I obtained my PhD from the University of Manchester in 2003 under the supervision of Professor John Wearden. My thesis explored the nature and operation of temporal reference memory in the Scalar Expectancy Theory (SET) model of human timing. During this time, I also worked as an associate lecturer for the Open University, teaching neuroscience.

Following that, I spent two years as a post-doctoral researcher in the Visual Perception laboratory at the University of Liverpool, working with Dr. Marco Bertamini. In the first year, I researched the phenomenon of boundary extension and the naive optics of mirror reflections. With a research grant from the ESRC, I spent the second year conducting psychophysical research on people's ability to use the depth cues afforded by reflections. You can read about this research here.

In May 2005, I began my employment as a Lecturer at the School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester. However, I had already been teaching here on a temporary basis in 2004. Time perception continues to be my main research focus, but I also have research collaborations with the Royal Northern College of Music, looking at musical performance anxiety, in addition to psychophysical work on musical listening and performance. I also have collaborations with the Philosophy department, investigating epistemological issues of time.

I have been heavily involved in media work, contributing to radio and newspapers on the subject of time perception (particularly in recent years, addressing peoples questions about the distortion of our perception of time caused by COVID-19 and the associated lockdowns).

I have published extensively on the topic of time perception, both in journals an in book chapters, and my work has been featured as the front cover story in New Scientist magazine. I also have interests in combining art with science and have participated in several international conferences of this nature. You can find more details about my work by visiting the website for my Time Perception Laboratory here.

Time Perception (see my lab website here).

Memory for duration.

Timing in different modalities (senses).

Time Perception in Autism

Timing of moving stimuli

Altering the perception of time (and reaction time) with repetitive stimulation.

The Filled-Duration Illusion

Music and Time Perception

ERP investigation of timing processes.

Mental Imagery for time.

Time Travel (the concept of) in human culture.

And many other things…if it’s to do with time I’m interested.

Music Psychology

Musical Performance Anxiety

Time perception of music and its structure.

Psychophysical investigation of composition.

Visual Perception

Augmented reality

Perceptual Adaptation

Use of reflections as depth information

Naïve Optics

Boundary Extension

Binocular Rivalry.

PSYC10302: Sensation and Perception (Visual Perception). 1st Year Course
PSYC21000: Perception and Cognition. 2nd Year Course
PSYC30312: Time Perception on 'Perception from Lab to Life'. 3rd Year Course
PSYC30920: Project supervision. 3rd Year

PSYC60121: Psychophysics and computer modelling module on MSc NCCN Neuroimaging for Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience

MRes - Project supervisor.

Collaborators

• Professor John Wearden
• Dr Ellen Poliakoff
• Dr Ruth Ogden
• Dr Alexis Makin
• Dr Michelle Phillips
• Dr Richard Brown
• Dr Jakub Spaeti
• Dr Wael El-Deredy

Associate Editor of The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology

Experimental Psychology Society