Prof Clare Press
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Overview
Overview
Biography
I started my academic life as a Research Assistant at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL, on a Wellcome Trust vacation scholarship in 2001 (mid BSc), followed by an ESRC funded project (2002-2003). These projects were based with Patrick Haggard and examined how visual and tactile processing shape each other. I subsequently undertook my PhD with Cecilia Heyes in the Department of Psychology to ask about the role of domain general associative learning processes in the generation of mechanisms supporting our imitative capabilities.
My doctoral work was followed by three fellowships. The first, based again with Celia, was an ESRC fellowship funded by the Economic Learning and Social Evolution Centre. The second, based at Birkbeck with Martin Eimer, was an ESRC postdoctoral fellowship where I examined how spatial attention and predictive mechanisms interact in determining the influences of action on perception. The final was based at the Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL, with James Kilner and Karl Friston. Here I asked about the neural mechanisms underlying action-perception interactions, and again, the role of domain general learning processes in determining these mechanisms.
I took up my first faculty position at the University of Reading in 2010, before moving to my current position at Birkbeck in 2012. I am head of the Action and Perception Lab, where we ask a variety of questions concerning how action and perception mechanisms work together to allow us to control our actions and perceive our world.
Office hours
Mondays 5-6 pm
Qualifications
- BSc Psychology with Cognitive Science, UCL, 2002
- PhD, UCL, 2007
Web profiles
Professional activities
Associate Editor at Cortex
Reviewing Editor at eLife
Professional memberships
Experimental Psychology Society
NVP Brain and Cognition Society
Vision Sciences Society
Fellow of Advanced HE
American Psychological Society
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Research
Research
Research interests
- Action
- Perception
- Learning
- Autism
- Prediction
Research overview
In the Action and Perception Lab we examine a variety of questions relating to action and perception, and often the link between these domains. We use a range of methods, including psychophysics, functional magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, magnetoencephalography and computational modelling. Below are some examples of the questions we ask.
The online influence of action on perception. Effectively acting on the world around us requires accurately predicting the consequences of our movements. We select actions based on their predicted outcomes and use these predictions to generate rapid corrective movements when we experience deviant sensory input. There is a range of evidence demonstrating that these predictions change the percept itself. We examine, with psychophysical and neural techniques, how these predictions help to shape our percepts during action, to render veridical percepts in the face of much internal and external sensory noise and a requirement to generate percepts rapidly.
Influences of expectation on perception. Given work in the stream above, we have also been considering how to marry current theories from action domains and other sensory cognition domains concerning how expectation influences perception. Specifically we have recently proposed a new theory of how we might render our perceptual experiences both veridical and informative via our expectations.
Action in autism spectrum conditions. Action control and sensory processing impairments are widely reported in individuals with autism spectrum conditions, but it is unclear what underlies these difficulties. Studies in our laboratory aim to understand these difficulties and how they relate to other atypicalities in these individuals.
Research Centres and Institutes
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Supervision and teaching
Supervision and teaching
Supervision
If you are interested in joining the lab, please email to discuss (c-dot-press@bbk.ac.uk) - we may have suitable upcoming positions on an ERC consolidator grant (2021-2026) or be able to apply for funding together.
Teaching
Research Methods 1
Sensorimotor Processes and Attention
Cognitive, Affective and Social Neuroscience
Social Psychology
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Publications
Publications
Article
- Yon, Daniel and Thomas, E. and Gilbert, S. and de Lange, F. and Kok, P. and Press, Clare (2023) Stubborn predictions in primary visual cortex. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 35 (7), pp. 1133-1143. ISSN 0898-929X.
- Gehdu, Bayparvah and Tsantani, Maria and Press, Clare and Gray, K. and Cook, Richard (2023) Recognition of facial expressions in autism: effects of face masks and alexithymia. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology ISSN 1747-0218.
- Thomas, Emily and Rittershofer, Kirsten and Press, Clare (2023) Updating perceptual expectations as certainty diminishes. Cognition 232 (105356), ISSN 0010-0277.
