Dr Jessica Ann Diaz
Lecturer in Psychology | Leader of the EEG and Development Research Lab | Deputy Course Lead MSc Psychology
- Email:
- Jessica.Diaz@bcu.ac.uk
- Phone:
- 0121 331 4051
Dr Jessica A. Diaz is a lecturer in Psychology with a particular interest in cognitive neuroscience, focusing on human perceptual learning and neural plasticity, decision-making, and cognitive development. She also has an interest in how the brain processes numerical information and how this could link to dyscalculia.
Jessy received a Licenciatura in Psychology from the Autonomous University of Madrid and a Masters’s in Clinical Psychology from the same University. Then she did a MSc in Brain Imaging and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Nottingham. This was followed by a PhD in Computational Neuroscience and Psychology from the Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of Glasgow supervised by Professor Marios Philiastides.
After completing her PhD, she worked as an interim lecturer at Nottingham Trent University. Between 2018 and 2022, she was a Post-Doctoral Researcher Fellow in Computational Neuroscience at the School of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Leeds with Dr. Ioannis Delis.
Areas of Expertise
- EEG
- Neural and Behavioural Data Science
- Perceptual Learning and Decision Making
- Multisensory Integration over the lifespan
- Cognitive Development – Dyscalculia
Qualifications
- PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology. At the Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology. The University of Glasgow.
- MSc in Brain Imaging and Cognitive Neuroscience (with distinction). The University of Nottingham.
- Master’s in Clinical Psychology (60 credits). Autonomous University of Madrid. (Overall grade point average 95%).
- Licenciatura (BSc and MSc) in Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid (Overall grade point average in the 97th percentile, final degree-stage 5 grade point average in the 99th percentile).
Additional training
- Sign-language interpreting in mental health settings. 30 hour training course by Spanish Society for Mental Health and Deafness.
- Theoretical and practical training for working with people with autism spectrum disorder. 100 hours of training by Centre for Applied Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid.
- Spanish Sign Language. Official qualification at Levels I, II and III. 384 hours of training by Deafness Association of Madrid.
Memberships
- Honorary Treasurer of the Mathematical, Statistical, and Computing section of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
- Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol), British Psychological Society (BPS).
- Member of British Psychological Society sections (BPS): Developmental Psychology; Mathematical, Statistical, and Computing; Neuropsychology.
- Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA).
Teaching
- Module leadership of The Applied Psychology of Child and Adolescent Development (PSY7077) - Level 7
- Module leadership of the MSc Psychology Dissertation (PSY7057) - Level 7
- Module leadership of Quantitative Research Methods (PSY7049) - Level 7
- Guest Lectures: Neuropsychology (PSY5047) Level 5; Brain and Cognition (PSY7054) Level 7
Research
Jessy’s general research interest is in cognitive neuroscience and psychology. The main objective of her work is to develop a theoretical and experimental framework for the study of the neural signatures of human decision making, especially in the context of perceptual learning and cognitive development. In particular, she uses the theoretical framework of sequential sampling models and the experimental paradigm of measuring temporal EEG components. This approach can provide an effective and comprehensive means to address open questions with respect to human perceptual and cognition over the lifespan, including:
- What are the neural signatures of the role of prior expectations in perceptual learning in decision-making?
- How does the human brain develop mathematical abilities and what is its neural basis, and whether the Approximate Number System (ANS) is one of the cognitive basis of numerical ability?
- How does multisensory integration change over the lifespan? How do the temporal dynamics of perceptual learning and decision-making change from childhood to adulthood?
Postgraduate Supervision
Training advisor to PhD students Joshua Bolam, Shaikha Sultan. University of Leeds. Both have completed their PhDs.
Feel free to contact Jessica if you are interested in doing a PhD.
Research Assistants Supervision
- PhD student Ethan Mayers.
- PhD Student Richard Bipp.
- PhD Student Ben Hopkins.
Publications
- Diaz, J. A, Pisauro,A. Philiastides, M & Delis, I. (2024). Prior probability biases perceptual choices by modulating the interpretation, rather than the baseline, of decision evidence. 2024; 2 1–19. doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/imag_a_00338
- Bolam J, Diaz J. A., Andrews M, Coats RO, Philiastides MG, Astill SL, Delis I. (2024) A drift diffusion model analysis of age-related impact on multisensory decision-making processes. Sci Rep. 2024 Jun 28;14(1):14895. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-65549-5
- Diaz, J. A. & Queirazza, F. & Philiastides, M. (2017) Perceptual learning alters post-sensory processing in human decision-making Nature Human Behaviour, 1, 0035. (doi: 10.1038/s41562-016-0035). This paper was given an editorial introduction in the same edition of Nature Human Behaviour by Sasaki, Watanabe: When perceptual learning occurs.
In Preparation
- Diaz, J. A, Birmpas, K,Astill,S.L, & Delis. (in preparation). The Impact of Lifespan Development on Multisensory Decision-Making: A Drift Diffusion Model Analysis.
- Diaz, J. A, Andrews, M (in preparation). The Neural Signatures of the Approximate Number System with adults: Insights from EEG Analysis.
