Dr Liana Machado, Our People, Department of Psychology, University of Otago, New Zealand

Liana Machado

Email liana@psy.otago.ac.nz
Phone 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 over 40 research articles in high impact international journals. Together, these articles have been cited over 1000 times in other research articles. 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 presentations as well as her role as an invited member of the Neurological Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee.

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

PSYC 211 Brain and Cognition
PSYC 313 Cognition and Neuropsychology

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

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.

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Publications

White, N., Forsyth, B., Lee, A., & Machado, L. (2018). Repeated computerized cognitive testing: Performance shifts and test–retest reliability in healthy young adults. Psychological Assessment, 30(4), 539-549. doi: 10.1037/pas0000503

Guiney, H., Keall, M., & Machado, L. (2018). Physical activity prevalence and correlates among New Zealand older adults. Journal of Aging & Physical Activity, 26(1), 75-83. doi: 10.1123/japa.2016-0393

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

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. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/13803395.2018.1485880

White, N., Flannery, L., McClintock, A., & Machado, L. (2018). Repeated computerized cognitive testing: Performance shifts and test–retest reliability in healthy older adults. Journal of Clinical & Experimental Neuropsychology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/13803395.2018.1526888

Chapter in Book - Research
Journal - Research Article
Journal - Research Other
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Chapter in Book - Research

Rafal, R., Machado, L., Ro, T., & Ingle, H. (2000). Looking forward to looking: Saccade preparation and control of the visual grasp reflex. In S. Monsell & J. Driver (Eds.), Control of cognitive processes: Attention and performance XVIII. (pp. 155-173). Cambridge, MA, USA: MIT Press.

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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

Machado, L., Thompson, L. M., & Brett, C. H. R. (2018). Visual analogue mood scale scores in healthy young versus older adults. International Psychogeriatrics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1017/S1041610218000996

Morton, S. E., O'Hare, K. J. M., Maha, J. L. K., Nicolson, M. P., Machado, L., Topless, R., Merriman, T. R., & Linscott, R. J. (2017). Testing the validity of taxonic schizotypy using genetic and environmental risk variables. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 43(3), 633-643. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbw108

Brett, C. H. R., & Machado, L. (2017). Manual versus saccadic assessment of cognitive inhibition and switching in young and older adults. Psychological Assessment, 29(11), 1420-1425. doi: 10.1037/pas0000453

Chen, P. L., & Machado, L. (2017). Developing clinically practical transcranial direct current stimulation protocols to improve saccadic eye movement control. Journal of Eye Movement Research, 10(3), 5. doi: 10.16910/jemr.10.3.5

Bierre, K. L., Lucas, S. J. E., Guiney, H., Cotter, J. D., & Machado, L. (2017). Cognitive difficulty intensifies age-related changes in anterior frontal hemodynamics: Novel evidence from near-infrared spectroscopy. Journals of Gerontology Series A, 72(2), 181-188. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glw061

Chen, P. L., & Machado, L. (2016). Age-related deficits in voluntary control over saccadic eye movements: Consideration of electrical brain stimulation as a therapeutic strategy. Neurobiology of Aging, 41, 53-63. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2016.02.010

Forsyth, B., Machado, L., Jowett, T., Jakobi, H., Garbe, K., Winter, H., & Glue, P. (2016). Effects of low dose ibogaine on subjective mood state and psychological performance. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 189, 10-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.05.022

Cameron, T. A., Lucas, S. J. E., & Machado, L. (2015). Near-infrared spectroscopy reveals link between chronic physical activity and anterior frontal oxygenated hemoglobin in healthy young women. Psychophysiology, 52(5), 609-617. doi: 10.1111/psyp.12394

Guiney, H., Lucas, S. J., Cotter, J. D., & Machado, L. (2015). Evidence cerebral blood-flow regulation mediates exercise-cognition links in healthy young adults. Neuropsychology, 29(1), 1-9. doi: 10.1037/neu0000124

Bos, H., & Machado, L. (2013). Aging delays strategic modulation of the fixation reflex. Psychology & Aging, 28(3), 796-801. doi: 10.1037/a0032015

Guiney, H., & Machado, L. (2013). Benefits of regular aerobic exercise for executive functioning in healthy populations. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 20(1), 73-86. doi: 10.3758/s13423-012-0345-4

Wyatt, N., & Machado, L. (2013). Evidence inhibition responds reactively to the salience of distracting information during focused attention. PLoS ONE, 8(4), e62809. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062809

Machado, L., Guiney, H., & Struthers, P. (2013). Identity-based inhibitory processing during focused attention. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 66(1), 138-159. doi: 10.1080/17470218.2012.701651

Wyatt, N., & Machado, L. (2013). Distractor inhibition: Principles of operation during selective attention. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance, 39(1), 245-256. doi: 10.1037/a0027922

Murray, J. E., Machado, L., & Knight, B. (2011). Race and gender of faces can be ignored. Psychological Research, 75(4), 324-333. doi: 10.1007/s00426-010-0310-7

Machado, L., Guiney, H., & Mitchell, A. (2011). Famous faces demand attention due to reduced inhibitory processing. PLoS ONE, 6(5), e20544. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020544

Machado, L., Devine, A., & Wyatt, N. (2009). Distractibility with advancing age and Parkinson's disease. Neuropsychologia, 47(7), 1756-1764. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2009.02.018

van Koningsbruggen, M. G., Pender, T., Machado, L., & Rafal, R. D. (2009). Impaired control of the oculomotor reflexes in Parkinson's disease. Neuropsychologia, 47(13), 2909-2915. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2009.06.018

Arend, I., Machado, L., Ward, R., McGrath, M., Ro, T., & Rafal, R. D. (2008). The role of the human pulvinar in visual attention and action: Evidence from temporal-order judgement, saccade decision, and antisaccade tasks. Progress in Brain Research, 171, 475-483. doi: 10.1016/S0079-6123(08)00669-9

Machado, L., Wyatt, N., Devine, A., & Knight, B. (2007). Action planning in the presence of distracting stimuli: An investigation into the time course of distractor effects. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance, 33(5), 1045-1061.

