Research

My research focuses on the perception and high level cognition of visual stimuli, with a particular focus on the special case of the perception of faces and facial expressions of emotion.

In this research, I am working to establish the way in which information is processed by dynamic brain networks during the perception of faces, scenes and objects and how this processing is affected by top down biases introduced by task demands, emotional content, expectation and level of awareness. Ongoing collaborations seek to explore the development of these specialized visual processing abilities in the young and in healthy ageing, along with an investigation of the deficits in processing suffered by a number of different patient populations.

I also have a developing interest in the critical role of prediction in perception and cognition and in establishing how predictable sequences of events and cross modal stimulation influences future information processing.

For more detailed information on my ongoing research projects please explore my lab page.

If you would be interested in volunteering in the lab to obtain some research experience please contact me directly at marie.smith@bbk.ac.uk

If you would be interested in participating in experiments please sign up for an account on the Birkbeck SONA system and sign up for any studies that interest you.