Post-doctoral Fellows
Joana Arantes (2012-2015 - FCT Grant)
The implicit cognition of interpersonal attraction
Current knowledge of interpersonal attraction and relationships is largely based on explicit cognition – what people say about themselves and others – which also reflects attitudes and biases that may be inaccurate. By contrast, little is known about what happens automatically and instinctively in the brain, known as implicit cognition, when someone feels attracted to another person. We propose that the implicit system has evolved as a whole to enhance reproductive success. We plan a series of six experiments to test our hypotheses that: a) fitness-related stimuli such as photos of attractive opposite-sex persons produce correlated changes in attention, memory, and timing; b) individual differences in implicit cognition predict relationship satisfaction and commitment in actual couples; c) manipulation of implicit processes can affect relationship satisfaction; and d) implicit processes are affected by cultural factors and beliefs. Our research will help to reveal the automatic and instinctive cognitive processes that underlie interpersonal attraction.
The implicit cognition of interpersonal attraction
Current knowledge of interpersonal attraction and relationships is largely based on explicit cognition – what people say about themselves and others – which also reflects attitudes and biases that may be inaccurate. By contrast, little is known about what happens automatically and instinctively in the brain, known as implicit cognition, when someone feels attracted to another person. We propose that the implicit system has evolved as a whole to enhance reproductive success. We plan a series of six experiments to test our hypotheses that: a) fitness-related stimuli such as photos of attractive opposite-sex persons produce correlated changes in attention, memory, and timing; b) individual differences in implicit cognition predict relationship satisfaction and commitment in actual couples; c) manipulation of implicit processes can affect relationship satisfaction; and d) implicit processes are affected by cultural factors and beliefs. Our research will help to reveal the automatic and instinctive cognitive processes that underlie interpersonal attraction.
Flávia Santos (2013-2016 - FCT Grant)
Working memory and psychopathological traits
Working Memory (WM) deficit is present in different mental disorders, and, possibly in subclinical states, usually not diagnosed. WM performance could be an important "marker” in subclinical states. Epidemiological perspective could determine from diverse psychopathological conditions, which one disrupts more WM networks, and whether WM is more sensitive for specific psychopathological traits in subclinical states. The main objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between working memory and subclinical states of diverse mental disorder in undergraduate students by using self-report screening scales, interview, and cognitive performance as prospective case-control study, with subjects assessed in two moments: baseline and after 1 year. The study will compare Brazilian and Portuguese samples considering that both are Portuguese speakers but the first is a developing country and the second a developed country in order to verify the influence of environment and socioeconomic factors on the WM performance and its association with psychopathological traits.
Working memory and psychopathological traits
Working Memory (WM) deficit is present in different mental disorders, and, possibly in subclinical states, usually not diagnosed. WM performance could be an important "marker” in subclinical states. Epidemiological perspective could determine from diverse psychopathological conditions, which one disrupts more WM networks, and whether WM is more sensitive for specific psychopathological traits in subclinical states. The main objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between working memory and subclinical states of diverse mental disorder in undergraduate students by using self-report screening scales, interview, and cognitive performance as prospective case-control study, with subjects assessed in two moments: baseline and after 1 year. The study will compare Brazilian and Portuguese samples considering that both are Portuguese speakers but the first is a developing country and the second a developed country in order to verify the influence of environment and socioeconomic factors on the WM performance and its association with psychopathological traits.