Dr Jessica Ann Diaz
Lecturer in Psychology, 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. She then completed an MSc in Brain Imaging and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Nottingham. This was followed by a Ph.D. 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 Ph.D., 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 and fMRI
- Neural and Behavioural Data Science
- Perceptual Learning and Decision Making
- Multisensory Integration over the lifespan
- Cognitive Development – Dyscalculia
Qualifications
- 2018 PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology: Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology, University of Glasgow
- 2013 MSc in Brain Imaging and Cognitive Neuroscience (with distinction): University of Nottingham
- 2011 Master’s in Clinical Psychology (60 credits): Autonomous University of Madrid (Overall grade point average 95%)
- 2010 Licenciatura (BSc & MSc) in Psychology: Autonomous University of Madrid (Overall grade point average in the 97th percentile, final degree-stage5 grade point average in the 99th percentile)
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
Jessica teaches on the following modules:
- Module leadership and teaching of the MSc Psychology Dissertation (PSY7057) -Level 7
- Module leadership and teaching of Quantitative Research Methods (PSY7049) -Level 7
- Contemporary Issues and Applied Psychology -Level 4
Guest Lecture:
- Neuropsychology (PSY5047) Level 5
- Brain & 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
- PhD advisor to PhD student Richard Bipp. BCU.
- Training advisor to Ph.D. students Joshua Bolam, Shaikha Sultan. University of Leeds. Both have completed their PhD’s.
Research assistants supervision
- PhD student Ethan Mayers.
- PhD Student Richard Bipp.
- PhD Student Ben Hopkins.
Feel free to contact Jessica if you are interested in doing a PhD.
Publications
Diaz,J.A, Pisauro,A. Philiastides, M & Delis, I. (Under review). Prior probability biases perceptual choices by modulating the interpretation, rather than the baseline, of decision evidence.
Bolam, J.W, Diaz, J. A. ,Astill, L. S, Philiastides, M & Delis, I. (under review). Characterising Age-Related Impacts on Multisensory Decision-Making Processes: A Hierarchical Drift Diffusion Model Analysis.
Diaz, J, A., Birmpas, K, Bolam, J.W,. Astill, L. S, & Delis, I. (in preparation). Multisensory integration for perceptual decision-making in typically developing children.
Diaz, J. A., Andrews, M., & Delis, I. (in preparation) The Approximate Number System: A Drift Diffusion Model Analysis.
Diaz, J. A. (2018) The Neural Correlates of the Influence of Learning on Perceptual Decision Making. PhD Thesis. University of Glasgow.
Diaz, J. A. & Queirazza, F. & Philiastides, M. (2017) Perceptual learning alters post-sensory processing in human decision-making Nature Human Behaviour, 1, 0035.
This paper was given an editorial introduction in the same edition of Nature Human Behaviour by Sasaki, Watanabe: When perceptual learning occurs.
Book Chapter
2016 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
2014 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.
2007 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. & 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
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.
Grants
- Birmingham City University Start-Up Grant (2024): Principal investigator. Uncovering the Neural Signature of the Approximate Number System in Children: Insights from a Novel EEG Analytic Method.
- Birmingham City University Start-Up Grant (2023): Principal investigator. The Neural Signatures of the Approximate Number System: An EEG Analysis.
- Jessica was named investigator on a grant (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.
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 (2005/2011). The work focused on the social integration of psychologically high-risk adolescents. This work was coordinated in a multidisciplinary team.