Christopher Hewitson

Researcher in Cognitive Science - Universität Tübingen

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Researcher @ Bartels, A: Vision and Cognition Lab (September 2024 - Present)
Adjunct Fellow @ Adelaide University, School of Education (January 2024 - Present)

Research Aims:

• Investigating the effects of visual illusion on motor learning and motor control
• Investigating the effect of semantic content on ego-motion in natural visual scenes

Technologies used:

• Visuomotor and dynamic adaptation paradigms usingonline projects, and VR.
• Game-engine designed (Unity) 3D scenes in VR
• Online paradigms built in JavaScript and HTML
• Data analysis in MATLAB, R, and Python
• Modelling using LSTM’s and SVM’s (MATLAB and Python)

Postdoctoral Associate @ ACTLAB (April 2022 - Present)

Research Aims:

• Investigating the effects of sensory uncertainty on motor learning and motor control
• Investigating the behavioural and neural markers of motor expertise (Principally Minimally Invasive Surgeons)
• Philosophy of Science
• Educational psychology, motor-learning and pedagogy

Technologies used:

• Visuomotor and dynamic adaptation paradigms using KINARM endpoint robot, tablet-based rig, online projects, and VR
• KINARM paradigms built in MATLAB and Simulink
• VMR rig paradigms built in Octave and JavaScript
• VR paradigms built in Blender and Unreal Engine
• Online paradigms built in JavaScript and HTML
• Data analysis in MATLAB, R, and Python
• Modelling using LSTM’s and SVM’s (MATLAB and Python)
  

  
  Education

  2017 – 2021 PhD in Cognitive Science Macquarie University

  • Thesis: Sensorimotor learning in complex and uncertain environments

  
  2016 MRES in Cognitive Science Macquarie University

  • Thesis: Investigating Interlimb Generalisation of Bayesian Sensorimotor Learning

  
  2014 – 2015 BA(Hons) in Philosophy of Cognitive Science Adelaide University

  • Thesis: Eliasmith’s Account of Mental Representation: A Peircean-inspired Analysis

  
  2010 – 2011 MTEACH in Middle and Secondary Education University of South Australia

  2007 – 2008 BA in Philosophy of Mind Adelaide University

  2005 – 2006 BSc(Hons) Pharmacology Flinders University

  • Thesis: Acute effects of haemodialysis on biochemical modulators of endothelial function

  
  2002 – 2005 BTECH in Pharmacology and Molecular Synthesis Flinders University

  
  

  Awards, Honours and Grants

  2022 – 2024 Yale University

  • Seesel Endowed Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • ACT lab, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, adviser Samuel Mcdougle.

  
  2019 – 2020 Macquarie University

  • Competitive Post Graduate research fund recipient
  • Partitioning Feedforward from Feedback Components of Bayesian Sensorimotor Learning: SFN 2019, Chicago.
  • Lab visit with Associate Professor Jordan Taylor at the Princeton Neuroscience Institute, New Jersey.

  
  2018 – 2019 Macquarie University

  • Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders: Student exchange scheme grant recipient
  • Investigating the implicit vs explicit components of Bayesian motor learning.
  • Lab visit with Professor Timothy Carroll at the Human Motor Control Lab, University of Queensland.

  
  2017 – 2020 Macquarie University

  • Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders: Neural markers training scheme grant recipient
  • Investigating the neural mechanisms underlying Bayesian sensorimotor learning using transcranial magnetic stimulation.

  
  2014 – 2015 Flinders University Department of Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

  • Summer intern Scholarship
  • Development of neural network architecture in Java.
    

