Mark Fenske, PhD, is a cognitive-neuroscientist and Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Guelph. His research combines neuroimaging and psychophysiology techniques with studies of human thought and behaviour to examine factors that are critical for healthy cognitive and emotional functioning. His writing, teaching, and public speaking are likewise aimed at helping others understand that learning a bit about the brain can be helpful in enhancing performance and well-being. Dr. Fenske’s efforts to translate scientific findings and make them accessible to the public at large includes the bestselling book, ‘The Winner’s Brain: 8 Strategies Great Minds Use to Achieve Success’ and his popular ‘Better Brain’ column, which regularly appeared in the Globe & Mail.
Graduate Students
Elizabeth Clancy
My research investigates the impact of attention on emotional and social perception of stimuli and how this ultimately alters outcomes during subsequent decision making, motivational behaviours and future hedonic experiences. I consider how these effects apply to social-emotional perceptions of others, to sexual arousal responses, and to cognitive-flexibility via task-switching.
Michelle Dollois
My research is focused on investigating how strategies for attention and memory can be observed in physiological change; with special focus on the behavioural costs of anticipation and preparation, and stimulus-locked shifts in heart rate and respiration. I am also exploring what cues are used when making memory predictions. Currently, we are manipulating motoric fluency to see how the procedural memory associated with an item can influence the impressions we have of our future memory.
Niyatee Narkar
I am interested in better understanding how changes in the breadth of attention are linked to affective responses.
Brooke Pardy
I am interested in exploring individual difference factors within the devaluation-by-inhibition effect. In particular, my research examines the role of memory and attention in underlying the degree to which an individual devalues inhibited stimuli.
Carson Rumble-Tricker
My research is focused on how individual differences in boredom proneness, mind-wandering and attentional difficulties are linked to experiences of effortful listening.
