Dr Stephen Dunne

I am an Assistant Professor of Psychology, Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. As a clinically focused psychologist and researcher, my work bridges cognitive neuropsychology and psychosocial rehabilitation to advance understanding and support for people living with the hidden consequences of stroke and brain injury.

My research centres on the development and evaluation of co-produced digital and psychosocial interventions that address issues such as visual impairments, identity disruption, stigma, and loneliness after stroke or brain injury. Across my work, I am particularly interested in how motivational, social, and emotional factors shape rehabilitation and recovery, and how these can be harnessed to improve quality of life for survivors and their families.

I completed my PhD in Cognitive Neuropsychology at Durham University, where I investigated how reward-based mechanisms influence eye movements and behaviour—work that informed later research into reward-driven training for visual field deficits such as hemianopia. Following this, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher on a major programme developing and trialling digital tools to support compensation for post-stroke visual loss.

Since joining Northumbria, I have expanded my programme of work to examine the broader psychosocial challenges faced by people after stroke or brain injury, including hidden impairments that affect identity, social participation, and wellbeing. My projects combine clinical insight, co-production, and interdisciplinary collaboration to generate practical solutions to complex rehabilitation needs.