Prospective Postgraduates

My research investigates whether multiple words can be lexically processed simultaneously. There are two broad classes of model of eye movement control: those that allow for overlapping lexical processing (parallel models) and those that suggest the eyes move through text in a strictly serial sequential fashion, with only one word being lexically processed at a time (serial models). My research focuses on testing the assumptions of these models in an attempt to distinguish between the two perspectives. The majority of my work has centred on the contingent display change procedure using the Dr Bouis eye tracking machine. Very broadly speaking, these experiments involve manipulating the preview of a critical word prior to it receiving a direct fixation; only when the eye is passing an invisible boundary (usually located on the space before the critical word) does the word actually appear. As we are functionally blind when the eye is in motion (i.e., when the change occurs), participants are generally oblivious to these manipulations. This procedure therefore provides a sensitive measure of how much parafoveal information was extracted before the critical word receives a direct fixation.

After becoming fully absorbed in my fourth year dissertation, I decided to stay on at the University of Dundee and follow up on the many unresolved research questions that had originated from my dissertation. Staying in Dundee made sense for me as the university was one of the first eye tracking labs in Europe and therefore has excellent foundations in eye movement research, with multiple labs with a wide variety of different eye-tracking technologies.

Perhaps one of the most surprising aspects of doing a PhD here is calibre of the psychologists that choose to visit us. For example, I recently had the opportunity to do some research for Professor Keith Rayner (from the University of California, San Diego) who spent several months visiting our department earlier this year. I was also lucky enough to attend a two-day workshop on computational modelling held in the department by Professor Erik Reichle (visiting from the University of Pittsburgh). These experiences have been fantastic because they have allowed me to discuss many of my own research questions with some of the foremost researchers in the field of psychology.

While perhaps not such a surprise, the level of support has been amazing. My supervisor is always available, willing and happy to help, whether he is in the department, on email, or even out of the country!

Workload varies day-to-day. Some days I find myself catching up on reading, while other days I am either designing experiments, testing participants, or analysing copious amounts of data! There are also weekly internal seminars and fortnightly seminars in which external speakers are invited to the university; these are great as they keep me up-to-date with research in many different areas of psychology preventing my focus from becoming too narrow.

There are also postgraduate seminars that tackle all sorts of topics such as: getting funding, writing publications, CV writing, and the job application process for both academic and non-academic jobs.

Understanding how the mind, brain and body work in health and disease has been a great endeavor for many years. New advancements in imaging technology sparked the development of novel ways for understanding these processes. Studying at Dundee University has offered me the opportunity to have access to some of these fascinating tools and meet experts in the field.

I am interested in attention orienting mechanisms. Attention is the mechanism for selecting information into conscious experience. Evidence from recent studies (Corbetta and Shulman, 2002), suggest the existence of two neurologically distinct networks that either interact or compete with each other to facilitate attentional demands. Specifically, it has been shown that the stimulus-driven system facilitates the orientation of the goal-driven system towards new stimuli, especially when these are of high salience. On the other hand, the goal-driven network can, to a certain extent, inhibit the stimulus-driven network. I am exploring these effects in withdrawn from nicotine smokers and after they have ingested nicotine as well as in non-smokers. We believe that the manipulation of nicotine levels alters the relationship between stimulus and goal-driven attention networks. To investigate this we use electrophysiological (EEG) and combined EEG and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) methods.

I chose to study at Dundee because of the excellent research facilities, expertise and support it has to offer. I am happy with this decision as I was given great opportunities for developing my skills in many areas such as conducting advanced research, teaching and networking with people from universities around Scotland.

My first impression of Dundee was the friendly approach of staff and students and how welcome they made me feel. I am very happy to work with people who have great expertise in the area of cognitive psychology and to have access to cutting edge facilities for neuroimaging. I am particularly excited to work in the electrophysiology laboratory and to use the new Magnetic Resonance Imaging facilities in the Clinical Research Center in Ninewells hospital.

A typical day in Dundee might consist of various enthusing activities such as designing and conducting experiments, going to lectures, talks, seminars and workshops, teaching or exchanging ideas and knowledge with other people in a friendly environment.