This project is no longer listed in the FindAPhD database
and may not be available.
We make so many decisions during our day-today lives. Some decisions are of the utmost importance whereas some don't feel like decisions at all. Research within psychology, economics and neuroscience continues to uncover the mysteries of what processes underlie our decision-making processes and, furthermore, understanding why one individual may make completely different decisions to another. As making decisions form a significant part of our day-to-day lives, this research has wide ranging impact.
This PhD project will explore the processes underlying decision-mkaing in healthy humans. There is potential to use a variety of behavioural, neuroimaging and (neuro)-psychophysiological tools in this project. Dr Hinvest's lab is interested in multiple types of decisions and work within his lab investigates temporal decision-making, decisions under risk, how particular personality traits and emotional states influence the decisions that are formed, how pre-consciously processed stimuli affect consciously made decisions, amongst other projects. You could use a variety of methodologies including EEG (specifically ERPs), fMRI, eye-tracking, physiological monitoring and behavioural testing.
You can see more details of Dr. Hinvest's work at http://www.bath.ac.uk/psychology/staff/neal-hinvest.
Our lab has at its disposal a number of research labs which contain a variety of data-gathering methodologies including EEG, ERP, GSR, EOG, EMG, eye-tracking and behavioural testing. We also have access to two Playstation 3 consoles with Playstation Move in order to conduct video-gaming research. We have access to fMRI at a neighbouring facility (funding is required to perform fMRI testing).
The Department is highly research active. See the website at http://www.bath.ac.uk/study/pg/programmes/mphi-psyc for more details about how to apply.
Funding Notes:
Dr Hinvest 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/funding/research-funding for further details.
References:
Hinvest, N.S., Elliott, R., McKie, S. & Anderson, I.M. (2011). Neural correlates of choice behaviour related to impulsivity and venturesomeness. Neuropsychologia, 49(9), 2311-2320.
Hinvest, N.S. & Anderson, I.M. (2010). The effects of real vs. hypothetical money on delay and probability discounting. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 63(6), 1072-1084.
Juhasz, G., Downey, D., Hinvest, N. et al. (2010). The infuence of the tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene on probabilistic choice: relevance to psychiatric disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology, 35(5), 1109-1119.
Rakow, T., Hinvest, N. Jackson, E., Palmer, M. (2004). Simple heuristics from the adaptive toolbox: Can we perform the requisite learning? Thinking & Reasoning, 10(1), 1-29.