropsychology Review. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s11065-022-09555-2
Journal - Research Article
Ramos, A. A., Garvey, A., Cutfield, N. J., & Machado, L. (2022). Forward and backward spatial recall in Parkinson's disease and matched controls: A 1-year follow-up study. Applied Neuropsychology: Adult. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/23279095.2022.2059372
Journal - Research Article
Stenling, A., Sörman, D. E., Lindwall, M., & Machado, L. (2022). Bidirectional within- and between-person relations between physical activity and cognitive function. Journals of Gerontology Series B, 77(4), 704-709. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbab234
Journal - Research Article
White, N., Kouwenhoven, M., & Machado, L. (2022). Short-term retest performance in young versus older adults: Consideration of integrated speed-accuracy measures. Experimental Aging Research, 48(1), 68-85. doi: 10.1080/0361073x.2021.1919475
Journal - Research Article
Wong, Y.-S., Willoughby, A. R., & Machado, L. (2022). Spontaneous mind-wandering tendencies linked to cognitive flexibility in young adults. Consciousness & Cognition, 102, 103335. doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2022.103335
Journal - Research Article
Guiney, H., Keall, M., & Machado, L. (2021). Volunteering in older adulthood is associated with activity engagement and cognitive functioning. Aging, Neuropsychology & Cognition, 28(2), 253-269. doi: 10.1080/13825585.2020.1743230
Journal - Research Article
Nasrollahi, N., Quensell, J., & Machado, L. (2021). Effects of a brief stair-climbing intervention on cognitive functioning and mood states in older adults: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Aging & Physical Activity, 30(3), 455-465. doi: 10.1123/japa.2021-0125
Journal - Research Article
Shoemaker, L. N., Wilson, L. C., Lucas, S. J. E., Machado, L., Walker, R. J., & Cotter, J. D. (2021). Indomethacin markedly blunts cerebral perfusion and reactivity, with little cognitive consequence in healthy young and older adults. Journal of Physiology, 599(4), 1097-1113. doi: 10.1113/jp280118
Journal - Research Article
Stenling, A., Sörman, D. E., Lindwall, M., Hansson, P., Ljungberg, J., & Machado, L. (2021). Physical activity and cognitive function: Between-person and within-person associations and moderators. Aging, Neuropsychology & Cognition, 28(3), 392-417. doi: 10.1080/13825585.2020.1779646
Journal - Research Article
Shoemaker, L. N., Wilson, L. C., Lucas, S. J. E., Machado, L., & Cotter, J. D. (2020). Acute exercise-related cognitive effects are not attributable to changes in end-tidal CO2 or cerebral blood velocity. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 120, 1637-1649. doi: 10.1007/s00421-020-04393-7
Journal - Research Article
White, N., Naldoza-Drake, P., Black, K., Scullion, L., & Machado, L. (2020). Can improving the nutritional content of bread enhance cognition? Cognitive outcomes from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, 4, 167-178. doi: 10.1007/s41465-019-00149-0
Journal - Research Article
Guiney, H., Lucas, S. J. E., Cotter, J. D., & Machado, L. (2019). Investigating links between habitual physical activity, cerebrovascular function, and cognitive control in healthy older adults. Neuropsychologia, 125, 62-69. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2019.01.011
Journal - Research Article
Machado, L., & Devine, A. (2019). Endogenous modulation of compatibility effects: An investigation into the temporal dynamics. Visual Cognition, 27(2), 120-126. doi: 10.1080/13506285.2019.1611684
Journal - Research Article
Machado, L., Thompson, L. M., & Brett, C. H. R. (2019). Visual analogue mood scale scores in healthy young versus older adults. International Psychogeriatrics, 31(3), 417-424. doi: 10.1017/S1041610218000996
Journal - Research Article
Shoemaker, L. N., Wilson, L. C., Lucas, S. J. E., Machado, L., & Cotter, J. D. (2019). Cerebrovascular regulation is not blunted during mental stress. Experimental Physiology, 104, 1678-1687. doi: 10.1113/ep087832
Journal - Research Article
Shoemaker, L. N., Wilson, L. C., Lucas, S. J. E., Machado, L., Thomas, K. N., & Cotter, J. D. (2019). Swimming-related effects on cerebrovascular and cognitive function. Physiological Reports, 7(20), e14247. doi: 10.14814/phy2.14247
Journal - Research Article
Stenling, A., Moylan, A., Fulton, E., & Machado, L. (2019). Effects of a brief stair-climbing intervention on cognitive performance and mood states in healthy young adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2300. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02300
Journal - Research Article
White, N., Flannery, L., McClintock, A., & Machado, L. (2019). Repeated computerized cognitive testing: Performance shifts and test–retest reliability in healthy older adults. Journal of Clinical & Experimental Neuropsychology, 41(2), 179-191. doi: 10.1080/13803395.2018.1526888
Journal - Research Article
Chen, P. L., Stenling, A., & Machado, L. (2018). Evidence transcranial direct current stimulation can improve saccadic eye movement control in older adults. Vision, 2(4), 42. doi: 10.3390/vision2040042
Journal - Research Article
Flannery, S. L., Jowett, T., Garvey, A., Cutfield, N. J., & Machado, L. (2018). Computerized testing in Parkinson's disease: Performance deficits in relation to standard clinical measures. Journal of Clinical & Experimental Neuropsychology, 40(10), 1062-1073. doi: 10.1080/13803395.2018.1485880
Journal - Research Article
Guiney, H., & Machado, L. (2018). Volunteering in the community: Potential benefits for cognitive aging. Journals of Gerontology Series B, 73(3), 399-408. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbx134
Journal - Research Article