Overview
I'm a research psychologist with particular interests in the neuropsychology of aging, and the behavioural psychology of reward-seeking.
I characterise early markers of later problems, such as how subtle navigation deficits predict later episodes of getting lost, or how declines in general motivation predict later interpersonal problems.
My recent work in Norwich aimed to provide early detection tools for people at risk of dementia, focussing on how a decline in navigation ability may pre-date other cognitive difficulties, such as memory complaints.
My PhD work at Sussex investigated the interplay between cognition, emotion, and motivation, within the context of tobacco health warnings. I showed that conscious awareness of nicotine availability was required for people to initiate smoking, but that their efforts to obtain nicotine could be suppressed by aversive health warnings.
Career
My passion for all things mind, brain, and behaviour, began in my teens when a family friend had a stroke.
I wanted to learn more, and so completed a Psychology A Level under the nurturing guidance of Dr Rachel Baron. (Thanks Rachel.)
After a BSc in Psychology at Leeds, and MSc in Neuropsychology at Nottingham, I completed a PhD in Behavioural Psychology at Sussex.
Following my PhD, I worked as an Assistant Neuropsychologist, before becoming a Post-doc Research Assistant on a dementia project at Norwich Medical School.
I'm now a Lecturer in the Psychology Department at Exeter, where I use my diverse background to ensure an excellent student learning experience.
Research
Research interests
My research interests are in both basic and applied psychology, and I like to translate basic science into applied situations.
Basic
My basic research investigates the triad of cognition, emotion, and motivation.
I'm interested in how thinking and feeling interact to influence doing. For example, when we encounter the smell of coffee, do we need to know that it's the smell of coffee, or can we just feel something positive, for the smell to encourage us into the coffee shop?
I investigate this kind of question using Pavlovian-Instrumental Transfer (PIT) paradigms.
Applied
My applied interests focus on healthy aging, and dementia.
I'm interested in how age-related changes in psychological processes affect daily functioning. For example, which changes in cognitive function predict safer driving as we age?
In dementia, I measure how subtle changes in personality predict later need for behavioural support. For example, why does withdrawal from social activity predict greater need for care-giver support?
Translational
I like to combine my basic and applied interests to promote healthy aging. I'm interested in whether targetting motivational deficits can have a wider impact on cognitive health. For example, could exposure to positive contexts, like a garden, delay a dementia diagnosis in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment?
Publications
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Publications by category
Journal articles
Lowry E, Coughlan G, Morrissey S, Jeffs S, Hornberger M (2023). Spatial orientation – a stable marker for vascular cognitive impairment?. Cerebral Circulation - Cognition and Behavior, 4, 100155-100155.
Gwinnutt JM, Toyoda T, Jeffs S, Flanagan E, Chipping JR, Dainty JR, Mioshi E, Hornberger M, MacGregor A (2021). Reduced cognitive ability in people with rheumatoid arthritis compared with age-matched healthy controls.
Rheumatol Adv Pract,
5(2).
Abstract:
Reduced cognitive ability in people with rheumatoid arthritis compared with age-matched healthy controls.
OBJECTIVE: the aim was to compare the cognitive ability of people with RA with healthy controls (HCs). METHODS: People with RA were recruited from the Norfolk Arthritis Register (NOAR), a population-based cohort study of people with inflammatory arthritis. Data on aged-matched HCs (people with no cognitive impairment) came from the comparison arm of the Dementia Research and Care Clinic Study (TRACC). People with RA and HCs performed a range of cognitive ability tasks to assess attention, memory, verbal fluency, language, visuospatial skills, emotional recognition, executive function and theory of mind. A score of
Abstract.
Author URL.
Lowry E, Puthusseryppady V, Coughlan G, Jeffs S, Hornberger M (2020). Path Integration Changes as a Cognitive Marker for Vascular Cognitive Impairment?-A Pilot Study.
Front Hum Neurosci,
14Abstract:
Path Integration Changes as a Cognitive Marker for Vascular Cognitive Impairment?-A Pilot Study.
