Event overview
Psychology Department Research Seminars
Abstract
Through our senses we receive information that leads us to form mental representations of our own body and the space and events around it.
These mental representations impact on emotional, social, and motor functioning. Crucially, recent neuroscientific breakthroughs have shown that these mental representations are not fixed and that people can experience having a different body and being in a different environment through the use of specially designed sensory feedback.
At the intersection between the fields of neuroscience and human-computer interaction (HCI) the Hearing Body project investigates the use of sound and other sensory feedback to change people´s experiences of their body and the surrounding space, as well as its impact on emotion and action patterns.
Using interactive body tracking and sound-feedback technologies our studies have shown, for instance, that real-time alteration of walking sounds cues related to body weight results in changes in one’s represented body size, and impacts positively in walking behavior and emotional state.
The research objectives are being achieved by conducting experimental studies that combine self-report, psychophysical and psychophysiological techniques.
In addition, wearable prototypes are being iteratively designed and developed to enable a systematic study of novel applications that enhance people’s mental representations of their own physical appearance and self-efficacy in their everyday lives. The ultimate goal is to make a positive impact on emotional and physical health.
Biography
Ana Tajadura-Jiménez (atajadura@uloyola.es, a.tajadura@ucl.ac.uk) studied Telecommunications Engineering at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain.
She obtained an MSc degree in Digital Communication Systems and Technology and a PhD degree in Applied Acoustics, both at Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden. Ana was post-doctoral researcher in the Lab of Action and Body (LAB) led by Prof. Manos Tsakiris, at Royal Holloway, University of London.
In 2012 she moved to University College London Interaction Centre (UCLIC) with an ESRC Future Research Leader Fellowship and as principal investigator of the project The Hearing Body. Since last January (2016) Ana has been a Ramón y Cajal Research Fellow at Universidad Loyola Andalucía (ULA) and an Honorary Research Associate at University College London.
At ULA, she is part of the Human Neuroscience Laboratory and coordinates the research line called "Multisensory stimulation to alter the perception of body and space, emotion and motor behavior." Ana’s research is empirical and multidisciplinary, combining perspectives of psychoacoustics, neuroscience and HCI.
Dates & times
Date | Time | Add to calendar |
---|---|---|
17 Nov 2016 | 4:00pm - 5:00pm |
Accessibility
If you are attending an event and need the College to help with any mobility requirements you may have, please contact the event organiser in advance to ensure we can accommodate your needs.