Lorna Jakobson

• PSYC 4520 - Honours Research Seminar
• PSYC 8230 - Clinical Neuropsychology

I did my undergraduate training at the University of Manitoba and then went on to pursue graduate studies at the University of Western Ontario, working under the supervision of Dr. Mel Goodale. I took up my first academic appointment at Queen’s University (Kingston, ON) in July of 1992, and was granted tenure and promotion to Associate Professor. My husband and I moved back to the University of Manitoba in July of 1999, where I joined the Department of Psychology as a member of both the Brain and Cognitive Sciences area and the Clinical Training Program.

• PhD (Clinical Neuropsychology), University of Western Ontario
• MA (Clinical Neuropsychology), University of Western Ontario
• BA Honours (Psychology), University of Manitoba

Research interests

• Visual perception
• Social perception and cognition
• Alexithymia
• Sensory processing sensitivity
• Mental health

Research summary

The main focus of my research is in the area of human neuropsychology. I am particularly interested in high-level visual functions, and in studying factors contributing to individual differences in social perception and cognition. A second main branch of my research program has focused on the development of executive functions, and disruptions to this process associated with premature birth and neurodevelopmental disability. The final branch of my research program involves an exploration of neural mechanisms supporting specific music abilities, and the impact of early and extensive music training on a range of non-musical, perceptual and cognitive skills.

Research affiliations/groups

• Member, Canadian Society for Brain, Behaviour and Cognitive Science
• Member, International Society for Behavioural Neuroscience
• Member, International Society for Research on Emotion

• Jakobson, L.S., McQuarrie, A. M., Van Landeghem, C., & Smith, S. D. (2024). Traits linked to sensory processing sensitivity mediate the relationship between externally oriented thinking and fantasizing. Frontiers in Psychology, 15:1354120. 
• Van Landeghem, C., & Jakobson, L.S. (2024). Isolating unique variance in mental health outcomes attributable to personality variables and childhood emotional abuse. Frontiers in Psychology, 15:1330483. 
•  McQuarrie, A.M., Smith, S.D., & Jakobson, L.S. (2023). Alexithymia and sensory processing sensitivity account for unique variance in the prediction of emotional contagion and empathy. Frontiers in Psychology, 14:1072783. 
• Jakobson, L.S., & Rigby, S.N. (2021). Alexithymia and sensory processing sensitivity: Areas of overlap and links to sensory processing styles. Frontiers in Psychology, 12:583786. 
• Jakobson, L.S. & Pearson, P.M. (2021). Alexithymic traits predict the speed of classifying non-literal statements using nonverbal cues. Cognition and Emotion, 35(3), 569-575.
• Rigby, S.N., Jakobson, L.S., Pearson, P.M., & Stoesz, B. M. (2020). Alexithymic traits and the evaluation of emotionally valenced scenes. Frontiers in Psychology, 11:1820. 
• Van Landeghem, C., Jakobson, L.S., & Keough, M.T. (2019). Risk of exercise dependence in university students: A subtyping study utilizing latent profile analysis. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 45, 101575. 
• Jakobson, L.S., Pearson, P. M., Kozub, Z., Hare, C., & Rigby, S.N. (2018). Links between traits associated with the Broad Autism Phenotype and empathy and young adults’ ability to decode speaker intentionality. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 50, 11-21. 
• Rigby, S.N., Stoesz, B.M., & Jakobson, L.S. (2018). Empathy and face processing in adults with and without autism spectrum disorder. Autism Research, 11(6), 942-955. 
• Rigby, S.N., Stoesz, B.M., & Jakobson, L.S. (2016). Gaze patterns during scene processing in typical adults and adults with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 25, 24–36. 

• 2019 - Excellence in Teaching Award (Established Faculty), Faculty of Arts, University of Manitoba 
• 2012 - Professor of the Year, Faculty of Arts, University of Manitoba
• 2002/03 - University Outreach Award, University of Manitoba
• 2001 - Rh Award for Outstanding Contributions to Scholarship and Research in the Natural Sciences Category, Winnipeg Rh Foundation

• 2002 to present - Member of the Board of Directors, Optimal Health Early Years Autism Programs
• 2018 to 2020 - Member of the Board of Directors, ParaStorm Swim Club (part of the Manitoba Cerebral Palsy Sports Association)
• Positions held in Manitoba Families for Effective Autism Treatment (MFEAT):
• 2001 to 2008 - Recruiter for Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) Tutors in Winnipeg
• 2001 to 2006 - Member of the Organizing Committee for the annual MFEAT Autism Conference
• Volunteer in fund-raising campaigns in support of MFEAT and the Autism Society of Manitoba