Path integration spatial navigation processes are emerging as promising cognitive markers for prodromal and clinical Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, such path integration changes have been less explored in Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI), despite neurovascular change being a major contributing factor to dementia and potentially AD. In particular, the sensitivity and specificity of path integration impairments in VCI compared to AD is unclear. In the current pilot study, we explore path integration performance in early-stage AD and VCI patient groups and hypothesize that: (i) medial parietal mediated egocentric processes will be more affected in VCI; and (ii) medial temporal mediated allocentric processes will be more affected in AD. This cross-sectional study included early-stage VCI patients (n = 9), AD patients (n = 10) and healthy age-matched controls (n = 20). All participants underwent extensive neuropsychological testing, as well as spatial navigation testing. The spatial navigation tests included the virtual reality "Supermarket" task assessing egocentric (body-based) and allocentric (map-based) navigation as well as the "Clock Orientation" test assessing egocentric and path integration processes. Results showed that egocentric integration processes are only impaired in VCI, potentially distinguishing it from AD. However, in contrast to our prediction, allocentric integration was not more impaired in AD compared to VCI. These preliminary findings suggest limited specificity of allocentric integration deficits between VCI and AD. By contrast, egocentric path integration deficits emerge as more specific to VCI, potentially allowing for more specific diagnostic and treatment outcome measures for vascular impairment in dementia.
Abstract.
Author URL.
Jeffs S, Duka T (2019). Single-response appetitive Pavlovian to instrumental transfer is suppressed by aversive counter-conditioning.
Q J Exp Psychol (Hove),
72(12), 2820-2832.
Abstract:
Single-response appetitive Pavlovian to instrumental transfer is suppressed by aversive counter-conditioning.
Environmental stimuli, when paired with reward, can influence behaviour in maladaptive ways, for example, by encouraging overeating or addiction. Such behaviour can be sensitive to reward value manipulations, under circumscribed conditions, but whether reward-seeking is also sensitive to stimulus value manipulations remains unclear. Thus, the current experiment investigated whether reducing the hedonic value of a reward-paired stimulus would reduce reward-seeking behaviour. In total, 36 participants successfully completed a single-response Pavlovian-instrumental transfer (PIT) task with a counter-conditioning procedure. The Pavlovian phase associated three conditioned stimuli (CSs) with money at 100%, 50%, or 0% contingency. Counter-conditioning then followed for the experimental group, who saw the 100% CS paired with unpleasant pictures, while the control group saw only neutral images. Instrumental training required participants to learn a button-pressing response to win money. The transfer phase contrasted instrumental responding during baseline and CS presentation. Both experimental and control groups liked the 100% CS more than the other CSs after Pavlovian training, but counter-conditioning reduced this 100% CS liking. In transfer, the experimental group showed an abolition of appetitive PIT, while the control group showed maintenance of appetitive PIT. However, this group difference was only evident in response vigour, not response initiation. In summary, CS hedonic value influences cue-potentiated instrumental responding. More specifically, hedonic value of a reward-paired cue influences the vigour of instrumental responses, but not the decision to initiate a response. These data may have relevance to smoking cessation policies, where the introduction of health warnings may be viewed as a real-world example of counter conditioning.
Abstract.
Author URL.
Coughlan G, Flanagan E, Jeffs S, Bertoux M, Spiers H, Mioshi E, Hornberger M (2018). Diagnostic relevance of spatial orientation for vascular dementia: a case study.
Dementia e Neuropsychologia,
12(1), 85-91.
Abstract:
Diagnostic relevance of spatial orientation for vascular dementia: a case study
Spatial orientation is emerging as an early and reliable cognitive biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathophysiology. However, no evidence exists as to whether spatial orientation is also affected in vascular dementia (VaD). Objective: to examine allocentric (map-based) and egocentric (viewpoint-based) spatial orientation in an early stage VaD case. Methods: a spatial test battery was administered following clinical and neuropsychological cognitive evaluation. Results: Despite the patient’s complaints, little evidence of episodic memory deficits were detected when cueing was provided to overcome executive dysfunction. Similarly, medial temporal lobe-mediated allocentric orientation was intact. By contrast, medial parietal-mediated egocentric orientation was impaired, despite normal performance on standard visuospatial tasks. Conclusion: to our knowledge, this is the first in-depth investigation of spatial orientation deficits in VaD. Isolated egocentric deficits were observed. This differs from AD orientation deficits which encompass both allocentric and egocentric orientation deficits. A combination of egocentric orientation and executive function tests could serve as a promising cognitive marker for VaD pathophysiology.
Abstract.
Jeffs S, Duka T (2017). Predictive but not emotional value of Pavlovian stimuli leads to pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer.
Behav Brain Res,
321, 214-222.
Abstract:
Predictive but not emotional value of Pavlovian stimuli leads to pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer.
