Dr Emma Gowen
Dr Emma Gowen is a Senior Lecturer at The University of Manchester, teaching on the Optometry degree.
She is also the co-director of the Body, Eyes and Movement (BEAM) Lab.
Research by the BEAM Lab focuses on sensory and motor issues experienced by individuals with autism. Sensory issues, such as heighted sensitivity to normal sights and sounds, are a common and disturbing problem.
The BEAM Lab is studying how the senses might be different in individuals with autism, particularly whether there are alterations in combining signals from the different senses.
Individuals with autism may also be clumsier due to poor movement coordination. The lab is studying the impact these movement problems have and what therapies can be developed to improve movement coordination.