- Press, Clare and Thomas, Emily and Yon, Daniel (2023) Cancelling cancellation? Sensorimotor control, agency, and prediction. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 145 (105012), ISSN 0149‐7634.
- Chard, James and Cook, Richard and Press, Clare (2022) Impaired sensitivity to spatial configurations in healthy aging. Cortex 155, pp. 347-356. ISSN 0010-9452.
- Press, Clare and Yon, Daniel and Heyes, C. (2022) Building better theories. Current Biology 32 (1), pp. R13-R17. ISSN 0960-9822.
- Thomas, Emily and Yon, Daniel and de Lange, F.P. and Press, Clare (2022) Action enhances predicted touch. Psychological Science 33 (1), pp. 48-59. ISSN 0956-7976.
- Yon, Daniel and Zainzinger, Vanessa and de Lange, F. and Eimer, Martin and Press, Clare (2021) Action biases perceptual decisions towards expected outcomes. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 150 (6), pp. 1225-1236. ISSN 0096-3445.
- Yon, Daniel and Bunce, Carl and Press, Clare (2020) Illusions of control without delusions of grandeur. Cognition 205 (104429), ISSN 0010-0277.
- Yon, Daniel and Heyes, C. and Press, Clare (2020) Beliefs and desires in the predictive brain. Nature Communications 11 (4404), ISSN 2041-1723.
- Edey, Rosanna and Yon, Daniel and Dumontheil, Iroise and Press, Clare (2020) Association between action kinematics and emotion perception across adolescence. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance 46 (7), pp. 657-666. ISSN 0096-1523.
- Press, Clare and Kok, P. and Yon, Daniel (2019) The perceptual prediction paradox. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 24 (1), pp. 13-24. ISSN 1364-6613.
- Press, Clare and Yon, Daniel (2019) Perceptual prediction: rapidly making sense of a noisy world. Current Biology 29 (15), pp. R751-R753. ISSN 0960-9822.
- Chard, James and Edey, Rosanna and Yon, Daniel and Murphy, J. and Bird, G. and Press, Clare (2019) Atypical emotion recognition from bodies is associated with perceptual difficulties in healthy aging. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance 45 (6), pp. 803-811. ISSN 0096-1523.
- Edey, Rosanna and Cook, J. and Brewer, Rebecca and Bird, Geoffrey and Press, Clare (2018) Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder are sensitive to the kinematic features defining natural human motion. Autism Research 12 (2), pp. 284-294. ISSN 1939-3792.
- Yon, Daniel and de Lange, F. and Press, Clare (2018) The predictive brain as a stubborn scientist. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 23 (1), pp. 6-8. ISSN 1364-6613.
- Yon, Daniel and Gilbert, S. and de Lange, F. and Press, Clare (2018) Action sharpens sensory representations of expected outcomes. Nature Communications 9, pp. 4288. ISSN 2041-1723.
- Edey, Rosanna and Brewer, R. and Bird, Geoffrey and Press, Clare (2018) Typical auditory-motor and enhanced visual-motor temporal synchronization in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 49 (2), pp. 788-793. ISSN 0162-3257.
- Yon, Daniel and Press, Clare (2018) Sensory predictions during action support perception of imitative reactions across suprasecond delays. Cognition 173, pp. 21-27. ISSN 0010-0277.
- Edey, Rosanna and Yon, Daniel and Cook, J. and Dumontheil, Iroise and Press, Clare (2017) Our own action kinematics predict the perceived affective states of others. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance 43 (7), pp. 1263-1268. ISSN 0096-1523.
- Coll, M.P. and Press, Clare and Hobson, H. and Catmur, C. and Bird, Geoffrey (2017) Crossmodal classification of mu rhythm activity during action observation and execution suggests specificity to somatosensory features of actions. Journal of Neuroscience 37 (24), pp. 5936-5947. ISSN 0270-6474.
- Yon, Daniel and Press, Clare (2017) Predicted action consequences are perceptually facilitated before cancellation. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance 46 (3), pp. 1073-1083. ISSN 0096-1523.
