Dr Jason J Braithwaite
Qualifications: Lancaster University: Psychology BSc (Hons): Birmingham University: PhD Cognitive Psychology / Neuroscience
Position: Birmingham Senior Research Fellow (RCUK)
Telephone Number: Not Listed
Email: j.j.braithwaite@bham.ac.uk
Research Interests
Research Interests: (Selective Attention, Awareness, Consciousness)
My central research interests are in the fields of Visual Cognition, Cognitive Neuropsychology and Visual Cognitive Neuroscience. More specifically, I am interested in the role of visual selective attention in visual awareness. Much of my work has revolved around using visual search techniques to investigate instances of 'sustained inattentional-blindness' to new information as a function of the information observers are currently ignoring - thus extending our investigations over both space and time. These findings have important implications for contemporary models of attention, selection and awareness in both the normal and damaged brain.
Research Interests: (Perspective taking)
During normal perceptual experience the brain is capable of constructing a number of perspective-based representations based in differing frames-of reference (i.e., egocentric, allocentric, exocentric). With colleagues (Dr Dana Samson & Dr Ian Apperly) we are investigating the processes of how we adopt the visual perspective of others in order to imagine and reason about the world from their point of view (perspective taking).
Research Interests: (Hallucination / Anomalous Cognition / Delusions)
Studying the brain and cognition when it goes wrong has been a helpful approach to both neuropsychology (i.e., brain-damaged patients) and clinical neurophysiology (i.e., experiences associated with schizophrenia, pathologies, illness etc). Similarly, investigating instances of anomalous cognition in normal observers can be very revealing for brain-models of behaviour. I am interested in many aspects in relation to hallucinations / delusions in both the normal population and patient groups. I am also interested in the cognitive neuroscience of strange experiences, with particular reference to Out-of-Body Experiences (OBEs), Near-Death Experiences (NDEs), the "Sensed presence", breakdowns in Self-monitoring, Reality Discrimination, Anomalous beliefs, Visual Aura etc. Just what can the strange experience tell us about the normal functioning of the human brain?"
Prospective research students
I welcome enquiries from potential students who are interested in pursuing projects in the area of visual cognition, visual attention, and awareness. I am happy to supervise research projects for final-year undergraduates, Mres students and invite students interested in pursuing a PhD to discuss such possibilities. Potential projects could be in the field of visual cognition and / or anomalous cognition.
Laboratory
I run the Selective Attention & Awareness Laboratory (SAAL) which is fully equipped with the latest high-speed computer hardware, high-quality colour CRT montiors, and the latest software for running psychological experiments (including E-prime / Presentation / DMDX / Matlab / C++). Through collaborations within the department eye-movement trackers and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation coils are available. In collaboration with Prof Glyn Humphreys I have access to an extensive brain-danaged patient population for neuropsychological investigations.
Current PhD research students
Lucy Andrews (funded by the ESRC 3+1 studentship)
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Recent Awards / Fellowships / grants received
BBSRC Awarded Jan 2009 {Jointly with Prof Humphreys} visual search in 4D - an fMRI study (£625,324)
Experimental Psychology Society - Awarded Jan 2009 - EEG and visual attention (£2000)
Grant (Birmingham University: awarded 2006) with Dana Samson & Ian Apperly on Perspective Taking and Self-perspective inhibition in normal participants and brain-damaged patients (£3000).
Roberts 5-year Senior Research Fellowship, Awarded 2005. How the brain represents and selects visual information for awareness
British Academy Grant 2004 (£4854): salary costs for part-time Research Assistant). Visual selection over space and time.
British Academy 3-year Postdoctoral Fellowship 2003-2006. Perceptual organisation and attentional selection over space and time
ESRC 1 year Postdoctoral Fellowship 2002-2003. (£26,000). Spatio-temporal aspects of visual attention
Current post
Senior Roberts Research Fellow (RCUK)
Previous post(s)
British Academy Research Fellow
Economic and Social Research Council Research fellow
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Publications
Recent selected publications (Peer-reviewed):
Braithwaite, J.J. (2002) Visual search in space and time: Where attention and inattention collide? PhD Thesis, University of Birmingham.
Braithwaite, J.J., Hulleman, J., Samson, D., Apperly, I. (submitted) Cognitive Correlates of the Out-of-Body-Experience (OBE) in the Psychologically Normal Population: Evidence for a Role of Temporal-lobe Instability and Body-distortion Processing. Cortex
Braithwaite, J.J., Hulleman, J., Andrews, L., & Humphreys, G.W. (in press) Measuring the Spread of Spreading Suppression: A Time-course Analysis of Spreading Suppression and its Impact on Attentional Selection Vision Research.
