Summer research in School of Psychology

The Centre for Developmental Science combines expertise and methods for studying brain, cognition, and behaviour, from infancy to elderly adulthood. The studies aim to understand diversity in development–its origins, consequences, meanings for individuals, and, where appropriate, the potential for change.

Summer research projects available for summer 2026

Project

Measuring toddler response styles when tackling tasks that aim to elicit executive functions.

Research lead

Dr Alexandra Hendry

Research objective

Executive function difficulties are linked to poor mental and physical health, poorer academic outcomes, and lower quality of life, across a range of populations (Diamond, 2013; Snyder, Miyake and Hankin, 2015; Wallace et al., 2016). In this project you will work with video and performance score data collected from 200 toddlers with and without a family history of autism and ADHD to consider how response styles interact with cognitive and regulatory skills to shape behaviour. By reconceptualising how to measure executive functions in toddlerhood we may be able to better chart the development of these important skills. This project, as with all of the team's research, takes a neurodiversity-affirming approach.

You will be trained in behavioural coding, and basic statistical analysis. At the end of the project you will present your findings back to the group in an internal meeting. If any aspect of your analysis is included in a future publication, you may be included as a named co-author on that paper. You will have the opportunity to join lab meetings involving researchers engaged in both basic and applied science. In these meetings (and in additional one-to-one sessions if requested) we will discuss the 'hidden curriculum' of higher education and research, and explore ways to flourish in academia.

The Centre for Human Brain Health (CHBH) is pioneering research that transforms our understanding of the human brain and its complex functions. Its mission–to enable basic human neuroscience research and translation.

Summer research projects available for summer 2026

Project 1

Modulating cognitive and motor behaviour with thalamic ultrasound stimulation.

Research lead

Prof Davinia Fernandez-Espejo

Research objective

This project is investigating the use of transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) as a non-invasive method for modulating activity in individual thalamic nuclei. The research experience student will contribute to ongoing experimental work in healthy participants, designed to validate targeted neuromodulation of the specific thalamic nuclei using behavioural tasks.

The student will gain hands-on experience in several stages of the research process, including MRI data collection and TUS administration (participant registration/ neuro-navigation, TUS-specific participant preparation, equipment setup and delivery). The student will also support general logistics such as maintaining participant documentation and assist with pre-processing and analysis of data from behavioural tasks.

Project 2

Leaning in or letting go? Learning whether and how much mental effort is required to succeed.

Research lead

Dr Romy Froemer

Research objective

This project will test the hypothesis that the lack of motivation in neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease stems from a misevaluation of ‘efficacy’, meaning people withhold effort because they mistakenly believe it will not change the outcome, even when it actually would. By understanding how people learn whether their effort is required and worthwhile, we aim to uncover exactly why this process falters in Parkinson's. We will recruit 40 participants diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and we will record their behaviour and electrophysiological responses while they perform a computerised learning task, on- and off- their medication.

The student assigned to the project will contribute to data collection (including questionnaire administration and the use of EEG and eye-tracking equipment), data analyses and results visualisation. For the data collection process, student will first observe and then actively help during the procedures. For analyses and visualisation, the student will receive training on behavioural and EEG data analysis. Beyond the project, the student will be integrated in the broader lab, including weekly lab meetings and a monthly seminar series with multiple labs in the Centre for Human Brain Health.

The student will receive training in running behavioural experiments using MATLAB and the Psychophysics toolbox, analysing and visualising data in R using R Studio, and learn about contemporary theories and computational models of learning and motivation. At the end of this project, the student will have developed project management skills, experienced core stages of the scientific process, and acquired basic programming knowledge that will be an excellent basis for further coding skill development.

Project 3

Understanding the neural markers of how people prioritise good advice when making a decision.

Research lead

Dr Romy Froemer

Research objective

When making a decision that we are uncertain with, we often ask others for advice. Previous work suggests that we make better decisions when we seek advice from others, but this is not always the case. Our work has shown that people tend to take advice from those who are more accurate and more confident in their ability. Yet, the neural mechanisms of how people evaluate the quality of advice is unclear. This project will use EEG and eye-tracking to investigate the neural markers of how people prioritise good advice to improve their decision-making.

The student will receive hands-on training on implementing EEG and eye-tracking. They will develop skills using a variety of software and equipment (i.e., MATLAB/PsychToolbox, RStudio, BioSemi EEG & EyeLink 1000), analysing and visualisation and also learn about theories/research on advice seeking and metacognition in decision-making. They will work closely with a PI and senior postdoc to develop skills in project management, basic programming/coding and behavioural/neural methods which will provide the foundations to expand future learning.