Our research

Dedicated to enhancing the understanding and management of mental health and physical health outcomes, we are world leaders in research on:

• mechanisms and classification of psychopathology
• hoarding and anxiety disorders
• digital interventions
• sleep health
• body image
• adjustment to various chronic health conditions.

Spanning the spectrum of basic and applied research designs, our research methodologies include animal models, experimental paradigms, longitudinal surveys, meta-analyses, qualitative interviews, co-design, clinical trials and implementation science.

Our impactful research has informed the development of theoretical models, psychological interventions, service implementation and public health policies.

As a  national leader in cognitive science, perceptual and computational psychology, the School of Psychological Sciences has research expertise in:

• cognitive neuroscience
• sleep neuroscience
• memory
• attention
• decision-making
• language
• reading
• time
• face and multisensory perception
• taste and smell
• motor control
• computational modelling
• artificial-intelligence
• human-machine systems.

Our researchers use a broad range of cutting-edge methodologies and technologies – including neurocognitive, physiological, eye- and motion-tracking, augmented and virtual reality, and robotics.

These are used to unravel and model the cognitive and perceptual processes that underpin both every day and complex human behaviours, as well as uncover new ways to enhance and augment human cognitive capacity and performance.

We conduct innovative research aimed at understanding and improving emotional health and wellbeing across the lifespan. Our interdisciplinary researchers investigate factors underlying:

• reading disorders
• mental disorders (including anxiety, depression and related disorders)
• sleep and circadian disorders
• health-related conditions from childhood to older adulthood.

We also investigate the normal impacts of ageing on cognition, reading, emotion regulation, social connections and workforce participation (retirement).

Our findings inform educational and clinical practice and the development of treatment programs targeting various age groups. We use research methods including:

• computational models
• clinical trials
• psychometric methods
• neuropsychological testing
• eye movement analysis
• psychophysiological measurement
• surveys, interviews and focus groups.

We conduct cutting-edge research in clinical and cognitive neuroscience and biopsychology, investigating the intersection between mind, body and brain, and seeking to understand how biological processes shape human behaviour and wellbeing.

Our research utilises an array of techniques including:

• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• magnetoencephalography (MEG)
• electroencephalogram (EEG)
• functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)
• psychopharmacology
• modern neuroscience techniques such as optogenetics and chemogenetics that allow manipulation of discrete pathways in the brain.

By combining these with complex and validated behavioural tasks, we can examine the neural and physiological mechanisms underlying cognition, perception, attention, motor control, emotion, eating and appetite, development, ageing, and neurological and neurodegenerative disease.

Our researchers explore the dynamics of human and team behaviour within the realm of work and organisations.

Organisational psychology and human factors are varied fields with diverse applications drawing from all areas of psychology, to  advance our understanding of:

• effective leadership
• the development and maintenance of expertise
• why accidents happen
• enhancing performance and selection
• how to ensure individuals and teams are resilient
• occupational health
• safety organisational psychology.

By creatively integrating technologies like simulation and virtual reality, we collaborate with diverse organisations, including defence, emergency and essential services (eg healthcare), to optimise their performance.

Exploring how individuals’ thoughts, feelings and behaviours are influenced by the actual or imagined presence of others is foundational of psychological science. Our school has a strong history of conducted world-leading research on:

• social cognition
• attitudes, prejudice and discrimination
• stigmatisation, group dynamics and interpersonal relationships
• body image, desire and disgust, using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

The University’s state-of-the-art facilities enable cutting-edge research using experimental and naturalistic designs, with our researchers often collaborating with government organisations, communities and other institutions to translate research findings into real-world solutions.