Sara Cruz

Sara Cruz is an Assistant Professor of Neuropsychology at the Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro. In 2022/2023, she was a Teaching Fellow in Developmental Psychology at the School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on (neuro)developmental psychology, particularly the interplay between brain function, cognition, and behaviour in both typical and atypical development. Adopting a transdiagnostic perspective, she studies neurodivergence, with a particular focus on autism and ADHD. She is interested in understanding mechanisms such as executive functioning, emotional development, and camouflaging. She integrates neuropsychophysiological methods (EEG/ERPs and fNIRS) with standardised developmental assessments to capture developmental trajectories from infancy to adulthood. She collaborates on national and international research projects and is committed to translating scientific knowledge into educational and clinical contexts to promote the early identification and support of neurodivergence.