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Home > Departments > Academic departments > Psychology > Staff > Academic Staff > Heaton, Pam

Professor Pam Heaton BSc PhD

Position held:
Professor of Psychology

Phone:
+44 (0)20 7919 7883

Fax:
+44 (0)20 7919 7873

Email:
p.heaton (@gold.ac.uk)

Address:
Room 202/1 Whitehead Building,
Department of Psychology,
Goldsmiths, University of London,
New Cross, London, SE14 6NW

Musical cognition, abnormal development, autism, savants

Research interests

My primary research interest is in developmental disorders, especially autism. Since completing my PhD on musical cognition in autism in 1999, I have been a principal researcher or research group leader on EU and ESRC grant applications investigating remediation of sensory abnormalities, pitch and colour discrimination and memory, and colour categorisation in autism.

Before studying psychology I trained as a classical singer and retain a strong interest in the cognitive neuropsychology of music. In particular I am interested in how musical information processing distinguishes atypical and typically developing children and adolescents. My current interests mainly focus on investigating the relationship between speech and music perception in autism, SLI, Down syndrome and typical development.

Selected publications

Number of items: 32.

Article

Ludlow, A., Heaton, Pam F., Hill, Elisabeth L. and Franklin, A.. 2013. Colour Obsessions and Phobias in Autism Spectrum Disorders: the Case of J.G. Neuroscase, pp. 1-2. [Article] (In Press)

Heaton, Pam F., Reichenbacher, Lisa, Sauter, Disa, Allen, Rory, Scott, Sophie K. and Hill, Elisabeth L.. 2012. Measuring the effects of alexithymia on perception of emotional vocalisations in Autistic Spectrum Disorder and typical development. Psychological Medicine, 42(11), pp. 2453-2459. [Article]

Allen, Rory and Heaton, Pam F.. 2010. Autism, music, and the therapeutic potential of music in alexithymia. Music Perception, 27(4), pp. 251-261. ISSN 0730-7829 [Article]

Heaton, Pam F., Allen, Rory, Williams, Kerry, Cummins, Omar and Happe, Francesca. 2010. Do social and cognitive deficits curtail musical understanding? Evidence from autism and Down syndrome. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 26(2), pp. 171-182. ISSN 0261510X [Article]

Heaton, Pam F.. 2009. Assessing musical skills in autistic children who are not savants. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 364(1522), pp. 1443-1447. ISSN 0962-8436 [Article]

Bhatara, Anjali, Quintin, Eve-Marie, Heaton, Pam F., Fombonne, Eric and Levitin, Daniel. 2009. Bhatara, A., Quintin, E., Fombonne, E., Heaton, P. & Levitin, D. (2009).The Effects of Music on Social Attribution in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Child Neuropsychology, 13; 1 – 22. Child Neuropsychology, 15(4), pp. 375-396. ISSN 0929-7049 [Article]

O'Brien, Justin, Tsermentseli, Stella, Cummins, Omar, Happe, Francesca, Heaton, Pam F. and Spencer, Janine. 2009. Discriminating children with autism from children with learning difficulties with an adaptation of the Short Sensory Profile. Early Child Development and Care, 179(4), pp. 383-394. ISSN 0300-4430 [Article]

Bhatara, Anjali, Quintin, Eve-Marie, Heaton, Pam F., Fombonne, Eric and Levitin, Daniel. 2009. The Effect of Music on Social Attribution in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Child Neuropsychology, 15(4), pp. 375-396. ISSN 0929-7049 [Article]

Allen, Rory, Hill, Elisabeth L. and Heaton, Pam F.. 2009. `Hath charms to soothe . . .': An exploratory study of how high-functioning adults with ASD experience music. Autism, 13(1), pp. 21-41. ISSN 1362-3613 [Article]

Allen, Rory, Hill, Elisabeth L. and Heaton, Pam F.. 2009. The Subjective Experience of Music in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1169(1), pp. 326-331. ISSN 00778923 [Article]

Heaton, Pam F. and Allen, Rory. 2009. “With Concord of Sweet Sounds…”. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1169(1), pp. 318-325. ISSN 00778923 [Article]

Heaton, Pam F., Williams, Kerry, Cummins, Omar and Happe, Francesca. 2008. Autism and pitch processing splinter skills: A group and subgroup analysis. Autism, 12(2), pp. 203-219. ISSN 1362-3613 [Article]

Ludlow, Amanda, Wilkins, Arnold J. and Heaton, Pam F.. 2008. Colored overlays enhance visual perceptual performance in children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2(3), pp. 498-515. ISSN 17509467 [Article]

