Cognition and Neuroscience Group (C2N)

The C2N Group investigates cognition (from sensory processing to complex human behaviour) and its underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Members within the group study variability in these mechanisms among the individuals, across the lifespan, and between cultures.

The group also attempts to support the development of applications from these mechanisms to solve real-world problems and support intervention approaches to facilitate cognition, psychological health and well-being.

The group uses a variety of experimental approaches including psychophysical, neuropsychological, eye-tracking and neuroimaging (high-density EEG, transcranial electrical and magnetic stimulations) methods.

Group members

• Professor Joydeep Bhattacharya (group leader)
• Dr. Marinella Cappelletti
• Dr. Gianna Cocchini
• Professor Jules Davidoff
• Professor Jan De Fockert
• Dr. Maria Herrojo Ruiz
• Peter Holland
• Dr. Gustav Kuhn
• Dr. Karina Linnell
• Dr. James Moore
• Dr. Jose Van Velzen

Research highlights

Outputs

• Pietro Caggiano, Gianna Cocchini (2021) The functional body: does body representation reflect functional properties? Exp Brain Res 238, 153-169
• Thomas P Hein, Jan de Fockert, Maria Herrojo Ruiz (2021) State anxiety biases estimates of uncertainty and impairs reward learning in volatile environments. NeuroImage 224: 117424
• Laura Lungu, Nicolas Rothen, Devin B Terhune (2021) The time course of synaesthetic colour perception. Cortex 141: 322-330
• Alice Pailhès, Gustav Kuhn (2020) Influencing choices with conversational primes: How a magic trick unconsciously influences card choices. PNAS 117: 17675-17679.
• Alice Pailhès, Gustav Kuhn (2021) Mind control tricks: magicians’ forcing and free will. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 25: 338-341
• Tegan Penton, Caroline Catmur, Michael J Banissy, Geoffrey Bird, Vincent Walsh (2020) Non-invasive stimulation of the social brain: the methodological challenges. SCAN, 1-11
• Sebastian Sporn, Tomas Hein, Maria Herrojo Ruiz (2020) Alterations in the amplitude and burst rate of beta oscillations impair reward-dependent motor learning in anxiety. eLife 9: e50654
• Gavin Stewart, Gregory L Wallace, Martha Cottam, Rebecca A Charlton (2020) Theory of mind performance in younger and older adults with elevated autistic traits. Autism Research 13: 751-762
• Lillian Wieder, Richard Brown, Trevor Thompson, Devin B Terhune (2021) Suggestibility in functional neurological disorder: a meta analysis. J Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry 92: 150-157

Grants/fellowships

• Rebecca Charlton has received a Fullbright Visiting Scholar Award funding for a visit to the USA to research on ageing in autism
• Maria Herrojo Huiz has received funding from BrainControl and LiquidWeb s.r.l. to supervise a PhD student (Giuseppe Lai) on brain-computer interfaces.

Research dissemination

• Michael Banissy led the largest global study on the importance of touch on our well-being covered by worldwide media including BBC, Times.
• Joydeep Bhattacharya was interviewed by National Geographic for an article on flow experience in kids.
• Gustav Kuhn was a Key Note Speaker at the Learning at City Conference 2021 and was featured on a BBC article on magician’s tactics found in politics and marketing.
• Alice Pailhès gave a presentation, “Secrets of the mind and free will – revealed by magic tricks” in the main TED2020.