Braithwaite, J.J. & Humphreys, G. W., (2003) Inhibition and anticipation in visual search: Evidence from preview search for color defined static items. Perception & Psychophysics, 65 (2), 213-237.
Braithwaite, J.J., & Humphreys, G.W. (2007) Filtering Items of Mass Distraction: Top-down Biases against distractors are Necessary for the Feature-based Carry-over to Occur. Vision Research, 47, 1570-1583.
Braithwaite, J.J., Humphreys, G.W., & Hodsoll, J. (2003) Color grouping in space and time: Evidence from negative color-based carry-over effects in preview search. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 29,(4), 758-778.
Braithwaite, J.J., Humphreys, G.W., & Hodsoll, J. (2004) Effects of colour on preview search: Anticipatory and inhibitory biases for colour. Spatial Vision: 17,(4-5), 389-425.
Braithwaite, J.J., Humphreys, G.W., & Hulleman, J (2005) Color-based grouping and inhibition in visual search: Evidence from a probe-detection analysis of preview search. Perception & Psychophysics, 67 (1), 81-101.
Braithwaite, J.J., Humphreys., G.W., Hulleman, J, & Watson, D.G. (2007) Early color grouping and late color inhibition: Evidence for distinct temporal windows for separate processes in preview search. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance, 33 (3), 503-517.
Braithwaite, J. J., Hulleman, J., Watson, D. G., & Humphreys, G. W. (2006). Is it impossible to inhibit isoluminant items or does it simply take longer? Evidence from preview search. Perception & Psychophysics, 68(2), 290-300.
Braithwaite, J.J., Humphreys, G.W., Watson, D.G. (in press) Amplified effects of color at isoluminance: Vision Research.
Braithwaite, J. J., Humphreys, G. W., Watson, D. G., & Hulleman, J. (2005). Revisiting preview search benefits at isoluminance: New onsets are not necessary for the preview advantage. Perception & Psychophysics, 67(7), 1214-1228.
Humphreys, G.W., Braithwaite, J.J., Olivers, C.N.L., & Watson, D.G. (2004) Dynamic uses of memory in visual search over time and space. In H. Nobotu & C. McLeod (Eds.), Dynamic processes in memory. New York: Academic Press.
Humphreys, G.W., Olivers, C.N.L., & Braithwaite, J.J. (2006) The time course of preview search with colour defined, not luminance defined, stimuli. Perception & Psychophysics, 68, (8), 1351-1358
Delvenne, J.F., Braithwaite, J.J., Riddoch, M.J., & Humphreys, G.W. (2003) Capacity limits in visual short-term memory for local orientations. Current Psychology of Cognition. 21(6), 685-696
Hodsoll, J., Humphreys, G.W., & Braithwaite, J.J. (2006) Dissociating similarity, salience, and top-down processes in search for linearly-separable size targets. Perception & Psychophysics, 68, (4), 558-570.
Kunar, M.A., Braithwaite, J.J., & Humphreys, G.W. (2002) Endogenous inhibitory control of selection: Evidence from preview search. Psicologica, 23, 347-350.
Olivers, C.N.L., Humphreys, G.W., & Braithwaite, J.J. (2006) The preview search task: Evidence for visual marking. Visual Cognition, 14 (4-8), 716-735.
Samson, D, Apperly, I.A., Braithwaite, J.J., Andrews, B.J., & Bodley Scott, S.E. (in press) Seeing it their way: What other people see is calculated by low-level and early acting processes. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance
Watson, D.G., Braithwaite, J.J. & Humphreys, G.W. (2008). Resisting change: The influence of luminance changes on visual marking and the preview benefit. Perception & Psychophysics, 70, 1526-1539.
Other peer-reviewed publications
Braithwaite, J. J. (2008). Towards a cognitive neuroscience of the dying brain. The [UK] Skeptic, 21(2), 8-16.
Braithwaite, J.J. (2008) Putting Magnetism in its Place: A Critical Examination of the Weak-Intensity Magnetic field Account for Anomalous Haunt-type Experiences. Journal For the Society of Psychical Research.
Braithwaite, J.J, & Townsend, M (2008) Sleeping With the Entity; Part II: Temporally Complex Distortions in the Magnetic field from Human Movement in a Bed Located in an English Castles Reputedly Haunted Bedroom. European Journal of Parapsychology. 23.1, 90-126.
Braithwaite, J.J. (2006) Using digital magnetometry to quantify anomalous magnetic fields associated with spontaneous strange experiences: The magnetic anomaly detection system (M.A.D.S). Journal of Parapsychology,69(1) 151-171.
Braithwaite, J.J., & Townsend, M. (2006) Good vibrations: The case for a specific effect of infrasound in instances of anomalous experience has yet to be empirically demonstrated. Journal for the Society of Psychical Research, 70 (885), pp211-224.