- Yon, Daniel and Edey, Rosanna and Ivry, R.B. and Press, Clare (2017) Time on your hands: perceived duration of sensory events is biased towards concurrent actions. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 146 (2), pp. 182-193. ISSN 0096-3445.
- Edey, Rosanna and Cook, J. and Brewer, Rebecca and Johnson, Mark H. and Bird, Geoffrey and Press, Clare (2016) Interaction takes two: typical adults exhibit mind-blindness towards those with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Abnormal Psychology 125 (7), pp. 879-885. ISSN 0021-843X.
- Brewer, R. and Biotti, F. and Catmur, C. and Press, Clare and Happé, F. and Cook, R. and Bird, Geoffrey (2016) Can neurotypical individuals read autistic facial expressions? Atypical production of emotional facial expressions in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Autism Research 9 (2), pp. 262-271. ISSN 1939-3792.
- Hogeveen, J. and Obhi, S.S. and Banissy, M.J. and Santiesteban, I. and Press, Clare and Catmur, C. and Bird, Geoffrey (2015) Task-dependent and distinct roles of the temporoparietal junction and inferior frontal cortex in the control of imitation. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 10 (7), pp. 1003-1009. ISSN 1749-5016.
- Press, Clare and Cook, R. (2015) Beyond action-specific simulation: domain-general motor contributions to perception. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 19 (4), pp. 176-178. ISSN 1364-6613.
- Coll, M.-P. and Bird, Geoffrey and Catmur, C. and Press, Clare (2015) Cross-modal repetition effects in the mu rhythm indicate tactile mirroring during action observation. Cortex 63, pp. 121-131. ISSN 0010-9452.
- Cook, R. and Bird, G. and Catmur, C. and Press, Clare and Heyes, C. (2014) Mirror neurons: from origin to function. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 37 (2), pp. 177-192. ISSN 0140-525X.
- Catmur, C. and Press, Clare and Cook, R. and Bird, G. and Heyes, C. (2014) Authors' response: mirror neurons: tests and testability. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 37 (2), pp. 221-241. ISSN 0140-525X.
- Cook, R. and Gaule, A. and Aichelberg, C. and Press, Clare (2014) Motor contributions to the perception of relative phase. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance 40 (5), pp. 1763-1768. ISSN 0096-1523.
- Press, Clare and Berlot, E. and Bird, G. and Ivry, R. and Cook, R. (2014) Moving time: the influence of action on duration perception. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 143 (5), pp. 1787-1793. ISSN 0096-3445.
- Yon, D. and Press, Clare (2014) Back to the future: synaesthesia could be due to associative learning. Frontiers in Psychology 5, ISSN 1664-1078.
- Haffey, A. and Press, Clare and O'Connell, G. and Chakrabarti, B. (2013) Autistic traits modulate mimicry of social but not nonsocial rewards. Autism Research 6 (6), pp. 614-620. ISSN 1939-3792.
- Cook, J. L. and Blakemore, S.-J. and Press, Clare (2013) Atypical basic movement kinematics in autism spectrum conditions. Brain 136 (9), pp. 2816-2824. ISSN 0006-8950.
- Press, Clare and Kilner, J.M. (2013) The time course of eye movements during action observation reflects sequence learning. NeuroReport 24 (14), pp. 822-826. ISSN 0959-4965.
- Press, Clare and Weiskopf, N. and Kilner, J.M. (2012) Dissociable roles of human inferior frontal gyrus during action execution and observation. NeuroImage 60 (3), pp. 1671-1677. ISSN 1053-8119.
- Avenanti, A. and Press, Clare and Catmur, C. and Cook, R. and Widmann, Hannah and Heyes, C. and Bird, Geoffrey (2012) fMRI evidence of ‘mirror’ responses to geometric shapes. PLoS One 7 (12), pp. e51934. ISSN 1932-6203.
- Bird, Geoffrey and Press, Clare and Richardson, D.C. (2011) The role of Alexithymia in reduced eye-fixation in autism spectrum conditions. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 41 (11), pp. 1556-1564. ISSN 0162-3257.