Reward-predictive stimuli augment instrumental reward-seeking in humans, an effect denoted Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT), but the role of differential reward value of these stimuli and of emotional conditioned responses in PIT remains unknown. Fifty one participants experienced a Pavlovian phase that associated two stimuli with either 10p (CS10) or 50p (CS50). Next, participants underwent instrumental training for two responses reinforced with either 10p or 50p. Finally, the transfer phase continued as had instrumental training, now in the presence of the Pavlovian stimuli. Participants were dichotomised as aware/unaware according to their expectancy awareness of the CS→outcome associations. Only aware participants demonstrated PIT (increased choice and number of responses on the 10p and 50p response key in the presence of CS10 and CS50 respectively), yet both aware and unaware groups rated the 50p stimulus as more pleasant than the 10p stimulus. These findings suggest that expectancy of reward is necessary for PIT; however, emotional conditioned responses appear not sufficient to influence PIT. Future research should attempt to manipulate emotional conditioned responses in a PIT context, to test the sufficiency of reward expectancy in PIT.
Abstract.
Author URL.
Publications by year
2023
Lowry E, Coughlan G, Morrissey S, Jeffs S, Hornberger M (2023). Spatial orientation – a stable marker for vascular cognitive impairment?. Cerebral Circulation - Cognition and Behavior, 4, 100155-100155.
2021
Gwinnutt JM, Toyoda T, Jeffs S, Flanagan E, Chipping JR, Dainty JR, Mioshi E, Hornberger M, MacGregor A (2021). Reduced cognitive ability in people with rheumatoid arthritis compared with age-matched healthy controls.
Rheumatol Adv Pract,
5(2).
Abstract:
Reduced cognitive ability in people with rheumatoid arthritis compared with age-matched healthy controls.
OBJECTIVE: the aim was to compare the cognitive ability of people with RA with healthy controls (HCs). METHODS: People with RA were recruited from the Norfolk Arthritis Register (NOAR), a population-based cohort study of people with inflammatory arthritis. Data on aged-matched HCs (people with no cognitive impairment) came from the comparison arm of the Dementia Research and Care Clinic Study (TRACC). People with RA and HCs performed a range of cognitive ability tasks to assess attention, memory, verbal fluency, language, visuospatial skills, emotional recognition, executive function and theory of mind. A score of
Abstract.
Author URL.
2020
Lowry E, Puthusseryppady V, Coughlan G, Jeffs S, Hornberger M (2020). Path Integration Changes as a Cognitive Marker for Vascular Cognitive Impairment?-A Pilot Study.
Front Hum Neurosci,
14Abstract:
Path Integration Changes as a Cognitive Marker for Vascular Cognitive Impairment?-A Pilot Study.
Path integration spatial navigation processes are emerging as promising cognitive markers for prodromal and clinical Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, such path integration changes have been less explored in Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI), despite neurovascular change being a major contributing factor to dementia and potentially AD. In particular, the sensitivity and specificity of path integration impairments in VCI compared to AD is unclear. In the current pilot study, we explore path integration performance in early-stage AD and VCI patient groups and hypothesize that: (i) medial parietal mediated egocentric processes will be more affected in VCI; and (ii) medial temporal mediated allocentric processes will be more affected in AD. This cross-sectional study included early-stage VCI patients (n = 9), AD patients (n = 10) and healthy age-matched controls (n = 20). All participants underwent extensive neuropsychological testing, as well as spatial navigation testing. The spatial navigation tests included the virtual reality "Supermarket" task assessing egocentric (body-based) and allocentric (map-based) navigation as well as the "Clock Orientation" test assessing egocentric and path integration processes. Results showed that egocentric integration processes are only impaired in VCI, potentially distinguishing it from AD. However, in contrast to our prediction, allocentric integration was not more impaired in AD compared to VCI. These preliminary findings suggest limited specificity of allocentric integration deficits between VCI and AD. By contrast, egocentric path integration deficits emerge as more specific to VCI, potentially allowing for more specific diagnostic and treatment outcome measures for vascular impairment in dementia.
Abstract.
Author URL.
2019
Jeffs S, Duka T (2019). Single-response appetitive Pavlovian to instrumental transfer is suppressed by aversive counter-conditioning.
Q J Exp Psychol (Hove),
72(12), 2820-2832.
Abstract:
Single-response appetitive Pavlovian to instrumental transfer is suppressed by aversive counter-conditioning.