Braithwaite, J. J., Perez-Aquino, K., & Townsend, M. (2005). In search of magnetic anomalies associated with haunt-type experiences: Pulses and patterns in dual time-synchronized measurements. Journal of Parapsychology, 68(2), 255-288.
Braithwaite, J.J., & Townsend, M. (2005) Sleeping with the entity: A quantitative magnetic investigation of an English castle's reputedly haunted bedroom. European Journal of Parapsychology. 20.1, 65-78.
Braithwaite, J.J. (2004) Magnetic variances associated with haunt-type experiences: A comparison using time-synchronised baseline measurements. European Journal of Parapsychology. 19, 3-28
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Presentations / Conferences
Andrews, L. & Braithwaite, J.J. (2008) An increased role for feature-based inhibition in failures of awareness under dynamic search conditions. Paper presented at the 25th Anniversary British Psychology Society, Cognitive Section, Southampton University.
Braithwaite, J.J. (2008) Are inhibitory processes implicated in failures of awareness? Presentation given at the Cognitive Neuroscience Conference, Birmingham University.
Braithwaite, J.J., & Humphreys, G.W. (2007) Filtering items of mass distraction: Top-down biases directed against distracting information are necessary for the feature-based carry-over to occur. Poster presented at the joint Experimental Psychology Society & Psychonomic Society metting. Edinburgh, UK.
Braithwaite, J.J., & Humphreys, G.W. (2006) Negative impacts from the successful filtering of irrelevant items: The necessary role of top-down processes for inhibitory carry-over effects in search. Experimental Psychology Society meeting. Birmingham University, UK.
Braithwaite, J.J. (2004) Group-based and feature-based inhibition: Further evidence from a probe detection analysis of preview search. Experimental Psychology Society meeting. Lancaster University, UK.
Braithwaite, J.J. (2003) Inhibitory coding in preview search. Experimental Psychology Society workshop on the Cognitive Neuroscience of Selective Attention. Wales, UK.
Braithwaite, J.J., Humphreys, G.W., & Hulleman, J (2003) Probing Distractor Inhibition in Preview Search: A role for grouping and inhibition revealed via a luminance probe technique. Experimental Psychology Society meeting, Reading, UK.
Braithwaite, J.J., Humphreys, G.W., & Hodsoll, J (2002) Colour grouping in space and time: Evidence from negative colour-based carry-over effects in preview search. Presented at the Experimental Psychology Society meeting, Leuven, Belgium.
Braithwaite, J.J. & Humphreys, G.W. (2000) Ignoring colour in visual search: Inattentional insights from the preview search paradigm. Presentation at the Chaos 2000 conference, Skipton, England.
Samson, D., Apperly, I, Braithwaite, J.J., & Andrews, B. (2007) Seeing others makes us less egocentric. Talk presented at the joint Experimental Psychology Society & Psychonomic Society metting. Edinburgh, UK.
Watson, D.G., Humphreys, G.W., Braithwaite, J.J. (2006) Time-based visual selection: Effects of luminance changes to old stimuli. Experimental Psychology Society meeting. Birmingham University, UK.
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Teaching Responsibilities
PhD supervision
MRes - supervision
Undergraduate project supervision
Visual Search Workshop (Level 1: Cognitive Psychology)
Level 3 (3rd Year) module: Hallucinations & Delusions in the Normal, Pathological and Clinical Population.
Critical thinking lectures (Level 1);
Critical Thinking: Student learning resources
I have developed a Critical Thinking portal under WebCT for University students who want to develop their reasoning skills. This is available to all undergradutes, Mres students and PhD students (via their WebCT login pages). One of the documents I have complied is provided here (a 16-page introductory document). This is a useful resource to help readers get started in developing their critical thinking skills.
Braithwaite, J.J. (2006) Critical Thinking, Reason & Logic: A Practical Guide for Students and Academics (download below)
I have also written a more general document on common mistakes of reason. The paper discusses mistakes of reason, mind traps, and some logical fallacies common to belief systems and pseudoscience. These are commonly touted as an argument against science as a viable system of knowledge. This is a useful and accessible resource for students who are keen to develop their critical thinking skills. The best way to learn how to be good at evaluating arguments and developing your own views is to start by looking at bad arguments and identifying why they fail as viable scientific accounts.
Braithwaite, J.J. (2006) Seven Fallacies of Thought and Reason: Common Errors in Reasoning and Argument from Pseudoscience (download below).
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I support the promotion of Psychology, Neuroscience and Science in the public domain. I have written accessible documents in this area (some are provided below) and provide student resources and lectures on critical thinking / scientific reasoning.
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Critical Thinking, Reason & Logic: A Practical Guide for Students and Academics
Seven Fallacies of Thought and Reason: Common Errors in Reasoning and Argument from Pseudoscience
