Mark Brosnan

Dr Brosnan is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a member of the Cognitive Psychology Section and the Division of Neuropsychology.

Dr Brosnan's current research project examines how children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be involved within the design of a computer-based mathematics tutor. Developing protocols for ‘participatory design’ that effectively support children with ASD to be active design partners. This has informed a series of design principles that have guided the development of a mathematics tutor – designed by people with ASD for people with ASD. This research was top-rated at the EPSRC panel that funded the project. More details »

This project is part of a broader interest in the visual-spatial and reasoning abilities that can be altered or enhanced within ASD and other conditions. For example, Dr Brosnan interest is in the potential overlaps and distinctions between ASD and psychosis. He has a long standing research interest in how technology is used, and has written a book on ‘Technophobia’. This explores how and why people can become fearful of using technology. Recently this has extended into ‘social media’ and Dr Brosnan teachs a Cyberpsychology course in the ‘Second Life’ virtual world. Particular interest is in how these new online environments can facilitate communication in people with ASD.