EEG and Development Research Group
Lab Overview
The EEG and Development Research Lab is dedicated to advancing our understanding of human cognitive and neural development across the lifespan. Our mission is to explore how the brain supports learning, memory, problem-solving, and numerical cognition, focusing on how these processes evolve from childhood to adulthood. A significant emphasis of our research lies in understanding the Approximate Number System (ANS) and its relationship with learning difficulties such as dyscalculia, as well as exploring the cognitive and neural factors underlying numerical and mathematical abilities and exploring the intricate relationships between reading, language, and cognitive skills, providing insights into developmental changes and individual differences.
Research Goals
Our lab employs advanced EEG techniques alongside computational approaches, such as the Drift Diffusion Model and other computational models, to study the neural and behavioral mechanisms underlying cognitive development. By integrating these methods, we aim to uncover the neural signatures of learning and decision-making processes, bridging neuroscience and psychology. This work informs educational practices, clinical interventions, and theoretical models of learning, ensuring our findings have real-world impact. By combining cutting-edge computational and experimental techniques, our research drives innovation in understanding how the brain develops, learns, and adapts across the lifespan.
Internal Research Grants
- Birmingham City University Start-Up Grant. Principal investigator (Diaz, J. A, 2024). Uncovering the Neural Signature of the Approximate Number System in Children: Insights from a Novel EEG Analytic Method. This project seeks to extend this exploration to children, employing single-trial EEG analysis to trace the developmental trajectory of ANS-related activity. This work addresses how numerosity processing might evolve from early childhood to later stages.
- Birmingham City University Start-Up Grant. Principal investigator (Diaz, J. A, 2023). The Neural Signatures of the Approximate Number System: An EEG Analysis. Focused on uncovering the neural signature of the ANS task using EEG statistical analysis and computational modeling in adult participants. Findings have provided preliminary insights into how the brain processes approximate number representations in neurotypical adults.
Lab Leads
Dr Jessica Ann Diaz and Dr Sophie Jackson
Lab Members
- Luc Alving-Jessep
- Dr Nazli Akay
- Dr Daniel Cloves
- Prof. Amy Cook
- Dr Emily Coyne-Umfreville
- Dr Olga Fotakopoulou
- Dr Emily Harrison
- Dr Ann-Kathrin Johnen
- Dr Chunyang Liang
- Prof. Eirini Mavritsaki
- Dr Simon Snape
- Dr Aris Terzopoulos
- Dr Natalie Walsh
- Dr Mona Wong
External Collaborations
- Dr Christopher Barnes (University of Derby, School of Psychology)
- Dr Ioannis Delis (University of Leeds, Faculty of Biological Sciences).
- Dr Andrea Pisauro (University of Plymouth, School of Psychology).
- Professor Marios Philiastides (University of Glasow, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging).
PhD Students
- Todd Capes. (Supervisor Prof. Eirini Mavritsaki)
- Ben Hopkins (Supervisor: Prof. Eirini Mavritsaki)
- Maryam Riaziedu (Supervisor Prof. Eirini Mavritsaki & Jessica A Diaz).
- Callum Woolman (Supervisor: Sophie Jackson)
Discover Psychology Facilities used by the EEG and Development Research Lab