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My research interests broadly include improving our understanding of the interplay between neurocognition and psychosocial functioning, and predicting real-world health outcomes in aging and chronic illness groups.

One line of research focuses on understanding cognitive and psychosocial predictors of cognitive change as we age, as well as the potential impact of chronic illnesses in cognitive aging. Current projects include examination of data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) and UK Biobank to answer questions about interplay between personality and cognitive health, as well as potential impacts of APOE status, physical and mental health, and cognitive decline. An ongoing collaboration is also investigating psychosocial and cognitive impacts on prediction of biological age. I am also currently a Locally Responsible Investigator (LRI) and co-investigator on the CLSA, contributing to study operations at UVic.

A related research focus is on relationships between physical health behaviours, cognitive health, and healthy aging. Past research has examined outcomes such as medication adherence in individuals with chronic illnesses. A current project is examining potential relationships between psychosocial, personality, and cognitive functioning and use of mHealth apps to assist with healthy behaviour (e.g., physical activity, diet) and building healthy habits. Long-term goals of this research include potential for development of psychological and cognitive programs aimed at improving real-world physical and cognitive health outcomes. 

Another line of my research focuses on examining the utility of cognitive measures. Current and recent projects, in collaboration with my colleagues at Baycrest Health Sciences Centre/Rotman Research Institute, where I hold a Visiting Researcher appointment, include validation of Cogniciti’s Brain Health Assessment, an online screening measure to detect amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), evaluation of potential linguistic and cultural bias in established neuropsychological measures, and comparative evaluation of cognitive screening measures for detection of aMCI in community dwelling older adults. Aims of this work include assessment of the utility of measures evaluating traditional and everyday cognitive abilities in the prediction of real-world health outcomes, and translation of basic research to clinical settings through design and implementation of measures with utility in diverse groups.

My current research has also been impacted and influenced by the pandemic. Another area of focus currently is investigation of neurocognitive and psychosocial impacts. An ongoing collaboration in this area is a survey study examining psychosocial impacts and need for mental health resources nationally, in collaboration with my colleague Dr. Brianna Turner. This project is collecting data from large samples of Canadians throughout the pandemic to improve our understanding of needed mental health resources. We will also be collecting data from specific groups of Canadians (e.g., healthcare workers) to understand unique impacts. An upcoming project will also examine neurocognitive impacts of long-COVID, in collaboration with Dr. Garcia-Barrera and colleagues and York University and UofT.

Clinically, I am trained as a lifespan neuropsychologist, and my clinical practice has focused on neuropsychological assessment and differential diagnosis in children, adolescents, adults, and older adults in the context of traumatic brain injury, and in adults and older adults in the context of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. 

• Current collaborative project site –
• Brain Lab Website -
• Impacts of COVID-19 Infection on Cognitive Functioning -
• Orcid -

Interests

• Clinical neuropsychology
• Everyday cognition
• Aging and brain health
• Chronic illness and health behaviours

Representative Publications

*NOTE: Underlined are the names of students leading or contributing to publications

Schaeffer, M. J., MacDonald, S. W., & Paterson, T. S. (2024). Premorbid personality traits as predictors for incident predementia syndromes: a multistate model approach. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 1-11.

Ashleigh F Parker, Paterson, T. S. E., Tamara Goranson, Jodie R Gawryluk (2024). The Piano Man: A Case Report of Anterior Thalamic Infarct with Dementia and Preserved Music Ability, Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, Volume 39, Issue 2, March 2024, Pages 265–272, 

Parker, A. F., Paterson, T. S. E., Goranson, T., & Gawryluk, J. R. (2023) The Piano Man: A Case Report of Anterior Thalamic Infarct with Dementia and Preserved Music Ability. Archives of clinical neuropsychology: the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists, acad069. Advance online publication.

Paterson, T. S. E., Sivajohan, B., Gardner, S., Binns, M. A., Stokes, K. A., Freedman, M., Levine, B. & Troyer, A. K. (2022). Accuracy of a self-administered online cognitive assessment in detecting amnestic mild cognitive impairment. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 77(2), 341-350. DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbab097

LaPlume, A. A., Paterson, T. S. E., Gardner, S., Stokes, K. A., Freedman, M., Levine, B., Troyer, A. K., & Anderson, N. D. (2021) Interindividual and intraindividual variability in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) measured with an online cognitive assessment. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 43(8), 796–812. .

Paterson, T. S. E., Sivajohan, B., Gardner, S., Binns, M. A., Stokes, K., Freedman, M., Levine, B., & Troyer, A. K. (2021). Accuracy of a self-administered online neurocognitive assessment in detecting amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences.

Shaikh, K., Tatham, E., Vandermorris, S., Paterson, T., Stokes, K., Freedman, M., . . . Troyer, A. The Impact of Memory Change on Everyday Life Among Older Adults: Association with Cognition and Self-Reported Memory. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 1-9. doi:10.1017/S1355617720001344

Gicas, K. M., Paterson, T. S. E., Narvaez Linares, N. F., & Loken Thornton, W. J. (2020). Clinical psychological assessment training issues in the COVID-19 era: A survey of the state of the field and considerations for moving forward. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne. Advance online publication.

Paterson, T. S. E., Demian, M., Shapiro, R. J. & Thornton, W. J. L. (2019). Comparison of Medication Adherence Between Once-Daily and Twice-Daily Tacrolimus in Stable Renal Transplant Recipients – a Canadian Single-center Randomized Trial. Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease.

Paterson, T. S. E., O’Rourke, N., Shapiro, R. J., & Thornton, W. J. L. (2018). Medication adherence in renal transplant recipients: A latent variable model of psychosocial and neurocognitive predictors. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0204219.

Paterson, T.S.E., Yeung, S., & Thornton, W.J.L. (2016). Positive affect predicts everyday problem-solving ability in older adults. Aging and Mental Health, 20(8), 871-879. DOI:10.1080/13607863.2015.1043619.

Thornton, W.J.L., Paterson, T., & Yeung, S. (2013). Age differences in everyday problem solving: The roles of problem context. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 37(1), 13-20. DOI: 10.1177/0165025412454028

Paterson, T.S.E., O’Rourke, N., Shapiro, R. J., & Thornton, W.J.L. (2011). The composition and structure of depressive symptomatology in renal disease. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 43, 318-327. DOI:10.1037/a0025104

Talmi, D., Schimmack, U., Paterson, T., & Moscovitch, M. (2007). The role of attention and relatedness in emotionally enhanced memory. Emotion, 7, 89-102. DOI: 10.1037/1528-3542.7.1.89