- Press, Clare and Heyes, C. and Kilner, J.M. (2011) Learning to understand others' actions. Biology Letters 7 (3), pp. 457-460. ISSN 1744-9561.
- Press, Clare (2011) Action observation and robotic agents: learning and anthropomorphism. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 35 (6), pp. 1410-1418. ISSN 0149-7634.
- Press, Clare and Cook, J. and Blakemore, S.J. and Kilner, J.M. (2011) Dynamic modulation of human motor activity when observing actions. The Journal of Neuroscience 31 (8), pp. 2792-2800. ISSN 0270-6474.
- Flach, R. and Press, Clare and Badets, A. and Heyes, C. (2010) Shaking hands: priming by social action effects. British Journal of Psychology 101 (4), pp. 739-749. ISSN 0007-1269.
- Press, Clare and Gherri, Elena and Heyes, C. and Eimer, Martin (2010) Action preparation helps and hinders perception of action. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 22 (10), pp. 2198-2211. ISSN 0898-929X.
- Press, Clare and Richardson, D.C. and Bird, Geoffrey (2010) Intact imitation of emotional facial actions in autism spectrum conditions. Neuropsychologia 48 (11), pp. 3291-3297. ISSN 0028-3932.
- Cook, R. and Press, Clare and Dickinson, A. and Heyes, C. (2010) Acquisition of automatic imitation is sensitive to sensorimotor contingency. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance 36 (4), pp. 840-852. ISSN 0096-1523.
- Eimer, Martin and Kiss, Monika and Press, Clare and Sauter, Disa (2009) The roles of feature-specific task set and bottom-up salience in attentional capture: an ERP study. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance 35 (5), pp. 1316-1328. ISSN 0096-1523.
- Eimer, Martin and Kiss, Monika and Press, Clare and Sauter, Disa (2009) The role of feature-specific task set and bottom-up salience in attentional capture: an ERP study. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance 35 (5), pp. 1316-1328. ISSN 0096-1523.
- Press, Clare and Ray, E. and Heyes, C. (2009) Imitation of lateralised body movements: Doing it the hard way. Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain and Cognition 14 (5), pp. 515-527. ISSN 1357-650X.
- Press, Clare and Heyes, C. (2008) Stimulus-driven selection of routes to imitation. Experimental Brain Research 188 (1), pp. 147-152. ISSN 0014-4819.
- Press, Clare and Heyes, C. and Haggard, P. and Eimer, Martin (2008) Visuotactile learning and body representation: an ERP study with rubber hands and rubber objects. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 20 (2), pp. 312-323. ISSN 0898-929X.
- Press, Clare and Bird, Geoffrey and Walsh, E. and Heyes, C. (2008) Automatic imitation of intransitive actions. Brain and Cognition 67 (1), pp. 44-50. ISSN 0278-2626.
- Eimer, Martin and van Velzen, J. and Gherri, Elena and Press, Clare (2007) ERP correlates of shared control mechanisms involved in saccade preparation and in covert attention. Brain Research 1135, pp. 154 - 166. ISSN 0006-8993.
Book Section
- Press, Clare (2016) Biological tuning of mirror mechanisms: evidence and functional implications. In: Obhi, S.S. and Cross, E.S. (eds.) Shared Representations: Sensorimotor Foundations of Social Life. Cambridge Social Neuroscience. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 332-350. ISBN 9781107690318.
- Catmur, C. and Press, Clare and Heyes, C. (2016) Mirror neurons from associative learning. In: Murphy, R. and Honey, R. (eds.) The Wiley Handbook on the Cognitive Neuroscience of Learning. Chichester: Wiley. pp. 515-537. ISBN 9781118650943.
Letter
- Press, Clare and Kok, P. and Yon, Daniel (2020) Learning to perceive and perceiving to learn. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 24 (4), pp. 260-261. Elsevier. ISSN 1364-6613.
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Business and community
Business and community
Media
I am happy to receive enquiries from the media on the following topics:
- Action
- Perception