Järvinen-Pasley, Anna, Wallace, Gregory L., Ramus, Franck, Happe, Francesca and Heaton, Pam F.. 2008. Enhanced perceptual processing of speech in autism. Developmental Science, 11(1), pp. 109-121. ISSN 1363755X [Article]

Heaton, Pam F., Davis, Robert and Happe, F.. 2008. Heaton, P., Davis, R., & Happe, F. (2008). Exceptional Absolute Pitch Perception for spoken words in an able adult with autism. Neuropsychologia. 46, 2095–2098. Neuropsychologia, 46(7), pp. 2095-2098. ISSN 0028-3932 [Article]

Järvinen-Pasley, Anna, Pasley, John and Heaton, Pam F.. 2008. Is the Linguistic Content of Speech Less Salient than its Perceptual Features in Autism? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(2), pp. 239-248. ISSN 0162-3257 [Article]

Järvinen-Pasley, Anna, Peppé, Susan, King-Smith, Gavin and Heaton, Pam F.. 2008. The Relationship between Form and Function Level Receptive Prosodic Abilities in Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(7), pp. 1328-1340. ISSN 0162-3257 [Article]

Heaton, Pam F., Davis, Robert E. and Happe, Francesca. 2008. Research note: Exceptional absolute pitch perception for spoken words in an able adult with autism. Neuropsychologia, 46(7), pp. 2095-2098. ISSN 00283932 [Article]

Heaton, Pam F., Hudry, K., Ludlow, A. and Hill, Elisabeth L.. 2008. Superior discrimination of speech pitch and its relationship to verbal ability in autism spectrum disorders. Cognitive Neuropsychology, 25, pp. 771-782. [Article]

Heaton, Pam F., Ludlow, Amanda and Roberson, Debi. 2008. When less is more: Poor discrimination but good colour memory in autism. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2(1), pp. 147-156. ISSN 17509467 [Article]

Heaton, Pam F., Cummins, O., Happe, F. and Williams, K.. 2007. Beyond perception: musical representation and on-line processing in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(7), pp. 1355-1360. ISSN 01623257 [Article]

Järvinen-Pasley, Anna and Heaton, Pam F.. 2007. Evidence for reduced domain-specificity in auditory processing in autism. Developmental Science, 10(6), pp. 786-793. ISSN 1363-755X [Article]

Ludlow, Amanda, Wilkins, Arnold J. and Heaton, Pam F.. 2006. The Effect of Coloured Overlays on Reading Ability in Children with Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(4), pp. 507-516. ISSN 0162-3257 [Article]

Heaton, Pam F., Pring, Linda and Hermelin, Beate. 2006. Musical Processing in High Functioning Children with Autism. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 930(1), pp. 443-444. ISSN 00778923 [Article]

Heaton, Pam F.. 2005. Interval and contour processing in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 35(6), pp. 787-793. ISSN 01623257 [Article]

Heaton, Pam F. and Wallace, G.. 2004. Annotation: The savant syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45(5), pp. 899-911. ISSN 00219630 [Article]

Heaton, Pam F.. 2003. Pitch memory, labeling and disembedding in autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 44(4), pp. 543-551. ISSN 00219630 [Article]

Heaton, Pam F., Hermelin, Beate and Pring, Linda. 1999. Can children with autistic spectrum disorders perceive affect in music? An experimental investigation. Psychological Medicine, pp. 1405-1410. [Article]

Hermelin, Beate, Pring, Linda, Buhler, Michael, Wolff, Sula and Heaton, Pam F.. 1999. A Visually Impaired Savant Artist: Interacting Perceptual and Memory Representations. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 40(7), pp. 1129-1139. ISSN 0021-9630 [Article]

Valentine, Tim R. and Heaton, Pam F.. 1999. An evaluation of the fairness of police line-ups and video identifications. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 13(S1), S59-S72. ISSN 08884080 [Article]

Heaton, Pam F., Pring, Linda and Hermelin, Beate. 1999. A pseudo-savant: A case of exceptional musical splinter skills. Neurocase, 5(6), pp. 503-509. ISSN 1355-4794 [Article]

Heaton, Pam F., Hermelin, Beate and Pring, Linda. 1998. Autism and pitch processing: a precursor for savant musical ability? Music Perception, 15(3), pp. 291-305. ISSN 0730-7829 [Article]

This list was generated on Wed Jun 19 10:21:34 2013 BST.

Research Output

Original Research Articles in Peer Reviewed Journals.

Heaton, P., Hermelin, B. and Pring, L. (1998). Autism and pitch processing: a precursor for savant musical ability? Music Perception, 15 (3), 291 – 305.

