Behavioural Psychology
Introduction
Perception and Decision Making
The study of cognition is pursued at several levels, from low-level perception and attention (Dr Isabelle Mareschal, Dr Caroline Brennan) to high-level processes such as decision making, problem solving, social cognition, learning, creativity. (Dr Magda Osman, Dr Nathan Emery, Prof Lars Chittka, Dr Frederike Beyer, Dr Caroline Di B. Luft). Research in this area draws from a mixture of techniques to monitor and model both behaviour and brain activity in humans and animal models.
Dr Magda Osman discussing the UK Government's system of consent for organ and tissue donation.
Staff
| Researcher | Title | Department |
Research Interests |
| Beyer, Dr Frederike | Lecturer in Psychology | Psychology |
Cognitive neuroscience, Social cognition, Sense of agency, Emotional reactivity |
| Brennan, Dr Caroline | Professor of Molecular Genetics, Director of Research | Psychology |
Genetics and psychiatric disease, Biology and motivated behaviours, Cognition, Attention |
| Chittka, Prof Lars | Professor of Sensory and Behavioural Ecology | Psychology |
Sensory systems, Comparative cognition, Insect learning and memory, Animal navigation |
| Di Bernardi Luft, Dr Caroline |
Lecturer in Psychology |
Psychology |
Advanced EEG/fMRI methods - Learning - Creativity - Psychophysiology - Transcranial current brain simulation |
| Senior Lecturer | Psychology |
Animal cognition, Creativity, Innovative problem-solving, Gaze following |
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Professor in Visual Cognition and Head of Psychology Department |
Psychology |
Gaze, Human perception, Attention, Social neuroscience |
Introduction
Comparative Psychology
The study of animals can provide unique insight into the mechanisms of brain and behaviour and how they have evolved. The School of Biological and Chemical Sciences has a rich endowment of researchers studying animal models such as bees and flies (Prof Lars Chittka, Dr Elisabetta Versace), corvids and primates (Dr Nathan Emery), songbirds (Prof David Clayton, Dr Rob Lachlan), zebrafish (Dr Caroline Brennan), and chicks (Dr Elisabetta Versace). Research foci include mechanisms of cognition (Prof Lars Chittka, Dr Nathan Emery, Dr Caroline Brennan, Dr Elisabetta Versace), communication (Prof David Clayton, Dr Rob Lachlan, Dr Elisabetta Versace) and well-being. Comparative research on brain and behaviour is also represented in the Neurobiology group.
Professor Lars Chittka's research on bees has shown that some small insects can be trained to perform tasks, revealing unprecedented learning abilities.
Staff
| Researcher | Title | Department |
Research Interests |
| Brennan, Dr Caroline | Professor of Molecular Genetics, Director of Research | Psychology |
Genetics and psychiatric disease, Biology and motivated behaviours, Cognition, Attention |
| Chittka, Prof Lars | Professor of Sensory and Behavioural and Ecology | Psychology |
Sensory systems, Comparative cognition, Insect learning and memory, Animal navigation |
| Emery, Dr Nathan |
Senior Lecturer |
Psychology |
Animal cognition, Creativity, Innovative problem-solving, Gaze following |
|
Senior Lecturer in Psychology |
Psychology |
Animal cognition, Comparative psychology, Artificial grammar learning, Lateralisation |