Dr. Michelle Downes

Michelle Downes is an Associate Professor and Ad Astra Fellow at UCD School of Psychology. Dr Downes completed her PhD in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience and MSc in Paediatric Neuropsychology at University College London. Her research has primarily focused on links between sleep quality and quantity and neurocognitive development in typically developing children and paediatric patient populations. Dr Downes established the UCD Babylab in 2016 to investigate the development of sleep, executive function and learning in infants and young children. Associate Professor Downes is also director of the UCD Neuropsychology Lab and has conducted sleep research with paediatric patient groups (including children with ADHD, sickle cell disease and Tourette syndrome). Research in both labs involves a variety of quantitative and qualitative approaches.

Quantitative techniques include EEG, eye tracking, actigraphy, and behavioural assessment. She has published in relevant journals including Sleep Medicine, Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, and Behavioral Sleep Medicine. She is currently researching the links between sleep, digital technology and executive function in early child development. She is keen to promote the focus of more research on sleep research in infant and paediatric populations.