Armando Bertone

Title: 
Dr.
Academic title(s): 
  • Associate Professor, Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology
  • Director, Perceptual Neuroscience Lab (PNLab.ca) for Autism and Development
  • Director, Summit Centre for Education, Research and Training (SCERT - www.summit-scert.com)
  • Research Scientist, Children and Adolescents Mental Health Research Program, CIUSS-NIM, Rivière-des-Prairies Mental Health Research Hospital 
  • Associate Member. Azrieli Centre for Autism Research (ACAR), Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University
Armando Bertone
Contact Information
Address: 

Education Building, Room 518

Email address: 
armando.bertone [at] mcgill.ca
Phone: 
514-398-3448
Department: 
Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology
Biography: 

Dr Armando Bertone is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology @ McGill University, a Research Scientist in the Children and Adolescents Mental Health Research Program of the Integrated University Health and Social Services Centre (CIUSSS) of Nord-de-l'île-de-Montréal (NIM), and a licensed neuropsychologist (Quebec Order of Psychologists).

Dr Bertone directs the Perceptual Neuroscience Lab (PNLab.ca) for Autism and Development. The PNLab has satellite locations at the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology (ECP) at McGill University (Duggan House) and at Rivières-des-Prairies Hospital (RDPH), a pediatric hospital for children in Montreal that is part if the CIUSSS-MIN. His team and collaborators work towards understanding sensory-related cognition and behaviour of autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs) at different periods of development. The ultimate goal of his work is to develop effective cognitive interventions by considering perceptual and cognitive strengths and challenges in neurodivergent learners. To this end, Dr. Bertone’s lab- and school-based research programs have led to the development of fruitful relationships with several schools across Canada during the last several years.

He was able to formalize one such partnership by co-founding the Summit Centre for Education, Research, and Training (SCERT) with administrators of Summit School, a specialized school for children with exceptionalities in Montreal, Canada. As SCERT director, Dr. Bertone leads knowledge translation and outreach activities between academics, professional, teachers, parents, and the community through the SCERT by organizing public lectures, professional workshops and conferences led by internationally recognized leaders in academic and professional spheres. The SCERT is a unique learning, teaching and research centre that brings together experts in the fields of education, psychology and other fields relevant to the education and management of neurodivergent learners.

Dr Bertone’s work has been funded by tri-council (NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC), provincial (FRQ-S), private-sector (Scottish Rite Foundation) and other organizations. He also holds patents originating from his lab-based work that describe a procedure and device presented as a non-verbal early detection, assessment and reliable monitoring system that can accurately and consistently measure alterations in neural functioning across a variety of patient populations.

Degree(s): 

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University
Postdoctoral Fellow,  École d’optométrie, Université de Montréal
Ph.D., Clinical/Experimental Neuropsychology, Université de Montréal
M.Ps., Clinical Psychology, Université de Montréal
M.A., Experimental Psychology, Concordia University

Areas of expertise: 

Visual Psychophysics, Clinical Neuropsychology, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Neurodevelopmental Conditions, Cognitive Assessment, Cognitive Training, Development of Visual and Auditory Perception, Multi-sensory Integration, Technology Transfer.

Current research: 

Dr Bertone’s laboratory-based research aims at understanding sensory and cognitive differences between typically-developing and neurodivergent individuals. He has advanced important theories regarding the neural underpinnings of sensory processing in autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs) by measuring characteristic perceptual information capabilities in the visual domain, coined perceptual signatures. His work has been published in top-tier journals (Biological Psychiatry, Brain, Neurology, Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience) and is highly cited. Dr. Bertone’s work on perceptual signatures in autism subsequently led him to develop one of few data-driven and biologically-plausible neural models that accounts for both enhanced and diminished sensory abilities in autism (altered lateral connectivity model).

Dr. Bertone also oversees a school-based research program that includes the development and validation of a computer-based, attention training program for neurodivergent learners in a school-setting. This program was developed based on the needs of school professionals and parents working with neurodivergent students, and guided by laboratory findings defining the sensory and cognitive strengths and challenges of students with NDCs across ages, exemplary of the multidisciplinary integration of basic and applied research that characterizes the work in Dr Bertone's PNLab.