Environmental stimuli, when paired with reward, can influence behaviour in maladaptive ways, for example, by encouraging overeating or addiction. Such behaviour can be sensitive to reward value manipulations, under circumscribed conditions, but whether reward-seeking is also sensitive to stimulus value manipulations remains unclear. Thus, the current experiment investigated whether reducing the hedonic value of a reward-paired stimulus would reduce reward-seeking behaviour. In total, 36 participants successfully completed a single-response Pavlovian-instrumental transfer (PIT) task with a counter-conditioning procedure. The Pavlovian phase associated three conditioned stimuli (CSs) with money at 100%, 50%, or 0% contingency. Counter-conditioning then followed for the experimental group, who saw the 100% CS paired with unpleasant pictures, while the control group saw only neutral images. Instrumental training required participants to learn a button-pressing response to win money. The transfer phase contrasted instrumental responding during baseline and CS presentation. Both experimental and control groups liked the 100% CS more than the other CSs after Pavlovian training, but counter-conditioning reduced this 100% CS liking. In transfer, the experimental group showed an abolition of appetitive PIT, while the control group showed maintenance of appetitive PIT. However, this group difference was only evident in response vigour, not response initiation. In summary, CS hedonic value influences cue-potentiated instrumental responding. More specifically, hedonic value of a reward-paired cue influences the vigour of instrumental responses, but not the decision to initiate a response. These data may have relevance to smoking cessation policies, where the introduction of health warnings may be viewed as a real-world example of counter conditioning.
Abstract.
Author URL.
2018
Coughlan G, Flanagan E, Jeffs S, Bertoux M, Spiers H, Mioshi E, Hornberger M (2018). Diagnostic relevance of spatial orientation for vascular dementia: a case study.
Dementia e Neuropsychologia,
12(1), 85-91.
Abstract:
Diagnostic relevance of spatial orientation for vascular dementia: a case study
Spatial orientation is emerging as an early and reliable cognitive biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathophysiology. However, no evidence exists as to whether spatial orientation is also affected in vascular dementia (VaD). Objective: to examine allocentric (map-based) and egocentric (viewpoint-based) spatial orientation in an early stage VaD case. Methods: a spatial test battery was administered following clinical and neuropsychological cognitive evaluation. Results: Despite the patient’s complaints, little evidence of episodic memory deficits were detected when cueing was provided to overcome executive dysfunction. Similarly, medial temporal lobe-mediated allocentric orientation was intact. By contrast, medial parietal-mediated egocentric orientation was impaired, despite normal performance on standard visuospatial tasks. Conclusion: to our knowledge, this is the first in-depth investigation of spatial orientation deficits in VaD. Isolated egocentric deficits were observed. This differs from AD orientation deficits which encompass both allocentric and egocentric orientation deficits. A combination of egocentric orientation and executive function tests could serve as a promising cognitive marker for VaD pathophysiology.
Abstract.
2017
Jeffs S, Duka T (2017). Predictive but not emotional value of Pavlovian stimuli leads to pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer.
Behav Brain Res,
321, 214-222.
Abstract:
Predictive but not emotional value of Pavlovian stimuli leads to pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer.
Reward-predictive stimuli augment instrumental reward-seeking in humans, an effect denoted Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT), but the role of differential reward value of these stimuli and of emotional conditioned responses in PIT remains unknown. Fifty one participants experienced a Pavlovian phase that associated two stimuli with either 10p (CS10) or 50p (CS50). Next, participants underwent instrumental training for two responses reinforced with either 10p or 50p. Finally, the transfer phase continued as had instrumental training, now in the presence of the Pavlovian stimuli. Participants were dichotomised as aware/unaware according to their expectancy awareness of the CS→outcome associations. Only aware participants demonstrated PIT (increased choice and number of responses on the 10p and 50p response key in the presence of CS10 and CS50 respectively), yet both aware and unaware groups rated the 50p stimulus as more pleasant than the 10p stimulus. These findings suggest that expectancy of reward is necessary for PIT; however, emotional conditioned responses appear not sufficient to influence PIT. Future research should attempt to manipulate emotional conditioned responses in a PIT context, to test the sufficiency of reward expectancy in PIT.
Abstract.
Author URL.
Refresh publications
Teaching
Widening Participation
I was the first in my family to complete a Higher Education degree. Education got me where I am now (thanks a lot, Education), so I'd like to help widen access for other people.
MSc Psychology (Conversion) Online
Our online Psychology conversion programme is a great example of how we're widening participation in Psychology. If you've already completed a higher education degree in another subject, and want to apply your skills to psychology, then our online conversion programme can be completed anywhere. You can fit your study time around your existing work, family, or other commitments, and the programme is designed to be as widely accessible as possible.
If you'd like to learn more, then click through to the programme page here: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/online/courses/mscpsych/
Exeter Scholars
To help aspiring students make an informed decision about whether and what to study in Higher Education, I deliver practical sessions about psychology with school students, through the Exeter Scholars programme.
Scholars - click through to this [currently unavailable Padlet] to begin your session.
Modules
2023/24
