PAAC Lab (Perception, Attention and Affective Cognition)

Contact us: skumar@brookes.ac.uk

About us

The PAAC Lab supports our research in a range of cognitive and brain processes. These include aspects of:

  • visual and attentional processing
  • visual working memory
  • early motor planning. 

A key strand of research of late is how high-level cognitive processes such as those associated with the self and with emotion interact with each other and with cognitive processing more broadly. Work has looked at both clinical and neurotypical populations, using standard behavioural measures and investigation of brain processes by recording and manipulating neural activity.

Visual short-term memory experiment
Visual short-term memory experiment

Our facilities

Electroencephalogram (EEG) system
Electroencephalogram (EEG) system

We have a number of specialist labs and equipment to pursue these areas. These include a:

  • vision lab with a specialised calibrated monitor and precision timing (CRS Display++)
  • TMS room containing a Magstim Rapid2 TMS system
  • Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) systems
  • EEG suite fitted with a 128 channels BioSemi EEG system and dedicated computers installed with BrainVision Anlyzer analysis software.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Visual Cognition Room
Visual Cognition Room

Current research

Black and white image of brain

Recent news

We recently published an opinion paper on the neuropsychiatric and cognitive sequelae of Covid-19. This paper received extensive media coverage across the world.

In another publication, we show that when we select objects from our environment, the brain is more efficient in selecting an object that is appropriately grasped for its use. This suggests a link between the action information system and attentional system in the posterior part of the brain.

Listen to the effects of social media on mental health as shared with Planet Radio.

Student working in the Library