  • Development of social and non-social visual information processing in autism.
  • Cognitive (attention, reading) and behavioural interventions in autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs).
  • Development of multisensory information processing during typical and atypical development.
  • Sensory-related cognition and behaviour across NDCs.
  • Perceptual and cognitive phenotyping in autism and NDCs
  • Through collaborations; the interplay between language and perception/cognition in autism

Methods used : psychophysics, eye-tracking, EEG, cognitive (i.e., WISC, WASI, WIAT, CPT-3, +) & behavioural (Connors, Sensory Profile, +) assessments  

Awards, honours, and fellowships: 

William Dawson Scholar Award (renewed) - McGill University Institutional Recognition Award (15-20; 20-25)

Fonds de la Recherche du Québec - Santé (FRQ-S) - Research Scholar Award J1 (11-15) & J2 (16-20)

Graduate supervision: 

School/Applied Child Psychology

Human Development (relevant to research areas)

* Dr Bertone also supervises undergraduate research projects in Psychology and Cognitive Sciences programs at McGill University

Selected publications: 

Journal Articles (last 5 years)

*indicates a graduate or postdoctoral trainee

*Basma, B., Savage, R. & Bertone, A (2024). The N400 in atypical readers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Psychophysiol, 196, 112283. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2023.112283

Stubbert, E, Tullo, D., Faubert, J., BertoneA., & Burack, J.A. (2023).Biological motion and multiple object tracking performance develop similarly from childhood through early adolescence. Cogn Dev. 67. doi.org/10.1016/j.cogdev.2023.101360

*Oh, H. J., Bertone, A., & Luk G. (2023). Reading comprehension and cognitive correlates in multilingual children and adolescents. Transl Issues Psychol Sci. doi: 10.1037/tps0000375

Tullo, D., *Levy, B., Faubert, J. & Bertone, A. (2023). Characterizing attention resource capacity in autism : A multiple object tracking study. J Autism Dev Disord. doi: 10.1007/s10803-023-05974-z

*Oh, J., *Basma, B., Bertone, A., & Luk, G. (2023). Assessments of English reading and language comprehension in bilingual children: A systematic review 2010-2021. Can J Sch Psychol. doi: 10.1177/08295735231183608

*Ainsworth, K. & Bertone, A. (2023). Audiovisual temporal binding width diminishes with age in autistic individuals. Autism Res, 16(2):355-363. doi: 10.1002/aur.2860

*Tullo, D., Faubert, J., & Bertone, A. (2023). Distinctive patterns of Multiple Object-Tracking performance trajectories in youth with deficits in attention, learning and intelligence: Characterizing the attention-learning dynamic. Res Dev Disabil, doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104402

*Lung, S., & Bertone, A. (2023). Brief report: An exploration of cognitive flexibility of autistic adolescents with low intelligence using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task. J Autism Dev Disord. 53, 1726–1732. doi : 10.1007/s10803-021-05134-1

*Oh, J., Bertone, A., & Luk, G. (2023). Multilingual experience and executive functions among children and adolescents in a multilingual city. Int J Biling Educ Bi, 26:2, 158-172. doi.org/10.1080/13670050.2022.2093098

*Silvestre, D., *Miseros, M., Faubert, J., *Tullo, D., & Bertone, A. (2022). Development of static and dynamic perception for luminance- and texture-defined information from school-ages to adulthood. Vision Res. doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2022.108103

Gruber, R., *Scholes, S., Bertone, A., McKinney, AM. A., Orlowski., J., Wise, M. S. (2022). Sleep and daytime behavior in individuals with Christianson Syndrome. Sleep Med, 89, 55-59. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2021.11.007

*Nader, A.M., *Tullo, D., Bouchard, V., Degré-Pelletier, J., Bertone, A., Dawson, M., Soulières, I. (2022). Category learning in autism: are some situations better than others? J Exp Child Psychol, 151(3):578-596. doi.org/10/1037/xge0001092

*Archambault, C., *Tullo, D., *Clark, E., Faubert, J. & Bertone, A. (2021). Assessing the feasibility of a classroom-based attention training program targeting academics for students with extremely low IQ. Pilot Feasibility Stud, 7, 150, doi : 10.1186/s40814-021-00879-z

*Clark, E., *Tullo, D., & Bertone, A. (2021). Perceptual reasoning skills mediate the relationship between attention and math proficiency in individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions. Res Dev Disabil, 111:103880. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103880

*Ainsworth, K., Ostrolenk, A., *Irion, C., & Bertone, A. (2021). Reduced multisensory facilitation exists in autism at different periods of development in autism. Cortex, 134, 195-206. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.09.031

