Fully Funded PhD Scholarship in Psychology: Neuroscientific investigation into sense of agency

This is one of many projects in competition for the current funding opportunities available within the Department of Psychology

Primary supervisor: Dr Kwang Lee

Co-supervisor: Dr JV Stone

Project description:  Human beings feel that they are in control of their own thoughts and actions (referred to as sense of agency, SoA). Some psychiatric patients lack SoA, which is associated with a range of delusional beliefs such as their thoughts are being controlled by an external force or being transmitted. Previous studies have suggested some candidate brain areas that might be associated with SoA (including the anterior cingulate cortex, right inferior parietal lobule, and supplementary motor area). However, it is unclear as to whether these areas are necessarily involved in experiencing SoA and, if so, exactly when they are involved. These questions will be addressed using a combination of behavioural psychophysics, transcranial magnetic stimulation and EEG. By investigating the brain basis of sense of agency, it represents a first step towards a possible means of treating this symptom.

Start date: 1 October 2016

Requirements:  Applicants must have, or expect to obtain, a minimum of a first class or high upper second-class honours degree in psychology or a related discipline. In general awards are usually made to applicants with first class undergraduate degrees and/or at least a merit at masters level.

For further details and the application process please visit:

http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/psychology/prospectivepg/funding

Closing date for applications is 5pm Tuesday, 2 February 2016