FYI
A 3-year PhD studentship is available in the School of Psychology at Bangor University
commencing in January 2013. A highly-motivated and creative student with strong written
and oral communication skills, and preferably experience with human neuroscience
techniques (fMRI, TMS, EEG) is required for this position. The project is part of ongoing
research in the Social Brain in Action Laboratory (SoBA Lab), which explores the cognitive
and brain systems that underpin our ability to understand the actions and mental states of
other people.
Project description
Appreciating the meaning of social interactions depends crucially on understanding others’
identity. To date, neuroimaging studies have examined separately how we perceive features
of other people, such as their bodies, beliefs and attitudes. As such, it is not known how
multiple features of a person are integrated in the brain to form a holistic understanding
of a person’s identity. The aim of the current project is to use fMRI and connectivity
analyses (e.g., PPI, DCM or Granger) to measure the influence of distinct brain regions on
each other during social perception. By doing so, the project will build a more coherent
picture of how multiple brain circuits interact when we make sense other people’s
behaviour (for further discussion see Ramsey, van Schie& Cross, 2011, Cognitive
Neuroscience).
SoBA Lab
The SoBA Lab is an international research group housed in the School of Psychology at
Bangor University, which offers access to outstanding facilities for Social / Cognitive
Neuroscience. Furthermore, Bangor is situated in a beautiful region of North Wales close
to Snowdonia National Park, which provides a wonderful natural backdrop to professional
activities.
Informal enquiries regarding the PhD position can be directed to Richard Ramsey (r.ramsey
[at] bangor.ac.uk) and further information about the SoBA Lab is available at:
www.soba-lab.com. Guidelines for formal applications will be published in due course.
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Richard Ramsey, PhD
Lecturer
School of Psychology
Wales Institute of Cognitive
Neuroscience (WICN)
Bangor University
Bangor, Gwynedd
LL57 2AS, UK