Thomas Parsons

Thomas D. Parsons, PhD is the Grace Center Professor of Innovation in Clinical Education, Simulation Science, and Immersive Technology (Tenured). He directs the Computational Neuropsychology and Simulation (CNS) laboratory. Professor Parsons is also a clinical neuropsychologist and Veteran. Dr. Parsons serves on several emerging neurocognitive technology task forces: National Football League; Alzheimer's Association; and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Work in the CNS lab integrates computational social science, clinical neuropsychology, psychophysiology, virtual humans, and simulation technologies for novel assessment, modeling and training (edtech) of neurocognitive, affective, and social processes. Parsons is a leading scientist in this area and he has been PI of 18 funded projects during his career and an investigator on an additional 13 funded projects (more than $25 million in funding). He is currently PI for a $5.2 million dollar grant “Virtual Insomnia Patients (VIPs) to Automate and Accelerate Dissemination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I; see pic below).”

He is also Co-I on a recently funded NIH award for a $5.8 million dollar “Roybal Center for Older Adults Living Alone with Cognitive Decline: Testing Technology-Enabled Interventions Driven by Mechanisms of Behavior Change to Prevent AD/ADRD and Improve Quality of Life.”

In addition to his social networking efforts (patents for eHarmony.com's matching system, U.S. Patent Nos. 2004/6735568; 2014/0180942 A1), he has invented and validated virtual reality-based assessments and training platforms.

In addition to his five books, he has more than 200 publications in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters. His contributions to neuropsychology were recognized when he received the 2013 National Academy of Neuropsychology Early Career Achievement award. In 2014, he was awarded fellow status in the National Academy of Neuropsychology. In 2023, Dr. Parsons received the Cybertherapy Lifetime Achievement Award in Paris.