Heaton, P., Pring, L. and Hermelin, B. (1999). A Pseudo-savant: a case of exceptional musical splinter skills. Neurocase, 5 (6), 503 – 509.

Heaton, P., Hermelin, B. and Pring, L. (1999). Can children with autistic spectrum disorders perceive affect in music? An experimental investigation. Psychological Medicine, 29, 1405 – 1410

Hermelin, B., Pring, L., Buhler, M., Wolff, S. and Heaton, P. (1999). A visually impaired savant artist: interacting perceptual and memory representations. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 40 (7), 1129 – 1139.

Valentine, T. and Heaton, P. (1999). An evaluation of the fairness of police line-ups and video identifications. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 13, 59 – 72.

Heaton, P., Pring, L. and Hermelin, B. (2001). Musical processing in high functioning children with autism. In: the Biological Foundations of Music. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vol. 930, New York.

Heaton, P. (2003). Pitch memory, labeling and disembedding in autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 44, (4), 543 – 551.

Heaton, P. and Wallace, G. (2004) Annotation: The savant syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 45 (5), 899 – 911.

Heaton, P. (2005) Interval and contour processing in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 35, (6), 787 – 793.

Ludlow, A., Wilkins, A. and Heaton, P. ( 2006) The effect of coloured overlays on reading ability in children with Autism Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 36, (4), 507 – 516.

Heaton, P., Williams, K. & Cummins, O. & Happé, F. (2007). Beyond perception: musical representation and on-line processing in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorder, 37, (7), 1355 – 1360.

Heato n, P., Ludlow, A. & Roberson. D. (2007). When less is more: poor discrimination but good colour memory in Autism. Research into Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2, (1), 147 – 156.

Jarvinen - Pasley A. & Heaton, P. (2007). Evidence for reduced domain-specificity in auditory processing in autism. Developmental Science, 10(6), 786-793.

Järvinen-Pasley, A.M., Pasley, J. & Heaton, P. (2008). Is the linguistic content of speech less salient than its perceptual features? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, 239 – 248.

Järvinen-Pasley, A.M., Wallace, G.L. Ramus, F., Happe, F. & Heaton, P. (2008). Enhanced perceptual processing of speech in autism. Developmental Science, 11, (1), 109 – 121.

Heaton, P., Williams, K., Cummins, O. & Happé, F., (2008). Autism and pitch processing splinter skills: a group and sub-group analysis. Autism, 12, (1), 21 – 37.

Heaton, P., Allen, R., Williams, K. & Cummins, O. & Happé, F., (2008). Do social and cognitive deficits curtail musical understanding? Evidence from Autism and Down syndrome. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 26, 171 – 182.

Heaton, P., Davis, R., & Happe, F. (2008). Exceptional Absolute Pitch Perception for spoken words in an able adult with autism. Neuropsychologia. 46, 2095–2098

Ludlow, A.K., Wilkins, A.J. & Heaton, P. (2008). Colored overlays enhance visual perceptual performance in children with autism spectrum disorders. Research into Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2, (3),498 – 515.

Järvinen-Pasley, A., Peppé, S., King-Smith, G. & Heaton, P. (2008). The relationship between form and function level receptive prosodic abilities in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, (7), 1328 – 40.

Heaton, P., Hudry, K., Ludlow, A. & Hill, E. (2008). Superior pitch processing is unrelated to verbal ability in autism spectrum disorders. Cognitive Neuropsychology, 25 (6), 771 – 782.

Allen, R., Hill, E. & Heaton, P. (2009) “Hath charms to soothe” : An exploratory study of music in autism. Autism, 13, (1), 21 – 41.

Bhatara, A., Quintin, E., Fombonne, E., Heaton, P. & Levitin, D. (2009).The Effects of Music on Social Attribution in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Child Neuropsychology, 13; 1 – 22.

Heaton, P. (2009). Assessing musical skills in autistic children who are not savants. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. 364, 1443-1447.

O’Brien, J., Tsermentseli, S., Cummins, O., Happe, F., Heaton, P. & Spencer, J. (2009). Discriminating Children with Autism from Children with Learning Difficulties with an Adaptation of the Short Sensory Profile. Early Child Development and Care, 179, 4, 383-394.

Heaton, P. & Allen, R. (2009) “With concord of sweet sounds’: new perspectives on the diversity of musical experience in autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions”. The Neurosciences of Music 111: Disorders and Plasticity. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1169:318-325.

Allen, R., Hill, E. & Heaton, P. (2009). The subjective experience of music in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Neurosciences of Music 111. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1169: 331.

Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London, SE14 6NW, UK
Telephone: + 44 (0)20 7919 7171

Goldsmiths has charitable status

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