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Olivia Harrison imageEmail olivia.harrison@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 479 8818

My research focuses on mental health and its relationship to interoception (how we perceive our body).

I use neuroimaging and computational models to better understand how the brain perceives and learns about changes in the body, with a particular focus on breathing. My work also aims to understand how currently available treatments such as anxiolytics and exercise can improve conditions such as anxiety and depression.

Publications

McLeod, E., Gorman, F., Russell, B. R., Chin, P., & Harrison, O. K. (2026). Estimating interoceptive sensitivity from physiological breathing parameters. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 56, e70050. doi: 10.1002/snz2.70050 Journal - Research Article

Harrison, O. K., Tosala, K., Jones, C. A. D., Kennedy, R., Nia, A. F., Maso Talou, G. D., Dawson, C., Sellbom, M., Willing, E., McLeod, E., … Clifford, A. (2026). Using automated psychological tools for understanding and improving mental health outcomes in Aotearoa. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 56(2), e70032. doi: 10.1002/snz2.70032 Journal - Research Article

Cawood, T., Harrison, O. K., McIlwain, M., Kydd, R. R., & Russell, B. R. (2026). Altered brain tissue volumes with valproate treatment for schizophrenia. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 56, 70034. doi: 10.1002/snz2.70034 Journal - Research Article

Connor, M., Harrison, O., & Hargreaves, E. A. (2026). The effect of an acute bout of self-selected intensity exercise on state anxiety and anxiety sensitivity in moderately anxious individuals. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 56, e70001. doi: 10.1002/snz2.70001 Journal - Research Article

Kemp, A., Glue, P., Russell, B., & Harrison, O. (2025). Treatment-refractory anxiety disorders: Altered activity and connectivity with emotional stimuli. In A. Banstola (Ed.), Proceedings of the 41st International Australasian Winter Conference on Brain Research (AWCBR). 9.5, (pp. 53). Retrieved from https://www.awcbr.org Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

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