Neural, behavioural, and cognitive mechanisms involved in social cognition (e.g. faces, emotional expressions, eye gaze, intentionality, and theory of mind), and how these may differ in people with various psychiatric conditions including autism and anxiety.
RESEARCH PROPOSAL - You must write your own research proposal on this topic. See our website at http://www.bath.ac.uk/study/pg/programmes/mphi-psyc for further details.
Funding Notes:
Dr Ashwin will now consider applications for Entry 2013 from those applicants who are happy to compete for University and Graduate School funding or obtain external funding. Funding is difficult to obtain and highly competitive. You are responsible for researching sources of funding early (in some cases up to 12 months in advance) and applying (in conjunction with your agreed supervisor) for as many as possible. Please see the webpages at http://www.bath.ac.uk/hss/graduate-school/pgr-scholarships-studentships.html for further details.
References:
Ashwin, C., Ricciardelli, P. and Baron-Cohen, S., 2009. Positive and negative gaze perception in autism spectrum conditions. Social Neuroscience, 4 (2), pp. 153-164.
Ashwin, E., Ashwin, C., Rhydderch, D., Howells, J. and Baron-Cohen, S., 2009. Eagle-eyed visual acuity: an experimental investigation of enhanced perception in autism. Biological Psychiatry, 65 (1), pp. 17-21.
Ashwin, C., Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., O'Riordan, M. and Bullmore, E. T., 2007. Differential activation of the amygdala and the 'social brain' during fearful face-processing in Asperger Syndrome. Neuropsychologia, 45 (1), pp. 2-14.
Ashwin, C., Wheelwright, S. and Baron-Cohen, S., 2006. Attention bias to faces in Asperger Syndrome: a pictorial emotion Stroop study. Psychological Medicine, 36 (6), pp. 835-843.
Ashwin, C., Chapman, E., Colle, L. and Baron-Cohen, S., 2006. Impaired recognition of negative basic emotions in autism: A test of the amygdala theory. Social Neuroscience, 1 (3-4), pp. 349-363.
Ashwin, C., Wheelwright, S. J., & Baron-Cohen, S. (2006). Finding a face in the crowd: Testing the anger superiority effect in autism. Brain and Cognition, 61(1), 78-95.
Ashwin, C. Wheelwright, S. & Baron-Cohen, S. (2005). Laterality biases to chimeric faces in Asperger Syndrome: What's 'right' about face processing? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 35(2), 183-196.
Welchew, D.E., Ashwin, C., Berkouk, K., Salvador, R., Suckling, J., Baron-Cohen, S., Bullmore, E. (2005). Functional disconnectivity of the medial temporal lobe in Asperger's Syndrome. Biological Psychiatry, 57(9), 991-998.