Marí-Beffa, P., Hayes, A. E., Machado, L., & Hindle, J. V. (2005). Lack of inhibition in Parkinson's disease: Evidence from a lexical decision task. Neuropsychologia, 43, 638-646.

Kellman, P. J., Garrigan, P., Shipley, T. F., Yin, C., & Machado, L. (2005). 3-D interpolation in object perception: Evidence from an objective performance paradigm. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance, 31(3), 558-583.

Machado, L., & Franz, E. (2004). Effects of unilateral distractors: A comparison of eye movement and key press responses. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A, 57(7), 1173-1190.

Machado, L., & Rafal, R. D. (2004). Inhibition of return generated by voluntary saccades is independent of attentional momentum. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A, 57A(5), 789-796.

Machado, L., & Rafal, R. D. (2004). Control of fixation and saccades during an anti-saccade task: An investigation in humans with chronic lesions of oculomotor cortex. Experimental Brain Research, 156, 55-63.

Machado, L., & Rafal, R. D. (2004). Control of fixation and saccades in humans with chronic lesions of oculomotor cortex. Neuropsychology, 18(1), 115-123.

Rafal, R., McGrath, M., Machado, L., & Hindle, J. (2004). Effects of lesions of the human posterior thalamus on ocular fixation during voluntary and visually triggered saccades. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 75, 1602-1606.

Ro, T., Machado, L., Kanwisher, N., & Rafal, R. D. (2002). Covert orienting to the locations of targets and distractors: Effects on response channel activation in a flanker task. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A, 55A(3), 917-936.

Muller, N. G., Machado, L., & Knight, R. T. (2002). Contributions of subregions of the prefrontal cortex to working memory: Evidence from brain lesions in humans. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 14(5), 673-686. doi: 10.1162/08989290260138582

Dodds, C., Machado, L., Rafal, R., & Ro, T. (2002). A temporal/nasal asymmetry for blindsight in a localisation task: Evidence for extrageniculate mediation. NeuroReport, 13(5), 655-658.

Rafal, R., Danziger, S., Grossi, G., Machado, L., & Ward, R. (2002). Visual detection is gated by attending for action: Evidence from hemispatial neglect. PNAS, 99(25), 16371-16375. doi: 10.1073/pnas.252309099

Machado, L., & Rafal, R. (2000). Control of eye movement reflexes. Experimental Brain Research, 135, 73-80.

Suwazono, S., Machado, L., & Knight, R. T. (2000). Predictive value of novel stimuli modifies visual event-related potentials and behavior. Clinical Neurophysiology, 111, 29-39.

Machado, L., & Rafal, R. D. (2000). Strategic control over saccadic eye movements: Studies of the fixation offset effect. Perception & Psychophysics, 62(6), 1236-1242.

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Journal - Research Other

Hurley, R., & Machado, L. (2018). Using transcranial direct current stimulation to improve verbal working memory: A detailed review of the methodology. Journal of Clinical & Experimental Neuropsychology, 40(8), 790-804. doi: 10.1080/13803395.2018.1434133

Hurley, R., & Machado, L. (2017). Using tDCS priming to improve brain function: Can metaplasticity provide the key to boosting outcomes? Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 83, 155-159. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.09.029

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Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Chen, P. L., & Machado, L. (2015). Voluntary eye movement control deficits in aging brains: Consideration of neuromodulation as an effective therapeutic strategy. Proceedings of the Psycolloquy Seminar. (pp. 10). Dunedin, New Zealand: Department of Psychology, University of Otago. Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/psychology/research/otago059081.html

Machado, L., Guiney, H., Lucas, S., & Cotter, J. (2013). Exercise frequency predicts better inhibitory control and brain blood flow regulation in healthy young adults. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, (Suppl.), (pp. 159). [Abstract]

Machado, L., Wyatt, N., & Guiney, H. (2011). Inhibitory control and working memory in young and elderly adults. Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting Program (A supplement of the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience). (pp. 141). Davis, CA: CNS. [Abstract]

Machado, L., Wyatt, N., & Guiney, H. (2010). Inhibitory processes and working memory in aging brains. Proceedings of the 7th (FENS) Forum of European Neuroscience. 5, 145.14. Retrieved from http://fens2010.neurosciences.asso.fr/

Machado, L., Devine, A., & Wyatt, N. (2009). Distractibility with advancing age and Parkinson's disease: Evidence of dysfunctional reactive inhibition. Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting Program (A supplement to the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience). (pp. 45). Davis, CA: CNS. [Abstract]

Machado, L., Arend, I., McGrath, M., Ro, T., Ward, R., & Rafal, R. (2008). The role of the human pulvinar in visual attention and action: Evidence from temporal order judgments, saccade decision and anti-saccade tasks. Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting Program (A supplement of the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience). (pp. 61). Davis, CA: CNS. [Abstract]

Machado, L., Devine, A., & Wyatt, N. (2007). Distractibility in the aging and parkinsonian brain. Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting Program (A supplement of the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience). (pp. 128). Davis, CA: CNS. [Abstract]

Machado, L., Wyatt, N., Devine, A., & Knight, B. (2006). Facilitatory and inhibitory effects of distracting stimuli. Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting Program (A supplement of the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience). (pp. 28). Davis, CA: CNS. [Abstract]

More publications...