Director of Research

Dr. Fatima Maria Felisberti

I am a cognitive neuroscientist with PhDs in Neuroscience (obtained at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Germany) and Visual Neuroscience (obtained at Sao Paulo University, Brazil), followed by postdoctoral work at Nottingham University (1994-99), City University (1999-01), and Royal Holloway University (2001-03).

My research is centred on emotions, mental imagery, visual perception, aesthetic experiences, mentalising and audiovisual learning. At the clinical level, the work is linked to how emotions and aesthetic experiences can be affected by cognitive and physical constraints in muscular dystrophy and dementia.

The projects in my lab make use of eye-tracking, tDCS, simulators, and bio-recording technologies, as well as cognitive testing and qualitative methods to promote ethical and reproducible research, as well as develop innovative approaches to understanding socio-affective behaviours in typical and non-typical adults in a wide range of contexts.

Current research:

(1) How do aesthetic experiences with visual art and music affect our mood, wellbeing, and contextual memories (typical and atypical adults)?

(2) How can we use visual and auditory mental imagery to improve learning, mood, and wellbeing?

(3) How do muscular impairments affect socio-affective behaviour in adults with muscular dystrophies?

(4) Cognitive and emotional strategies to induce hygiene behavioural changes

(5) Pet ownership and wellbeing: project developed and run by my PhD student, Ece Beren Barklam

Other roles: consultant (aesthetics, vision, perception), associated journal editor, panel member (including the NHS ethics committee), public speaker, grant reviewer for research councils in the UK and Canada.