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University of Essex homepage Centres and Institutes Behavioural Science Members Cognition and Behaviour
Centre for Behavioural Science Members

Cognition & Behaviour cluster

The Cognition and Behaviour cluster cluster is dedicated to exploring the fundamental aspects of human cognition and behaviour.

Our research delves into the processes underlying human thought, including language, visual perception, emotion, and decision-making. A significant portion of our work integrates neuroscientific approaches, offering deeper insights into the brain's mechanisms and functions.

Additionally, we are at the forefront of advancing brain-computer interface technology, bridging the gap between neural activity and digital applications.

This Cognition and Behaviour cluster is crucial for applied behavioural science; it provides a robust scientific basis from which we can understand complex behaviours and develop effective interventions.

Cluster lead

Dr Shamala Sundaray

Dr Shamala Sundaray

Cluster Lead

School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex

Our members

Dr Javier Andreu-Perez
Reader, School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (CSEE)
Research interests: Continual Learning; Biomedical Informatics; Cognitive Computing; Large Vision Models (LVMs); Large Language Models (LLMs); Generative AI; Soft Computing; Human centred Artificial Intelligence
Dr Anirban Chowdhury
Lecturer, School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (CSEE)
Research interests: Brain-computer Interfaces; Assistive Technology; Neurorehabilitation; Human-robot Co-operation; Autonomous Mobile Robots
Dr Ian Daly
Senior Lecturer, School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (CSEE)
Research interests: Brain-computer interfacing; Machine learning; Signal processing; Functional neural connectivity; EEG; fNIRS; fMRI; Motor control; Motor rehabilitation; Brain stimulation
Dr Junhua LI
Senior Lecturer, School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (CSEE)
Research interests: Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (Developing novel algorithms for classification and recognition; Detecting brain diseases based on neuroimaging data; Developing systems of monitoring human health); Computational Neuroscience (Understanding mechanisms of the brain pertaining to brain diseases, ageing, and mental states); Brain Health and Signal Processing (Providing insights into the brain health based on signals; Techniques for keeping the brain healthy and augmenting the brain capacity)
Dr Bernard Liew
Senior Lecturer, School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences
Research interests: Low back pain, Osteoarthritis, Musculoskeletal pain, Joint replacement, Biomechanics, Motor control, Pain neurophysiology, Psychological factors of pain, Artificial Intelligence, Machine/deep learning, Markerless motion capture, Wearable sensors.
Dr Ana Matran-Fernandez
Lecturer, School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (CSEE)
Research interests: Brain-Computer interfaces; machine learning applied to biomedical signals; Event-Related Potentials (ERPs); Memory; Decision-making; Algorithmic fairness; Neural engineering
Dr Dennie Van Dolder
Senior Lecturer, Department of Economics
Zhenbin Zuo
Lecturer, Essex Law School
Dr Claire Delle Luche
Senior Lecturer, Department of Language and Linguistics
Research interests: Language variability: accents (children), bilingualism (children); Semantic processing (children); Speech perception (infants, children, adults)
Dr Ella Jeffries
Lecturer, Department of Language and Linguistics
Research interests: Sociolinguistics; Sociophonetics; Regional accents/dialects; Variation in language acquisition
Dr Karen Roehr-Brackin
Reader, Department of Language and Linguistics
Research interests: Additional or second language (L2) learning across the lifespan; Explicit and implicit knowledge and processes in L2 learning; Cognitive individual differences in L2 learning: language learning aptitude, working memory, cognitive style
Dr Charles Redmon
Lecturer, Department of Language and Linguistics
Dr Geoff Cole
Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology
Research interests: Cognitive neuropsychology; Visual cognition; Comparative psychology; Colour vision
Dr Katie Daughters
Lecturer, Department of Psychology
Research interests: Emotion; Hormones; Oxytocin; Social Behaviour; Social Cognition; Social Perception; Wellbeing; Mental Health
Dr Tom Foulsham
Reader, Department of Psychology
Research interests: Visual cognition; Perception of pictures and videos; Eye movements; Cognitive neuropsychology
Dr Helge Gillmeister
Reader (R), Department of Psychology
Research interests: Visual body representations and effects of body image in eating and body dysmorphic disorders; Somatosensory processes, multisensory processes involving somatosensation; Sensorimotor learning, neural plasticity, integration of external objects/tools into the body schema; Mirror touch, action representation, and social cognition; The bodily self in depersonalisation-derealisation disorder; Interoception and Anxiety
Dr Paul Hanel
Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology
Research interests: Human values; Stereotypes and prejudice; Political psychology; Working from home/remote work; Cross-cultural research; Similarities
Dr Anna Hughes
Lecturer, Department of Psychology
Research interests: Visual search; Visual camouflage and mimicry; Cognitive modelling; Meta-Anaysis of fMRI in Psychiatric Disorders
Professor Marie Juanchich
Professor, Department of Psychology
Research interests: Risk communication; Gender equality
Dr Sebastian Korb
Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology
Research interests: Embodiment in facial emotion recognition
Dr Veronica Lamarche
Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology
Research interests: Trust and interdependence; Motivated cognition and relationship maintenance; Risk, vulnerability and uncertainty regulation; Romantic relationships; Consent & Intimate Partner Violence
Dr Angela Meadows
Lecturer, Department of Psychology
Research interests: Weight stigma; Physical activity behaviour; Stigma resistance
Dr Rick O'Gorman
Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology
Research interests: Cooperation and altruism; Computer modelling of social phenomenon; Applications of social cognition techniques to evolutionary questions; Biosocial psychology; Evolutionary psychology
Professor Sheina Orbell
Professor, Department of Psychology
Research interests: Intention-behaviour relation; Self-regulation; Social psychology of volition and volitional strategies in behavioural change; Motivational models of health-related behaviour; Social psychology of sexual health; Social-cognitive accounts of motivation and health-related behaviour; Cervical screening; Colorectal cancer screening; Arthritis and Interoception
Professor Reinhard Pekrun
Professor, Department of Psychology
Dr Wijnand Van Tilburg
Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology
Research interests: Boredom; Nostalgia; Economic psychology; Emotion; Meaning in life
Dr Motonori Yamaguchi
Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology
Research interests: Cognitive Control; Visual Attention; Skill Acquisition; Cognition & Emotion; Implicit Biases; Computational Modelling of Human Cognition; EEG; Mind and Technology
Dr Liam Chawner
Lecturer, Department of Psychology
Research interests: I am interested in most topics relating to food and eating behaviour - Everything from making food choices to food consumption. The majority of my research includes children learning to eat disliked or novel foods and how parents may facilitate learning through feeding practices.
Dr Shamala Sundaray
Lecturer, School of Health and Social Care
Dr Sebastian Halder
Senior Lecturer, School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (CSEE)
Research interests: Brain-Computer Interfaces; Consciousness; Pain
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