Katie Mcmahon

Biography

 Katie McMahon is an Associate Professor at the Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland. Dr McMahon has significant experiencing sequence programming in both Bruker and Siemens platforms, and is responsible for implementing and maintaining sequences on all 4 whole-body scanners at the University of Queensland. Her research interests are broad and also include language rehabilitation in aphasia, optimising therapeutic outcome in aphasia based on MRI markers of size, position and brain network damage, the neural correlates in normal language and memory function, the study of brain structure and function and genetics, and whiplash in cervical spine. She has been an invited speaker at Siemens Users Meetings and local SMRT Regional Education Seminars. She has been extensively involved in the development of an award winning magnetic resonance technology postgraduate program. In particularly, she has prepared courses on MR artefacts, fast imaging, and diffusion and perfusion imaging. This researcher is also instrumental in the running of short courses on MR physics, as part of the same program. She has national and international collaborative research links that include the Centre for Research in Language Processing and Linguistics; UCLA Laboratory of Neuro-imaging and Brain Mapping ;QIMR; McGill University, Montreal; Royal Children’s Hospital, Brisbane; Department of Psychology, University of Sussex; Department of Psychology, UQ; Department of Physiotherapy, UQ; Department of Psychiatry, UQ; ITEE, UQ; School of Psychiatry, University of NSW; Siemens Medical Solutions; Centre for Human Factors and Applied Cognitive Psychology.

Research Interest

  Acute effects of exercise on word learning  There is now compelling evidence for the benefits of exercise on cognition in older adults, however, it is unclear whether exercise improves age-related language problems. This project aims to determine if exercise improves language learning and consolidation in ageing. Exercise-induced changes in brain activity and biomarkers will be examined in an innovative set of studies that seeks to identify the brain mechanisms involved. The findings are expected to contribute to theories of word learning and cognitive ageing and should advance our understanding of how exercise may be harnessed to optimise language and cognition which has practical applications in a range of populations with language and learning difficulties. Neurobiology of aphasia treatment post-stroke  Up to 40% of stroke survivors have aphasia (disturbance or loss of language) and of these, 60% will still be aphasic 12 months post-onset. Up until now, it has not been possible to predict aphasia recovery or response to treatment. This research will use clinical measures and brain imaging to develop better predictors of aphasia recovery. Neurodevelopment during Adolescence: A Longitudinal Imaging Study  Adolescence is a risk period for the emergence of psychiatric disorders (>75% commencing before age 25). The onset of these disorders during the critical period of adolescence coincides with when the brain is changing rapidly, and when the processes of brain structural maturation may have a significant impact on network functioning and subsequent behaviour. Very few studies have detailed the effects of developmental brain changes on this sensitive period. We will track the developing brain from pre-or early puberty through to later puberty and sexual maturity, to determine the relative contributions of genetic versus environmental factors responsible for increasing our risk or resilience for psychiatric disease. A prospective study of language function following surgical resection of left hemisphere primary brain tumours  This multi-site project will investigate the incidence and nature of post-operative language difficulties (aphasia) in patients following resection of left hemisphere primary brain tumours. We will provide the first comprehensive data concerning risk factors for post-surgical aphasia in Australian patients, in addition to important information about the brain lesions responsible for its various clinical presentations. This information will be used to generate recommendations for clinical practice and clinical trials.