Applied Cognition Research Group
Areas of expertise and research
- 3-D computing, virtual environments and human-computer interfacing
- The effect of ambient odour on cognition, health, mood and psychophysiology
- Cognition and emotion
- Evaluation of pedagogy and teaching practice
- Mental imagery and creativity
- Psychometric testing
- The psychology of humour
Members of the group and their research
Dr Tracey Cockerton's research involves psychometric testing and evaluation of assessment measures
Dr Mark Coulson carries out research exploring the ways in which emotions are expression and perceived. He has carried out some of the first research to examine how emotion is expressed nonverbally through body posture, and how the combined effects of facial expression and body movement give rise to emotional attributions. His work addresses the theoretical structure of emotion, in particular the notion that a componential approach to emotion where emotions are seen as adaptive responses to internal and external factors. His work has applications in a wide variety of fields including animation, training and simulation.
Professor Nigel Foreman is Director of the Virtual Reality Laboratory. His ground-breaking research has used the VR environment to assist young people and adults with mobility impairments, and older adults, to navigate familiar and unfamiliar spatial environments. This work has involved both UK (with the charity SCOPE and Camden Arts Centre) and international collaborations (Russia, Finland and Germany) and has attracted funding from the Wellcome Trust and Leverhulme. Visit the Virtual Reality Laboratory website.
Dr Nicholas le Boutillier's research examines mental imagery, in particular the way in which the use of mental imagery by individuals is measured and its relationship to creativity.
Dr G. Neil Martin is internationally known for his work on olfaction and published the first systematic international study of the effect of food aroma on brain activity. He devised the first Attitudes to Sense of Smell Questionnaire and his recent research has focused on investigating the effect of odour on pain perception and vigilance. He is the author of six books including Psychology (2000; 2004; 2006), Psychology-International edition (2006), Human Neuropsychology (2006), Essential Biological Psychology (2003) and Psychology- Study Guide (2005), and acts as consultant on olfaction for industry, business and the media. Visit the Human Olfaction Laboratory
Professor Andrew Miller was Head of the Institute for Community Development and Learning (ICDL) of the School of Health and Social Sciences at Middlesex University, until retirement in 2007. Promoting greater links between Middlesex University and its local and regional communities, the ICDL co-ordinated community-based learning opportunities for students and undertook a range of research, evaluation and consultancy work funded by the EU, Home Office, Department for Education and HEFCE.
