Principal Investigator
Director of Functional Neuroimaging, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology
Senior Scientist, Neurosciences & Mental Health
Professor at the University of Toronto
Her research has centered on the neural bases of social-cognitive development over the lifespan using MEG, fMRI and MRI. She and her team assessed functional and structural brain correlates of high-level cognitive skills, including emotional processing, Theory of Mind and working memory. Her current focus is on the application of OPM-MEG to investigate early brain development and emerging neural signatures of autism in toddlers and young children.
Current Team Members
Former Lab Members
Post-doctoral Fellows
- Julie Sato, PhD from University of Toronto, Canada, (Jan 2022–Jul 2025)
- Kristina Safar, PhD from Ryerson University (Apr 2017–Aug 2025)
- Takeshi Inoue, MD, PhD from Tochigi, Japan (Jun 2017–2019)
- Benjamin A.E. Hunt, PhD from Nottingham, England (Apr 2017–Aug 2019)
- EunJung Choi, PhD from Seoul, Korea (Co-Supervisors: Drs. Evdokia Anagnostou and Noma Dlamini, Nov 2016–Jun 2022)
- Priyanka Shah-Basak, PhD from Rutgers, USA (Co-supervised by Dr. M.M. Shroff, Dec 2015–Dec 2016)
- Charline Urbain, PhD from Brussels, Belgium (Oct 2013–Apr 2016)
- Benjamin T. Dunkley, PhD from Cardiff, Wales (Co-supervised by Dr. E.W. Pang, Sep 2013–2016)
- Dafna Sussman, PhD from University of Toronto, Canada (Jul 2013–Dec 2014)
- Emma G. Duerden, PhD from Montreal, Canada (Co-supervised with Drs. Wendy Roberts & Patricia McGrath, Sep 2009–Sep 2012)
- Marie Arsalidou, PhD from York University, Toronto, Canada (Jan 2009–Jun 2011)
- Magali Batty. PhD, Visiting Scientist from Toulouse, France; 5-month sabbatical (Jun–Oct 2010)
- Revital Nossin-Manor, PhD from Tel Aviv, Israel (Jan 2008–Mar 2012)
- Julie Vidal, PhD from Toulouse, France (Jan 2008–Jul 2010)
Doctoral Students
- Julie Sato, MA, Psychology, University of Toronto (Sep 2017–Dec 2021)
- Veronica Yuk, MA, Psychology, University of Toronto (Sep 2015–Jun 2020)
- Sarah Mossad, MA, Psychology, University of Toronto (Sep 2015–Mar 2020)
- Julia Young, MA, Psychology, University of Toronto (Sep 2013–Sep 2018)
- Vanessa Vogan, MA, OISE, University of Toronto (Sep 2013–Jul 2017)
- Annette X. Ye, M.Sc., Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto (Co-supervisor Dr. Sam Doesburg, May 2015–Jul 2017)
- Rachel Leung, MA, Psychology, University of Toronto (Aug 2012–Mar 2018)
- Amy Wilkinson, MA, Psychology, University of Toronto (Sep 2014–Sep 2016)
- Katie Mak-Fan, MA, Psychology, University of Toronto (Sep 2006–Feb 2012)
- Yuwen Hung, MA, Psychology, University of Toronto (Co-supervisor Dr. Mary Lou Smith, Sep 2006–Aug 2011)
Master’s Students
- Julie Sato, Psychology, University of Toronto (Sep 2016–Aug 2017)
- Veronica Yuk, Psychology, University of Toronto (Sep 2014–Aug 2015)
- Sarah Mossad, Psychology, University of Toronto (Co-supervised with Dr. Mary Lou Smith, May 2014–Aug 2015)
- Amanda Easson, Psychology, University of Toronto (Co-supervised with Dr. Sam Doesburg, primary, Sep 2014–2015)
- Julia Young, Psychology, University of Toronto (Co-supervised with Dr. Mary Lou Smith, Sep 2012–Aug 2013)
- Michelle AuCoin-Power, Psychology, University of Toronto (Co-supervised with Dr. Mary Lou Smith, Sep 2012–Dec 2013)
- Vanessa Vogan, Psychology, University of Toronto (Co-supervised with Dr. Mary Lou Smith, Sep 2012–Aug 2013)
