Lynne Ann Barker

Lynne Ann Barker is a British author and cognitive neuroscientist whose work explores the relationship between brain injury, cognition, and human resilience. ^[1]

Education

Barker obtained a Bachelor of Science degree with first-class honours before completing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). ^[2]

Career

Barker joined Sheffield Hallam University as a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Psychology, Sociology and Politics, where she became associate professor of Cognitive Neuroscience and Postgraduate Research Tutor. ^{[3] [4]} Her academic career has focused on the study of neurocognitive processes linked to traumatic brain injury, dementia, and cognitive frailty, with particular attention to executive function recovery and emotional regulation. ^[5] A central focus of Barker's research has been the development of innovative digital tools for cognitive assessment. She was a principal investigator in the creation of the Automated Dementia Assistant (A.D.A.) and CogLAB, which apply neuropsychological theory to technology-based diagnostic and monitoring systems. ^[6]

She is known for her research on traumatic brain injury, neuroplasticity, the gut–brain axis, and for pioneering digital assessment technologies designed to support people with cognitive deficits. ^[7] Barker is the author of How to Build a Human Brain (2024). ^[8] Barker's laboratory also explores the role of the gut microbiome and the gut–brain axis in degenerative conditions such as Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. ^[9] Her approach combines laboratory research with applied clinical assessment, incorporating techniques such as eye-tracking, retinal imaging, and virtual-reality-based cognitive tasks. ^[10]

Selected publications

Barker's academic publications span neuroscience and cognitive psychology. Her recent works include:

• Dynamic Emotion Recognition and Social Inference Ability in Traumatic Brain Injury: An Eye-Tracking Comparison Study (2023), with L. Greene, J. Reidy, N. Morton, and A. Atherton, published in Behavioral Sciences.
• Brain Trauma and the Secondary Cascade in Humans: Review of the Potential Role of Vitamins in Reparative Processes and Functional Outcome (2023), co-authored with R. J. Denniss, in Behavioral Sciences.
• Visuospatial Executive Functions are Improved by Brief Brain Training in Young Rugby Players (2021), co-authored with A. Oledzka, in OBM Neurobiology.
• How to Build a Human Brain (2024), a book integrating cognitive neuroscience, recovery, and human development.

References

1. "Lynne Ann Barker Archives". Research Outreach. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
2. BDA. "The gut-brain axis and the role of the microbiome in health and disease". www.bda.uk.com. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
3. "Stories by Lynne A Barker". Scientific American. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
4. Doherty, T. A.; Barker, L. A.; Denniss, R.; Jalil, A.; Beer, M. D. (2015-02-11). "The cooking task: making a meal of executive functions". Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. 9: 22. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00022 . ISSN   1662-5153. PMC   4324235 . PMID   25717294.
5. BDA. "The gut-brain axis and the role of the microbiome in health and disease". www.bda.uk.com. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
6. https://mortonneuropsychology.net/f/research-at-mn
7. "Publishers Panel". actaneuropsychologica.com. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
8. "How to Build a Human Brain von Lynne Barker | ISBN 978-3-031-55296-0 | Fachbuch online kaufen - Lehmanns.de". www.lehmanns.de (in German). Retrieved 2025-11-11.
9. "Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society: Volume 16 - Issue 6 | Cambridge Core". Cambridge Core. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
10. Cipresso, Pietro; Albani, Giovanni; Serino, Silvia; Pedroli, Elisa; Pallavicini, Federica; Mauro, Alessandro; Riva, Giuseppe (2014). "Virtual multiple errands test (VMET): a virtual reality-based tool to detect early executive functions deficit in Parkinson's disease". Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. 8: 405. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00405 . ISSN   1662-5153. PMC   4257151 . PMID   25538578.