Psychology Dept. Research Seminar Series - 2019 UPDATED Schedule

Psychology Dept. Research Seminar - Dr Emily Bethell. Studying cognition-emotion interaction in non-human primates using cognitive bias tasks: emerging trends and future directions

*** Everyone Welcome! No need to book in advance*** 

Date: Thursday 21^st February 2019
Time: 12:00-13:00
Room: Building 9 BG09A

Emily Bethall (Liverpool John Moores University) 

Abstract:

Reliable methods to measure cognitive components of wellbeing are receiving increased attention. ‘Cognitive bias’ tasks, for example, are used to assess different emotion states based on how animals respond to ambiguity– negative emotions, it is argued, lead to negative judgements about ambiguous information. These methods have now been developed for use with a wide range of species including mammals, birds and insects. While these methods show much promise, there are still limitations in their application across different research contexts, and published findings are variable. I have been developing complementary tasks that require less initial training and which should have more utility for assessing animal emotions in real world settings. I will review studies we have conducted with nonhuman primates in both free-ranging and laboratory settings and discuss our early data showing potential mediating effects of early life stress and genetic factors. As a still-emerging field, I discuss future directions for this area of research including their potential use for assessing positive affect.

 

This talk is aimed at anyone interested in psychology, especially cognitive psychology, and emotion in non-human primates. Students are encouraged to attend as attendance would benefit both undergraduate and postgraduate research students from psychology and related fields  Biography:  Emily’s research focus is primate social cognition and behaviour: what monkeys and apes can tell us about human evolution, and the implications of similarities and differences in cognitive processes for understanding and improving psychological wellbeing of primates in captivity.