Choice models for learning and memory. Life is filled with familiar choices that often require quick decisions about objects in the environment and the contents of memory. This project examines how we learn to make rapid and accurate choices and how we quickly asses the level of confidence we have in recognition decisions based on our memories.
Improving novice drivers' speed and hazard management. The aim of the study is to extend the evidence-based approach we have developed for speed management (cognitive integration speed management training) to hazard management, thereby developing cognitive integration hazard management training for young drivers. Hence, this study is specifically designed to curb the alarming trend in young driver fatalities on Australian roads. The results of the research will provide clear direction to road au ....Improving novice drivers' speed and hazard management. The aim of the study is to extend the evidence-based approach we have developed for speed management (cognitive integration speed management training) to hazard management, thereby developing cognitive integration hazard management training for young drivers. Hence, this study is specifically designed to curb the alarming trend in young driver fatalities on Australian roads. The results of the research will provide clear direction to road authorities and driver training providers as to effective training strategies to improve young driver training, and ultimately improve road safety with this vulnerable population.Read moreRead less
Eyes on the prize: Investigating attentional economics. We spend our lives surrounded by stimuli relating to reward and risk (adverts, games, social media etc). Recent research suggests that learning about reward and risk influences our attention, often despite our best efforts. This project will build on recently developed procedures using eye-tracking to investigate how learning about reward and risk modulates what we pay attention to, and what we ignore. Findings will be used to develop compu ....Eyes on the prize: Investigating attentional economics. We spend our lives surrounded by stimuli relating to reward and risk (adverts, games, social media etc). Recent research suggests that learning about reward and risk influences our attention, often despite our best efforts. This project will build on recently developed procedures using eye-tracking to investigate how learning about reward and risk modulates what we pay attention to, and what we ignore. Findings will be used to develop computational models of ‘attentional economics’ that account for, and predict, when we will be distracted by reward- and risk-related stimuli. This research will enhance the world-class status of Australian cognitive psychology, and will shed light on processes implicated in addiction and related behaviours.Read moreRead less
The Psychology of Misinformation—Towards A Theory-driven Understanding. The project aims to develop a psychological theory of misinformation effects. Misinformation influences people’s memory, reasoning and decision-making even after corrections – it thus poses a significant challenge for science and society. Through the combination of systematic experimentation with theory-driven computational modelling, the project will strive to concurrently consider individual-level cognition and the impact ....The Psychology of Misinformation—Towards A Theory-driven Understanding. The project aims to develop a psychological theory of misinformation effects. Misinformation influences people’s memory, reasoning and decision-making even after corrections – it thus poses a significant challenge for science and society. Through the combination of systematic experimentation with theory-driven computational modelling, the project will strive to concurrently consider individual-level cognition and the impact of sociocultural context. It is anticipated that this novel integrative approach will substantially expand our understanding of misinformation effects, and that this theoretical progress will result in the formulation of specific communication strategies to reduce the impact of misinformation on society.Read moreRead less
Developing a integrated memory-based model of evaluation and choice. People's judgements and choices are unstable. This project intends to examine one potential source of this instability: the memories that come to mind when people are evaluating choices. Many of the choices we make in our everyday lives are made on the basis of remembered information, and yet theories of evaluation and choice typically do not account for the role of memory, or provide only a cursory account of its role. In the ....Developing a integrated memory-based model of evaluation and choice. People's judgements and choices are unstable. This project intends to examine one potential source of this instability: the memories that come to mind when people are evaluating choices. Many of the choices we make in our everyday lives are made on the basis of remembered information, and yet theories of evaluation and choice typically do not account for the role of memory, or provide only a cursory account of its role. In the project, people will be presented with value information, and the project plans to examine how that information is retrieved from memory and then used to evaluate options and make decisions. Expected project outcomes would provide a coherent model that provides an integrated understanding of the role of memory in judgement and choice.Read moreRead less
Rapid decisions: from neuroscience to complex cognitions. A succession of rapid decisions supports our daily life - run or walk? Fish or steak? This project will integrate three different approaches to understanding these decisions, from neuroscience, mathematical psychology and experimental psychology. This research will provide insights about normal human functioning, and problems such as occur in healthy ageing.
The psychology of not wanting to know. This project aims to deliver insights into paradoxical decision-making behaviours of humans who pursue either useless information or deliberate ignorance. The project intends to shed new light on why these conflicting states of information preference exist by building on significant recent advances in understanding how reinforcement learning, anticipation and discounting combine to determine when people do and do not want to know. Intended benefits include ....The psychology of not wanting to know. This project aims to deliver insights into paradoxical decision-making behaviours of humans who pursue either useless information or deliberate ignorance. The project intends to shed new light on why these conflicting states of information preference exist by building on significant recent advances in understanding how reinforcement learning, anticipation and discounting combine to determine when people do and do not want to know. Intended benefits include maintaining and enhancing the excellent status of Australian psychological and cognitive science. The downstream benefits include elucidating the development of anxiety disorders and problem gambling.Read moreRead less
Evidence-accumulation models of external influences on decision-making. This project aims to apply the evidence-accumulation computational framework of decision-making to investigate how simple interventions affect our choices. It intends to use a suite of theory-driven experiments, state-of-the-art techniques for testing the robustness of empirical effects, and the powerful computational machinery inherent in evidence-accumulation models. Expected outcomes include providing a comprehensive char ....Evidence-accumulation models of external influences on decision-making. This project aims to apply the evidence-accumulation computational framework of decision-making to investigate how simple interventions affect our choices. It intends to use a suite of theory-driven experiments, state-of-the-art techniques for testing the robustness of empirical effects, and the powerful computational machinery inherent in evidence-accumulation models. Expected outcomes include providing a comprehensive characterisation of how, why and when simple external factors exert their influence on decision-making. Significant benefits include the enhancement of the world-class status of Australian cognitive and mathematical psychology.Read moreRead less
Predicting Behaviour from Brain Representations. This project aims to advance our understanding of how perceptual information is represented in the human brain and to link the structure of perceptual brain representations to human behaviour. The project plans to use complementary methods for recording brain activity (human neuroimaging and primate single-cell neurophysiology) and cutting-edge analytic techniques to generate a predictive model of behaviour based on the structure of perceptual bra ....Predicting Behaviour from Brain Representations. This project aims to advance our understanding of how perceptual information is represented in the human brain and to link the structure of perceptual brain representations to human behaviour. The project plans to use complementary methods for recording brain activity (human neuroimaging and primate single-cell neurophysiology) and cutting-edge analytic techniques to generate a predictive model of behaviour based on the structure of perceptual brain representations. It is anticipated that the results will significantly advance the field of cognitive neuroscience by providing a novel empirical framework for understanding how brain representations are predictive of behaviour.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