    Publications

    • Hewitson, C. L., Whiting, M. J., Barbara, J., & Mangoni, A. A. (2007). Acute effects of haemodialysis on biochemical modulators of endothelial function. Journal of internal medicine, 262(5), 571–580.
    • Mangoni, A. A., Hewitson, C. L., Woodman, R. J., Whiting, M. J., McAteer-Carr, B., & Barbara, J. A. (2008). Symmetric dimethylarginine is an independent predictor of intradialytic hypotension. American journal of hypertension, 21(8), 955–959.
    • Paul, B., Hewitson, C. L., Woodman, R. J., & Mangoni, A. A. (2009). Analysis of short-term reproducibility of arterial vasoreactivity by pulse-wave analysis after pharmacological challenge. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 36(1), 49–54.
    • Bouteldja, N., Woodman, R., Hewitson, C. L., Domingo, E., Barbara, J., & Mangoni, A. (2012). Methylated arginines and nitric oxide in end-stage renal disease: Relationship with inflammatory and oxidative status. Cardiovascular Research, 93(supplementary 1).
    • Bouteldja, N., Woodman, R. J., Hewitson, C. L., Domingo, E., Barbara, J. A., & Mangoni, A. A. (2013). Methylated arginines and nitric oxide in end-stage renal disease: Impact of inflammation, oxidative stress, and haemodialysis. Biomarkers, 18(4), 357–364.
    • Hewitson, C. L., Kaplan, D. M., & Sutton, J. (2018). Yesterday the earwig, today man, tomorrow the earwig? Comparative Cognition & Behavior Reviews, 13.
    • Hewitson, C. L., Sowman, P. F., & Kaplan, D. M. (2018). Interlimb Generalization of Learned Bayesian Visuomotor Prior Occurs in Extrinsic Coordinates. Eneuro, 5(4).
    • Hewitson, C. L., Crossley, M. J., & Kaplan, D. M. (2020). Enhanced visuomotor learning and generalization in expert surgeons. Human Movement Science, 71, 102621.
    • Kaplan, D. M., & Hewitson, C. L. (2021). Modelling Bayesian computation in the brain: Unification, explanation, and constraints. In Neural Mechanisms (pp. 11–33). Springer.
    • Crossley, M. J., Hewitson, C. L., Cartmill, J., & Kaplan, D. M. (2021). Motor adaptation: An underappreciated aspect of technical surgical skill. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 91(4), 489–490.
    • Hewitson, C. L., Crossley, M. J., & Kaplan, D. M. (2021). Effects of visuomotor perturbations on motor performance in minimally invasive surgery: A theoretically-oriented review. Annals of Surgery.
    • Gillett, A., Whyte, C., Hewitson, C. L., & Kaplan, D. M. (2021). Defending the viability of the mutual manipulability criterion in the extended cognition debate: A reply to Baumgartner et al. In Philosophical Psychology.
    • Hewitson, C. L., Shukur, S. T., Cartmill, J., Crossley, M., & Kaplan, D. M. (2021). Camera counter-rotation imposes a cost on laparoscopic performance. Scientific Reports, 11(17634).
    • Hewitson, C. L., Kaplan, D. M., & Crossley, M. J. (2023). Sensory uncertainty punctuates motor learning independently of movement error when both feedforward and feedback control processes are engaged. PLoS computational biology.
    • Hewitson, C. L., Al-Fawakhiri, N., Forrence, A. D. & McDougle, S. D. (2023). Metacognitive Judgments during Visuomotor Learning Reflect the Integration of Error History. JNeurophys.
    • Hewitson, C. L., Kaplan, D. M. & Crossley, M. (2024). Sensorimotor learning under uncertainty: Emerging principles and open questions. In review.
    • Crossley, M. J., Hewitson, C. L. & Kaplan, D. M. (2024). Sensory uncertainty influences motor learning differently in blocked versus interleaved trial contexts when both feedforward and feedback processes are engaged. In review.
    • Crossley, M. J., Hewitson, C. L. & Kaplan, D. M. (2024). Context versus aiming in motor learning when both feedforward and feedback control processes are engaged. In review.
    • Hewitson, C. L., Kaplan, D. M. & Crossley, M. (2024). Sensorimotor challenges in minimally invasive surgery: A theoretically-oriented review. Human Factors.