Perception and Action

Neuroscience of Speech & Action Laboratory

Dr Helen Nuttall

Research in the laboratory focuses primarily on investigating the neural bases of speech communication. We are interested in studying how normal brains communicate, and also what goes wrong in the brains of people with speech and language impairments.

To study this, we focus on the entire auditory pathway, from the ear to the auditory cortex, and beyond. We look at how auditory areas of the brain interact with other, non-auditory areas of the brain, to help us understand the neurobiological network that subserves speech perception, and how the network adapts depending on the situational context. Some questions that we are currently researching include: How do sensory and motor brain areas interact during speech perception? How do descending auditory projections influence low-level speech perception? How can we use information about the ear and the brain to detect communication difficulties and help to restore them?

Aberrant Experience, Awareness and Emotion Laboratory

Dr Jason J Braithwaite

Our research examines the neurocognitive correlates underlying disorders in consciousness such as hallucinations, delusions and perceptual distortions. Examples include breakdowns in multisensory integration underpinning the out-of-body experience (OBE) and associated disorders in body-image / perception, dissociative experiences, the aberrant experiences associated with depersonalisation/derealisation, and emotional disorders. These striking experiences are explored in non-clinical populations as well as patient groups. Overarching theoretical accounts currently being explored include theories on the role of cortical hyperexcitability underlying aberrant perceptions, Predictive coding and Disconnection accounts of failures in multisensory integration, and models of interoceptive-awareness underlying the sense of ‘presence’ in self-consciousness.

Action Observation and Motor Imagery Laboratory

Dr Stefan Vogt

Our research focuses on the interplay between observing, imagining, and performing bodily actions, and we employ both neuroimaging and behavioural methods. For example, we explore the (clearly dissociable) neural substrates of imitation learning of spatial sequences and rhythms. On a theoretical level, we have recently proposed a novel interpretation of previous research on the human mirror neuron system, namely in terms of motor imagery during action observation (Vogt et al., 2013). Supporting evidence for this account comes from a growing number of studies, including behavioural and EEG studies from our group. In addition, we investigate the effects of action observation combined with motor imagery on learning by observing, e.g. learning cheerleading postures and learning guitar chords.

Body Based Perception Laboratory

Dr Sally Linkenauger

We study the influence of the body on space perception in real and virtual environments. We have found evidence that suggests that people use their bodies as perceptual metrics to provide a scale for their visual environments. Additionally, we also study the influence on the distribution of the somatosensory cortex on the visual perception of the body. To manipulate body perception, we use infrared, flexion sensor, and light coding motion tracking systems to provide individuals with virtual bodies that are fully self-animated in real time through head mounted displays.

Hearing Research Laboratory

Professor Chris Plack

We use a combination of listening tests and EEG measures to investigate how sounds are processed by the auditory brain. We are particularly interested in how neural coding and hearing ability deteriorate with age. We are also interested in the effects of auditory training on the neural coding of musical pitch. Finally, in a collaboration with Roger Bucknall of Fylde Guitars, we are studying how the different woods used in construction affect the perceived sound quality of acoustic guitars.

Spatial Memory and Navigation Laboratory

Dr Dina Lew

The main research question we study is how spatial information in an environment is represented, remembered and used for navigation. A focus of current research concerns the characterisation of map-like versus route-following mechanisms in navigation, the underlying brain systems involved in these types of task, and the interactions that occur between different systems. Both behavioural and fMRI measures in human adults are used to study these questions, in collaboration with colleagues at Durham University and the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. We also research navigation in human development.

Sir John Fisher Eye Movement Research Laboratory

Dr Trevor Crawford

Our neuropsychological research is primarily targeted on age-related disorders, in particular, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson's disease and Schizophrenia.

A major focus is to improve our understanding of the core cognitive features and developing new biological markers that will help doctors to improve their diagnosis of these disorders. We are working to discover an early cognitive marker of the disease and to track the changes in relation to the severity of the illness. If we are successful this will enable new treatments to be targeted at an early stage in the course of the disease. We have dedicated research laboratories at Lancaster University and an extensive network of collaborating hospitals and research centres in the north-west and nationally. This research network includes research assistants, clinical psychologists, consultant neurologists, psychiatrists, radiologists and neuropsychologists at Lancaster University and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals.

Visual and Multisensory Cognition Laboratory

Dr Peter Walker

We study cross-sensory correspondences (sometimes referred to as weak synaesthesia) as an aspect of multisensory cognition. Correspondences are observed in everyday life when we hear people refer to the smoothness and heaviness of a perfume, the brightness, sharpness, and heaviness of a sound, and the warmth and loudness of a colour. In addition, when asked, people will agree that lemons are fast, that brighter coloured snooker balls make higher pitch sounds than darker snooker balls, and that darker pebbles are heavier than brighter pebbles. In carefully designed experiments we investigate what these and related phenomena tell us about visual and multisensory cognition.

Current projects include:

• Cross-sensory correspondences and language: How correspondences contribute to symbolism in language, including sound symbolism and the visual symbolism mediated by the typefaces in which words appear.
• The innate and learned (linguistic and non-linguistic) origins of cross-sensory correspondences, including their presence in neonates and infants.
• The contributions of cross-sensory correspondences to the visual arts and to music, including how professional jazz musicians (saxophonists) exploit correspondences to communicate concepts in their improvisations.
• The functional significance of cross-sensory correspondences for human-machine interfaces, especially how they might give rise to powerful stimulus-response compatibility effects.

We are also studying directional biases in the perception of lateral visual movement, including their links to language (writing/reading direction) and hand dominance.

Paediatric, Listening, Cognition and Neuroscience Laboratory

Dr Hannah Stewart

At the PELICAN Lab we study everyday hearing and listening in children. We work alongside the Lancaster University Babylab and have a dedicated pediatric auditory laboratory. We are currently working with primary school aged children with normal hearing, hearing impairment and/or developmental disorders. To understand the underlying mechanisms of speech and non-speech listening we use behavioural and neuroimaging techniques alongside VR. We are especially interested in how children’s brains adapt to noisy environments and to using auditory technology, such as hearing aids.