*Silvestre, D., *Guy, J., Hanck, J., Cornish, K., & Bertone, A. (2020) Different luminance- and texture-defined contrast sensitivity profiles in school-aged children. Sci Rep, 10, 13039. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-69802-5

*Scholes, S., Santisteban, J. A., Zhang, Y., Bertone, A. & Gruber, R. (2020). Modulation of slow-wave sleep: Implications for psychiatry. Curr Psychiat Rep, 22(10):52. doi: 10.1007/s11920-020-01175-y

*Tullo, D., *Perico, C., Faubert, J., & Bertone, A. (2020). Multiple Object Tracking isolates feedback-specific load in attention and learning. J Vision, doi: 10.1167/jov.20.5.9

Charbonneau, G., Bertone, A., Véronneau, M., Girard, S., Pelland, M., Mottron, L., Lepore, F., & Collignon, O. (2020). Within- and cross-modal integration and attention in the Autism Spectrum. J Autism Dev Disord, 50(1):87-100. doi: 10.1007/s10803-019-04221-8

Ostrolenk, A., *Bao, V. A., Mottron, L., Collignon, O., & Bertone, A. (2019). Multisensory Integration in adolescents and adults with ASD: A Reaction Time Study. Sci Rep, 9, 11965. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-48413-9

*Guy, J., Mottron, L., Berthiaume, C., & Bertone, A. (2019). A developmental perspective of global and local visual perception in autism. J Autism Dev Disord, 49(7):2706-2720. doi: 10.1007/s10803-016-2834-1

*Tullo, D., Faubert, J., & Bertone, A. (2018). The characterization of attention resource capacity and its relationship with non-verbal intelligence: A multiple object tracking study. Intelligence, 69, 158-168. doi: 10.1016/j.intell.2018.06.001

*Habib, K., Montreuil, T, & Bertone, A. (2018). Social learning through physical activity for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Rev J Autism Dev Disord, 69, 158-168. doi: 10.1016/j.intell.2018.06.001

*Tullo, D., Guy, J., Faubert, J., & Bertone, A. (2018). Training with a three-dimensional multiple object-tracking (3D-MOT) paradigm improves attention in students with a neurodevelopmental condition: A randomized controlled trial. Dev Sci, 21(6):e12670. doi: 10.1111/desc.12670

Selected Invited Presentations (last 5 years)

Bertone, A. (June, 2022). Multisensory processing in Autism: a developmental perspective. Colloque de Association Francophone de Neuropsychologie de l’Autisme (AFNA). Toulouse France.

Bertone, A. (December, 2021). Visual Perception in Autism : Lessons for the Lab. Les Conférences du Groupe de Recherché en Sciences de la Vision, École d’optométrie, Université de Montréal, Canada

Bertone, A. (June 2021). Developing an attention training program for persons with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs): lessons from the lab. Integrative Club Autisme, troubles neuro-développementaux et Vision (CAV), Neuroscience and Cognition Centre (INC), France. (virtual)

Bertone, A. (August 2018, 2019). Perception and sensory-related cognition in Autism. Transforming autism care consortium (TACC).

Book Chapters (last 5 years)

*Clark, E., *Perelmiter, T, & Bertone, A. (2023). Understanding the attention-math relationship: Using a function-specific approach for understanding and remediating math learning. In Dubé, Kotsopoulos, Robinson (Eds). Mathematical Learning and Cognition in Middle Childhood and Early Adolescence: Integrating Interdisciplinary Research into Practice. Springer Nature Switzerland.

*Guy, J., Marcone, C., Bertone, A. (2021). Sensory and perceptual abilities in Down syndrome. In J.A. Burack, J. Edgin, & L. A. Abbeduto (Eds). Oxford handbook of Down syndrome and development. New York: Oxford University Press.

Patents

Faubert, J., & Bertone, A. (2019). Device and method for measuring mild perceptual impairment. US Patent 10,485,466 B2.

Faubert, J., & Bertone, A. (2016). Device and method for measuring mild perceptual impairment. Australian Patent AU 2010225433 B2.

Specialization: 

Licensed Clinical Neuropsychologist (Specialization), Ordre des Psychologues du Québec (OPQ)  

Licensed Psychologist, Ordre des Psychologues du Québec (OPQ)  

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