Abbey Fletcher | University of Sunderland (original) (raw)

Papers by Abbey Fletcher

Research paper thumbnail of Life after lockdown: loneliness, exclusion and the impact of hidden disability

Research paper thumbnail of A Brief History of Eye Movement Research

Springer eBooks, 2022

This chapter will provide a brief overview of the rich and fascinating history underpinning conte... more This chapter will provide a brief overview of the rich and fascinating history underpinning contemporary eye-movement research. Starting with the early work by Kepler and the largely observational investigations of eye-movements conducted by others, we will cover the development of eye-movement research in terms of the machinery used for early investigations, such as crude measurements using plaster of Paris, as well as set out some of the first instances of phenomena which are still keeping scientists occupied today. Hopefully, by the end of this chapter, you will appreciate the broad history behind some of the topics covered throughout the rest of this book. Background Human vision first begins with the eye, at the point when light hits the retina and is then transferred into the brain at speeds estimated to be around 875,000 bits per second [1]-the same speed as the average internet connection, in order for it to be processed by various brain regions associated with higher and lower order processing. The eye itself is a wonderfully complex optical device, which has inspired the design of many of the lenses used in today's endeavours such as photography or scientific investigation. Eye movements are considered the most frequent of all human movements [2]. This calculated, frenetic movement developed as a consequence of the enormous amount of visual information available to an organism. Rather than process the entirety of the information at our disposal, only small portions of the visual world are attended in rapid sequence [3]. The human eye monitors a visual field of around 200°, but detailed information is received from only around 2° [4]. This richly detailed region, known as the fovea, jerks around at speeds of up to 500° per second, during which the sensitivity of this area drops to near blindness levels [5][6]. Eye movements are therefore fundamental to the operation of the visual system. Yet, the eye is more than a simple datacollection device; it is also able to provide insights into behaviour due to providing rich metrics, which is why it is often referred to as the window to the soul. Given that many cognitive processes begin here, it is unsurprising that there has is a rich scientific history of eye-tracking.

Research paper thumbnail of Life after lockdown: A qualitative exploration of stroke survivors’ experiences of loneliness

Background: For a population at increased risk of experiencing loneliness, exploring the effect o... more Background: For a population at increased risk of experiencing loneliness, exploring the effect of lockdown measures on stroke survivors is of paramount importance.Objective: The paper explores the personal experiences of loneliness among stroke survivors during lockdown in the COVID-19 pandemic and the lessons that can be learned from these experiences.Methods: 17 stroke survivors from across the UK (10 females, 7 males; 45–83 years old; Mage = 63.47, SDage = 11.14) participated in semi-structured interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed in the interpretation of the data.Results: Interview data and subsequent analysis created four overarching themes: the meaning of loneliness to stroke survivors after lockdown, the impact of lockdown measures, the importance of technology during lockdown and life after lockdown. These themes explore survivors’ experiences of loneliness generally post-stroke and how this loneliness was assuaged with online video conferencing and other te...

Research paper thumbnail of Life after lockdown: loneliness, exclusion and the impact of hidden disability

Research paper thumbnail of A Brief History of Eye Movement Research

Springer eBooks, 2022

This chapter will provide a brief overview of the rich and fascinating history underpinning conte... more This chapter will provide a brief overview of the rich and fascinating history underpinning contemporary eye-movement research. Starting with the early work by Kepler and the largely observational investigations of eye-movements conducted by others, we will cover the development of eye-movement research in terms of the machinery used for early investigations, such as crude measurements using plaster of Paris, as well as set out some of the first instances of phenomena which are still keeping scientists occupied today. Hopefully, by the end of this chapter, you will appreciate the broad history behind some of the topics covered throughout the rest of this book. Background Human vision first begins with the eye, at the point when light hits the retina and is then transferred into the brain at speeds estimated to be around 875,000 bits per second [1]-the same speed as the average internet connection, in order for it to be processed by various brain regions associated with higher and lower order processing. The eye itself is a wonderfully complex optical device, which has inspired the design of many of the lenses used in today's endeavours such as photography or scientific investigation. Eye movements are considered the most frequent of all human movements [2]. This calculated, frenetic movement developed as a consequence of the enormous amount of visual information available to an organism. Rather than process the entirety of the information at our disposal, only small portions of the visual world are attended in rapid sequence [3]. The human eye monitors a visual field of around 200°, but detailed information is received from only around 2° [4]. This richly detailed region, known as the fovea, jerks around at speeds of up to 500° per second, during which the sensitivity of this area drops to near blindness levels [5][6]. Eye movements are therefore fundamental to the operation of the visual system. Yet, the eye is more than a simple datacollection device; it is also able to provide insights into behaviour due to providing rich metrics, which is why it is often referred to as the window to the soul. Given that many cognitive processes begin here, it is unsurprising that there has is a rich scientific history of eye-tracking.

Research paper thumbnail of Life after lockdown: A qualitative exploration of stroke survivors’ experiences of loneliness

Background: For a population at increased risk of experiencing loneliness, exploring the effect o... more Background: For a population at increased risk of experiencing loneliness, exploring the effect of lockdown measures on stroke survivors is of paramount importance.Objective: The paper explores the personal experiences of loneliness among stroke survivors during lockdown in the COVID-19 pandemic and the lessons that can be learned from these experiences.Methods: 17 stroke survivors from across the UK (10 females, 7 males; 45–83 years old; Mage = 63.47, SDage = 11.14) participated in semi-structured interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed in the interpretation of the data.Results: Interview data and subsequent analysis created four overarching themes: the meaning of loneliness to stroke survivors after lockdown, the impact of lockdown measures, the importance of technology during lockdown and life after lockdown. These themes explore survivors’ experiences of loneliness generally post-stroke and how this loneliness was assuaged with online video conferencing and other te...