- Diaz, J. A, Pisauro, A & Delis, I. (in preparation). A Drift Diffusion Model Analysis of Neural Signatures in the Approximate Number System.
- Birmpas, K, Diaz,J.A, Astill,S.L, Philiastides, M.G & Delis, I. (in preparation). Spatiotemporal characterisation of multisensory perceptual learning in the human brain.
- Diaz, J. A. (2018) The Neural Correlates of the Influence of Learning on Perceptual Decision Making. PhD Thesis. University of Glasgow.
Research Grants and Awards
- Birmingham City University Start-Up Grant. Principal investigator (Diaz, J. A, 2024). Uncovering the Neural Signature of the Approximate Number System in Children: Insights from a Novel EEG Analytic Method.
- Birmingham City University Start-Up Grant. Principal investigator (Diaz, J. A, 2024). The Neural Signatures of the Approximate Number System: An EEG Analysis.
- I was named investigator on a grant (Diaz, J. A, 2013) (Ref. CTINV041/11) worth 21K given to the National Distance Education University (UNED). Effective socio-educational intervention strategies with adolescents at risk of social exclusion.
Book Chapters
- Diaz, J. A. Introduction to EEG: Insights and Brief Applications in Neuroscience and Business (under review, 2024). Encyclopedia for Business and Neuroscience.
- Andrews, M, Diaz, J. A. & Bolam, J. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence & Neuroscience. (under review, 2024). Encyclopedia for Business and Neuroscience.
- Philiastides, M. & Diaz, J. A. & Gherman, S. (2016). Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Modulators or Perceptual Decision-Making in the Human Brain in Dreher, J., &Tremblay, L., (eds) Decision Neuroscience: An Integrative Perspective.
Books
- Diaz, J. collaborating author on Melendro, M. (2014). Estrategias eficaces de Intervencion socioeducativa con adolescentes en riesgo de exclusion.13 UNED Press. This book was based on studies using qualitative data analysis.
- Diaz, J. collaborating author on Melendro, M. (2007). Estrategias educativas con adolescents y jóvenes en dificultad social.14 UNED Press. This book was based on studies using qualitative data analysis.
Oral Conference Presentations
- Diaz, J.A, Andrews, M, Delis, I. (2024).The Neural Signatures of the Approximate Number System with adults: An EEG Analysis. BACN Cognitive Neuroscience Conference University of London, 2024.
- Diaz, J.A. & Delis, I., Philiastides, M. (2022) Prior Expectation Influences on Perceptual Decision Making. Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Glasgow.
- Diaz, J.A. & Andrews, M. (2019) The Approximate Number System and Mathematical Achievement: A Drift Diffusion Model Analysis. British Psychological Society’s Cognitive and Developmental Psychology Conference, Stoke-on-Trent.
- Diaz, J.A. & Philiastides, M. (2017) Perceptual learning alters post-sensory processing in human decision-making. Barcelona Young Neuroscientists symposium (BYNS), University of Barcelona.
- Diaz, J.A. & Philiastides, M. (2014) The Nature and Neural Locus of Perceptual Learning. iCog conference 2014. Perspectives on Learning. Informatics Forum, University of Edinburgh.
Poster Conference Presentations
- Diaz,J.A, Pisauro,A. Philiastides, M & Delis, I.(2024).Prior probability biases perceptual choices by modulating the accumulation rate, rather than the baseline, of decision evidence. UK Neural Computation, University of Sheffield.
- Birma’s K, Bolam JW, Diaz JA, Jiang Z, Astill SL, Philiastides MG, Delis,I. (2024). Spatiotemporal characterisation of multisensory perceptual learning in the human brain. UK Neural Computation, University of Sheffield.
- Delis, I., Diaz, J.A., Philiastides, M. (2022) Prior probability affects the drift rate, not the starting point, of evidence accumulation in perceptual decision making. British Association for Cognitive Neuroscience, Birmingham.
- Diaz, J.A. & Philiastides, M. (2017) Prior Expectation Influences Perceptual Learning in Human decision-making -Using Drift Diffusion Models. EEG Cutting, Cutting-Edge Methods for EEG Research on Cognition. University of Glasgow.
- Diaz, J.A. & Philiastides, M. (2015) Perceptual learning affects post-sensory processing on a visual decision making task. Society of Neuroscience (SfN), Chicago, IL.
- Diaz, J.A. & Philiastides, M. (2015) The Nature and Neural Local of Perceptual Learning. Cutting EEG, Cutting-Edge Methods for EEG Research on Cognition. Humboldt University, Berlin.
- Almendros, C., Gámez-Guadix, M., Carrobles, J.A., Díaz, J., Muñoz, M. (2011). Religion related disciplinary practices among people born in isolated authoritarian groups. European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (EABCT), 41st Annual Congress.
Work With Industry
- Clinical Child Psychologist (2011/2012), 3-Olivos Education Center in collaboration with Centre for Applied Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid. Work focused on the psychometric evaluation of the general intelligence of deaf, autistic, and gifted children with observation in the classrooms and interviewing the parents.
- Social Worker, Opción3 (2009-2011). The work focused on the social integration of psychologically high-risk adolescents. This work was coordinated in a multidisciplinary team.