- Annette X. Ye, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto (Co-supervised, Dr. Sam Doesburg, primary, Sep 2012–Aug 2014)
- Rachel Leung, Psychology, University of Toronto (Sep 2011–Jul 2012)
Other Former Team Members
- Marlee M. Vandewouw, B.E.Sc., M.A.Sc., PhD, Research Engineer for MRI, MEG, OPM studies (2016–2025)
- Jasen Devasagayam, B.E., M.A.Sc., Research Engineer technologist for OPM studies (2021–2023)
- Simeon M. Wong, B.A.Sc., Research Engineer for MEG studies (2013–2018)
- Benjamin Morgan, B.E.Sc., M.E.Sc., Research Engineer for MRI (DTI) studies (2012–2016)
- Wayne Lee, B.A.Sc., M.Sc., Research Engineer for MRI (fMRI) studies (2008–2016)
- Marc Lalancette, B.Sc. physics, MEG research lab manager (2011–2018)
Other Student Supervision
- Francesca Ferragina – Medical student from Pisa, Italy. Aug–Sept 2025. The mirror neuron system in young children with and without autism.
- Madison Narciso – Third year Psychology student from University of Toronto. May–Aug 2025. Aperiodic signals and behavioural metrics in 1-5yr olds.
- Velda Koranteng-Addo – Fourth year Psychology student from McMaster University. May–Aug 2024. OPM studies in young children.
- Aurora Almonte – Fourth year Psychology student from University of Toronto. May 2023–Aug 2024. Testing and analyses of OPM-MEG studies.
- Natalie Rhodes – Doctoral student in Physics from Nottingham University, UK. Apr–Aug 2023. OPM acquisition parameters in developmental studies.
- Nhu Huynh – Fourth year Neuroscience student from University of Toronto. 2023–2024. Behavioural analyses of social attribution task in children with and without NDDs.
- Diane Lamarle – M.Sc., Sorbonne Université, Paris, France. May–Aug 2022. MEG analyses of adults with ASD in oxytocin trial.
- Celine Safati – Third year Kinesiology student from University of Toronto. Oct 2021–Oct 2024. Behavioural scoring and MEG analyses of emotional faces task in adults with ASD.
- Madeleine Gravelle – Second year Neurosciences student from Queen’s University. May–Sep 2019. Longitudinal DTI analyses in very preterm and anophthalmia.
- Justine Ziolkowski – Fourth year Psychology student from University of Toronto. Sep 2018–Apr 2019. part time research assistant – psych test scoring and freesurfer analyses.
- Alessandra Burini – Second year medical student from Pisa, Italy. Aug–Sep 2017. Helping Dr. Carina Freitas with her music and ASD, MEG study.
- Enrica Manzato – Second year medical student from Pisa, Italy. Aug–Sep 2016. Helping Dr. Carina Freitas with her music and ASD, MEG study.
- Klara Kovarski – doctoral student from Tours, France. Outside research project. May 15–Aug 11, 2016. MEG measures of early visual processing of emotion in ASD.
- Shawna Xen Wei – Third year engineering student, University of Toronto. May–Aug 2016. Development of a browser-based neuroimaging data repository.
- Kaitlyn Francis – Second year neurosciences, Middlebury College, USA. May–Aug 2016. Verbal working memory task in fMRI in ASD & control children.
- Samantha Audrain – doctoral student in Psychology, University of Toronto. Outside research project, Jan–Dec 2016. MEG measures of working memory in adults with and without ASD.
- Rocco Mennella – doctoral student from Venice, Italy. Outside research project. Oct 5, 2015–Jun 24, 2016. MEG indices of emotional processing in adult psychiatric populations.