Gaining control of the future: The cognitive development of foresight. Because humans can anticipate their limitations, they can act in the present to shape their future for the better.
This project aims to chart four key developmental processes by which children gain this control over their future
outcomes. It will use novel experimental paradigms to map children’s growing ability to compensate for their limits
with strategic planning, and to improve their future capacities by acquiring new kno ....Gaining control of the future: The cognitive development of foresight. Because humans can anticipate their limitations, they can act in the present to shape their future for the better.
This project aims to chart four key developmental processes by which children gain this control over their future
outcomes. It will use novel experimental paradigms to map children’s growing ability to compensate for their limits
with strategic planning, and to improve their future capacities by acquiring new knowledge and innovating
technical solutions. The cognitive underpinnings of these critical behaviours are still poorly understood. This
project will therefore provide the essential empirical foundation for fostering the development of wiser, more
skilled, and more innovative young people.Read moreRead less
Towards an integrated model of reasoning and reasoning development. This project aims to identify the core cognitive processes that underlie different forms of reasoning and how they develop. The project intends to use a signal detection framework to derive detailed computational models of reasoning which can then be tested through Bayesian computational modelling as well as the first systematic investigation of developmental change in reasoning processes. Expected outcomes include a more princi ....Towards an integrated model of reasoning and reasoning development. This project aims to identify the core cognitive processes that underlie different forms of reasoning and how they develop. The project intends to use a signal detection framework to derive detailed computational models of reasoning which can then be tested through Bayesian computational modelling as well as the first systematic investigation of developmental change in reasoning processes. Expected outcomes include a more principled and comprehensive computational model of reasoning in both adults and children. The project should provide significant benefits by helping to resolve long-standing debates about how humans reason complex arguments relevant to everyday lives and guide development of more effective methods for teaching reasoning.Read moreRead less
How do we cancel or modify movements? This collaborative project aims to improve our understanding of how movements are rapidly cancelled, or reprogrammed, based on visual cues. Using innovative computational models, non-invasive brain stimulation and recordings of muscle activity, the project aims to elucidate how our brains anticipate the possibility of having to cancel planned actions, and how this changes as a function of healthy ageing. The outcomes are expected to assist in the design of n ....How do we cancel or modify movements? This collaborative project aims to improve our understanding of how movements are rapidly cancelled, or reprogrammed, based on visual cues. Using innovative computational models, non-invasive brain stimulation and recordings of muscle activity, the project aims to elucidate how our brains anticipate the possibility of having to cancel planned actions, and how this changes as a function of healthy ageing. The outcomes are expected to assist in the design of neuromorphic technologies that mimic human brain function. The generated knowledge may also inform future research aimed at maintaining cognitive and motor function in the ageing workforce and treating conditions in which inhibitory control is compromised. Read moreRead less
The neural bases of decision-making. The aim of this project is to understand the brain circuits controlling voluntary or goal-directed actions and particularly the memory processes that contribute to such actions. Goal-directed action is a fundamental capacity necessary for normal decision-making that is significantly attenuated by normal aging. This project aims to establish the neural circuits engaged in encoding new goal-directed actions, how this encoding is accomplished without interfering ....The neural bases of decision-making. The aim of this project is to understand the brain circuits controlling voluntary or goal-directed actions and particularly the memory processes that contribute to such actions. Goal-directed action is a fundamental capacity necessary for normal decision-making that is significantly attenuated by normal aging. This project aims to establish the neural circuits engaged in encoding new goal-directed actions, how this encoding is accomplished without interfering with pre-existing memories and how these memories are later retrieved to guide planning and performance. Understanding the determinants of such actions will enable the development of novel ways to treat ageing-related deficits in decision-making with significant economic benefits. Read moreRead less