May 8, 2025 at 3:45pm (MEZ - in Person)
Title: Reading Novel Words: Does Context Matter?
Speaker: Vera Heyer (Department of English Linguistics, Braunschweig University; invited by Leigh Fernandez)
Abstract: Despite its low phoneme-to-grapheme correspondence, the English spelling system is more systematic than often assumed: It is ‘morpho-graphic’ (Berg & Aronoff, 2017) in that affixes are spelt in a consistent way (e.g., ‹ous› for word-final /əs/ in adjectives such as famous) that distinguishes them from homophonous word endings without grammatical function (e.g., ‹us› for /əs/ in nouns such as bonus). Although these regularities are not explicitly taught, previous research has shown that native English spellers and advanced German learners of English are aware of these implicit spelling regularities and apply them to novel word spelling (Ulicheva et al., 2020; Heyer, 2021). Such novel word spelling tasks involve conscious decision-making with a focus on the novel words, though, whereas eye-tracking during reading allows to tap into more unconscious processing. In this talk, I will present results from an eye-tracking study investigating if German learners’ reading is slowed down when encountering novel words with morpho-graphic endings (e.g., blapous) in incongruent versus congruent contexts (i.e., noun vs. adjective contexts).
Location: RPTU - Campus Kaiserslautern, Building 57, Room 508
OR
Zoom Link: https://uni-kl-de.zoom-x.de/j/64107741944?pwd=2imb1VMxDc2mcvq6NWQNabNE4SwhGG.1
May 15, 2025 at 2pm (PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TIME AND LOCATION HAVE CHANGED)
Title: Understanding oscillatory sampling mechanisms and related dysfunction in neurodevelopmental conditions
Speaker: Luca Ronconi (Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, Trento University; invited by Thomas Lachmann)
Abstract: Many aspects of our perception and cognition, such as motion processing, reading, visuo-motor coordination, and speech recognition, rely on sampling mechanisms that determine the delicate balance between integration and segregation of sensory information across space, time and senses. Proper sampling is essential to creating stable and interpretable representations and is influenced by higher-level cognitive factors like attention and prediction. Oscillatory brain activity is increasingly recognized as a core mechanism for such active sampling. However, the precise relationship between neural oscillations in specific frequency bands, the underlying brain networks, and the efficiency (or inefficiency) of sampling processes remains far to be clarified. I will present recent studies where we employed psychophysics, eye-tracking, electro-(EEG)/magneto-(MEG) encephalography and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to understand such complex relationships better and to explore the derailments of sampling mechanisms in neurodevelopmental conditions like developmental dyslexia (DD), autism spectrum disorders and schizotypy. As essential evidence is accumulating to reach a better model of sensorimotor sampling that supports complex perceptual and cognitive functions, I will also present potential clinical applications for the rehabilitation of DD, showing results from a recent randomized clinical trial testing a multi-focal tACS protocol designed to improve visuospatial sampling in dyslexia.
Location: RPTU - Campus Kaiserslautern, Building 86, Room 104
OR
Zoom Link: https://uni-kl-de.zoom-x.de/j/64107741944?pwd=2imb1VMxDc2mcvq6NWQNabNE4SwhGG.1
June 5, 2025 at 3:45pm (MEZ - in Person)
Title: The organization of object space in the brain: Dimensions vs categories
Speaker: Hans Op de Beck (Research Unit Brain and Cognition - KU Leuven; invited by Thomas Lachmann)
Abstract: Decades ago, the first category-selective region in the human brain was described: The fusiform face area. Afterwards, neuroimaging studies have uncovered a complex landscape of focal and distributed selectivity in lateral occipital and ventral occipitotemporal cortex, with some apparent discrepancies in terms of what the primary organizational principles are. I will discuss how we can explain the organization of this large brain region in terms of the interplay of multiple factors such as visual statistics, computational constraints, and behavioral goals. Together, these factors once again point to visual categories as important anchor points to understand the representation of object space in the human brain. Empirical studies that dissociate category membership from other relevant features and dimensions support this primary role of category selectivity.
Location: RPTU - Campus Kaiserslautern, Building 57, Room 508
OR
Zoom Link: https://uni-kl-de.zoom-x.de/j/64107741944?pwd=2imb1VMxDc2mcvq6NWQNabNE4SwhGG.1
June 26, 2025 at 3:45pm (MEZ - in Person)
Title: Mini Conference - Cognitive Science
Speaker: Master students from Cognitive Science
Abstract: Talks and poster presentations from various labrotations
Location: RPTU - Campus Kaiserslautern, Building 57, Room 315
July 03, 2025 at 3:45pm (MEZ - in Person)
Title: Mini Conference - Cognitive Science
Speaker: Master students from Cognitive Science
Abstract: Talks ans poster presentations from various labrotations
Location: RPTU - Campus Kaiserslautern, Building 57, Room 315