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Dr Samia ToukhsatiBiographyMusic PsychologyMy research career began under the guidance of two inspirational scientists, Dr Nikki Rickard and Emeritus Professor Kim Ng; this opportunity engendered my lasting fascination with memory processes. As is well known, the effects of normal ageing and/or neurodegeneration on cognitive processes such as memory can be profound. Over the last few years, I have begun to develop a research program that explores the effects of nonpharmacological interventions, such as music therapy, on a broad range of cognitive and psychosocial indices. So far, the story is far from clear and much work remains to be done. In addition to much needed improvements in research methodology, theoretical frameworks to guide predictions as to the potential effects of music therapy are required. My first project was undertaken with a cohort of healthy elderly individuals residing in six Aged Care facilities. My student, Ms Geraldine King, and I evaluated the effects of exposure to music therapy (n=12), animal-assisted therapy (n=13) and a “conversational” therapy (n=11) on cognition (Mini-mental State Examination), depression (Geriatric Depression Scale), quality of life (Satisfaction with Life Scale; RAND-36), and behaviour (Revised Memory Behaviour Problem Checklist). We found that there was a significant improvement over time in all groups, but no significant group or interaction effects. Further research is needed to determine whether these improvements would be differentiated from a non-treatment control. Since this early pilot study, I have established research collaborations with a network of national (Dr Bruce Barber; Prof. Daniel O’Connor; Dr Pauleen Bennett) and international (Prof. Michael Thaut) experts. Together, we were awarded a Monash University Strategic Grant that enabled an evaluation of the cognitive effects of music therapy in populations with Alzheimer’s dementia. Two post-graduate students (Ms Renee Kharsas & Martin Lynch) have recently completed data collection and we anticipate that the findings will be presented at the 10th International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition in Sapporo, Japan, in 2008. Recently, Ms Jenny Patterson (DPsych candidate), Prof. O’Connor, Dr Barber and I were awarded a JO & JR Wicking Trust grant (ANZ Trustees) to explore the effects of music therapy on depression in elderly populations. This project will constitute a randomised controlled trial and will evaluate the self-reported, electrophysiological (EEG) and neurohormonal effects of music therapy. Animal Welfare ScienceFollowing the submission of my PhD, I was appointed as Research Fellow to work with Prof. Grahame Coleman to undertake research at the Animal Welfare Science Centre, Monash University. This has been one of the most significant and rewarding opportunities of my research career and I have been fortunate to collaborate with experts on projects that explored: community attitudes towards companion animal ownership; community attitudes towards a number of agricultural industries; issues pertaining to pig farming; noise annoyance from barking dogs, and many other interesting research endeavours. Recently, I participated in the development of an “Animals in Society” undergraduate course, inspired by the vision of Prof. James Kinder (Chair Department of Animal Sciences, Ohio State University), for Ohio State University. Together with Dr Pauleen Bennett and Dr Mariko Lauber, we considered some really interesting philosophical questions relating to the ways in which animals are perceived, treated, and idealised by humans in modern society. Professional Activities
Research Interests
Postgraduate Research Projects
Potential Student Projects
Teaching
CollaborationsProf. Daniel O’Connor (HOD, Kingston Centre, Ageing and Mental Health) Prof. Michael Thaut (Director, Centre for Biomedical Research in Music, Colorado State University) PRIMAL Network
Animal Welfare Science Centre
Grant Support
PublicationsField, S.E., Rickard, N.S., Toukhsati, S.R., & Gibbs, M.E. (2007). Maternal hen calls modulate memory formation in the day-old chick: The role of noradrenaline. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 88(3), 321-330. Toukhsati, S.R., Coleman, G.J., & Bennett, P.B. (2007). Behaviours and attitudes towards semi- owned cats. Anthrozoos, 20(2), 131-142 Moss, S.A., Garivaldis, F.J., & Toukhsati, S.R. (2007). The perceived similarity of other individuals: The contaminating effects of familiarity and neuroticism. Personality and Individual Differences, 43(2), 401-412 Rickard, N.S., Toukhsati, S.R., & Field, S.E. (2005). The effect of music on cognitive performance: insight from neurobiological and animal studies. Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience Reviews, 4(4), 235-61 Toukhsati, S.R., Rickard, N.S., Perini, E., & Ng, K.T., & Gibbs, M.E. (2004). Noradrenaline involvement in the memory-enhancing effects of exposure to a complex rhythm stimulus following discriminated passive avoidance training in the young chick. Behavioural Brain Research, 159, 105-111 Toukhsati, S., & Rickard, N.S. (2004). Variations in intensity and frequency moderate the facilitative effects of a complex rhythm stimulus on long-term memory enhancement in the day-old chick. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 118, 65-70. Toukhsati, S., & Rickard, N.S. (2001). Exposure to a rhythmic auditory stimulus facilitates memory formation for the passive avoidance task in the day-old chick. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 115, 132-139. |