Psychology Colloquium: Dr Melissa Sharpe (Department of Psychology, UCLA)

Dr Melissa Sharpe Department of Psychology, UCLA Title: The cognitive (lateral) hypothalamus Abstract: The lateral hypothalamus is generally thought of as a switch that drives feeding. The idea is that if you turn on your lateral hypothalamus, you will instantaneously start eating whatever is in front of you. However, we have recently shown that this nucleus …

Psychology Colloquium: Grant winners’ celebration plus laureate talk by Prof Louise Sharpe (School of Psychology – University of Sydney)

Please join us this Friday 5 March for a special two-part colloquium: A celebration of the School’s ARC, NHMRC and MRFF grant winners. Join us in congratulating our colleagues who were awarded significant research funding in 2020. The first in our series of laureate talks given by grant winners – Prof Louise Sharpe, who, with co-investigators …

Psychology Colloquium: Dr Anne Swinbourne (College of Healthcare Sciences – James Cook University)

Dr Anne Swinbourne College of Healthcare Sciences, James Cook University Title: The interface of psychology, natural hazards and extreme events Abstract: The CSIRO/BoM State of the Climate 2020 report delivers an expected message: Australia is undergoing, and will continue to experience, long-term climate change. This will interact negatively with Australia’s preexisting vulnerability to extreme weather events …

Psychology Colloquium: Dr Vince Polito (Department of Cognitive Science – Macquarie University)

Dr Vince Polito Department of Cognitive Science, Macquarie University Title: Placebo or Panacea? Experiences and Beliefs of People who Microdose Psychedelics Abstract: Psychedelics are making their way back into mainstream science. High profile research teams are publishing findings in top journals showing that psychedelics can be used to better understand cognition, perception, neurobiology, psychopathology and …

Psychology Colloquium: Dr Laura Bradfield (School of Life Sciences – UTS)

Dr Laura Bradfield School of Life Sciences, UTS Title: Contextual regulation of reinstatement involving choice Abstract: Relapse to substance use disorder, overeating, or other maladaptive actions following abstinence and/or therapy is commonly modelled in animals, however, the majority of these studies employ procedures that are either Pavlovian, or involve only a single instrumental response. Therefore, …

Psychology Colloquium: Dr Khandis Blake (School of Psychological Sciences – University of Melbourne)

Dr Khandis Blake School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne Title: On the causes and consequences of female sexualisation:  A nature/nurture approach that incorporates female agency. Abstract: The last decade has seen an increasing interest in the saturation of popular Western culture by representations of sex. What drives the proliferation of female sexualisation, and is …

Psychology Colloquium: Dr Oren Griffiths (College of Education, Psychology and Social Work – Flinders University)

Dr Oren Griffiths College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University Title: Effects of non-contingency on learning, attention and effort Abstract: Learned helplessness is one of the most widely recognized findings that psychology has produced in the public sphere. Much of the empirical work on this topic has focused on questions related to how repeated …

Psychology Colloquium: A/Prof Naomi Sweller (Department of Psychology – Macquarie University)

A/Prof Naomi Sweller Department of Psychology, Macquarie University Title: I (might!) listen, but I’m also watching: Effects of gestures on learning and communication Abstract: We often think of “communication” as meaning verbal interactions only, or perhaps the effect of a smile or a frown. Less frequently considered are the hand gestures that can co-occur with …