SENSORY & COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH GROUP
The Sensory and Cognitive Neuroscience group investigates the mechanisms underlying perception and cognition in healthy and abnormal populations with an emphasis on delineating the relationship between brain and behaviour. Our work aims to understand how mental events and behavioural performance are implemented by the neurophysiological processes that take place in our bodies and brains. We use neurophysiological concepts and methodologies to inform and refine perceptual and cognitive theories, as well as to guide clinical applications and treatments. Our research expertise ranges from work on hearing, colour vision, touch and multisensory perception to the mechanisms underlying language, attention, emotion and social processes. The majority of our research is conducted at the Centre for Brain Science, which was opened in March 2009 and houses state-of-the-art brain imaging facilities (NIRS, EEG, EMG and TMS), eye trackers, GSR and biofeedback equipment, as well as other psychophysiological devices. Our group receives funding from the BBSRC, ESRC, British Academy, and the Wellcome Trust.
ACADEMIC STAFF
Nicholas Cooper is currently investigating 4 main areas: 1) the functional significance of the electroencephoalogram (EEG), 2) the human mirror neuron system, 3) modulating cortical activity using a variety of techniques (e.g. rTMS, tDCS and behavioural), 4) the effects of television on children's attention.
Deborah Fantini’s research aims to investigate how the way in which an auditory scene is perceptually organized affects a range of auditory tasks, for example, estimating the subjective dimensions of sound, such as loudness perception, and measuring thresholds under masking situations.
Helge Gillmeister investigates touch and body processing with a specific interest in the boundaries between our own bodies and the external world.
Paul Hibbard investigates visual perception. Research projects focus on the perception of 3D shape, and understanding how the visual system is adapted to the information in our natural environment.
Gethin Hughes investigates action control and perception, primarily using EEG. This research focuses on how we select and monitor our actions, and how action shapes the way we experience the world around us.
Steffan Kennett investigates the interactions between the senses of touch and vision. This work focuses on how one sense can help or hinder the other and on the spatial reference frames used in their interactions.
Ray Meddis investigates hearing and hearing loss with an emphasis on improving hearing aid design using computer models of how hearing works.
Silke Paulmann is particularly interested in (emotional) language processing in normal and special populations.
Silvia Rigato investigates the development of perceptual and cognitive abilities in infancy, using EEG, eye tracker and behavioural methods.
Arnold Wilkins works on visual stress - what causes it and how it can be reduced. The work touches on image structure, text and font design, reading and reading disorders, migraine, autism and photosensitive epilepsy.
RESEARCH STAFF
Nick Clark works with Ray Meddis and investigates hearing aid design using computer models of hearing combined with automatic speech recognition systems.
Wendy Lecluyse works with Ray Meddis and investigates basic mechanisms of hearing, alternative assessment procedures for hearing impairment and speech perception in noise.
PhD STUDENTS
Anna-Pavlina Charalambous’ research investigates attentional biases towards affective stimuli (negative and positive) and whether this is influenced by traits such as anxiety/neuroticism and extraversion. The modification of established biases will also be investigated and whether such training will influence the cognitive and neural reactivity to affective stimuli.
Rachel Cooper investigates biases in recognising a persons' identity from their face and/or voice.
Sarah Haigh works on discomfort from coloured displays in relation visual stress and photophobia in migraine.
Rachael Martin’s current work focuses on the role personality may play in susceptibility or resilience to anxiety.
Steven Southworth’s current work focuses on the emotional and attentional benefits of various meditative practices.
