We are the Sensory Research lab at the University of Sussex. Our aim is to promote a clear scientific understanding of sensory diversity including understanding of aphantasia.
University of Sussex Research Team
Professor Julia Simner
Julia Simner is a professor of neuropsychology specialising in multisensory research. She runs the MULTISENSE lab at the University of Sussex where her research focusses on sensory differences. She has been widely published in well regarded science journals (e.g., Nature), and in over 100 newspaper and media articles worldwide. She is the Science Officer for the UK Synaesthesia Association, and the author of several books (Oxford Handbook of Synesthesia; and Synaesthesia: A Very Short Introduction).
Dr Louisa Rinaldi
Louisa Rinaldi is a postdoctoral researcher with a PhD in Psychology from the University of Sussex, as well as a BSc in Psychology and an MSc in Clinical Cognitive Neuroscience from Sheffield Hallam University. She is particularly interested in sensory neurodiversity and her research has shown how sensory differences can impact the cognition, personality, health and well-being of children and adults.
Previous members of the research team
Dr Carla Dance
2019-2021
Carla completed her PhD in aphantasia at the University of Sussex with Prof. Simner as her supervisor. Her work has shown how aphantasics differ from imagers in their ability to recognise faces, in their autistic traits, and sensory profile. She is now training as a Clinical Psychologist at University Collage London.