Current Projects
Internal representations and cognitive control in deaf and hearing individuals
Cognitive control helps us stay focused, plan ahead, and manage complex tasks. In deaf individuals, these skills can be a strength for some and more challenging for others. Research shows that language experience especially early access to a fully developed language (signed or spoken) is a key factor in how these thinking skills develop.
This project explores how deaf individuals use different types of internal representation (like visual imagery or inner speech) to support cognitive control. By studying both signers and non-signers, we aim to understand how language and thought interact, and how this knowledge can support more inclusive education and accessibility.
This project is supported by BA/Levehulme: SRG2324\240521
Cross-modal correspondence and working memory
Why do bright colors feel “high-pitched” and dark tones “low-pitched”? These intuitive links between sensory features (known as cross-modal correspondences) shape how we perceive and remember information. We are running a series of projects to explore how these associations boost working memory across modalities and how attention modulates these effects. Understanding these interactions could reveal fundamental principles of multisensory cognition.
Internal representations and letter processing in dyslexia
Understanding how similar-looking and similar-sounding letters affect reading could reveal key insights into dyslexia. For example, the letters G and J ‘sound’ similar, whereas O and Q ‘look’ similar. Individuals with dyslexia often face more challenges with the sound processing of letters compared to their non-dyslexic peers. The combined effects of how letters ‘look’ and ‘sound’ in individuals with dyslexia, as well as the impact of internal representations (people’s tendencies to represent their thoughts in their mind e.g., visually, verbally) have not been explored. This study aims to address this gap by investigating how these similarities influence and interact with letter recognition and processing in both dyslexic and non-dyslexic individuals.
Embodied cognition, motor control and virtual presence
This trajectory investigates how thought and movement interact to shape skilled performance and perception. It examines how individuals monitor and control their actions (motor reinvestment) and how cognitive focus and representational processes influence performance and automaticity. It also explores the experience of psychological presence in virtual reality environments. Future work in this area will explore applications in movement rehabilitation and healthy aging.
