Associate Professor Alan Pegna
Associate Professor

Alan Pegna

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+61 7 336 56412

Background

Associate Professor Alan Pegna is a neuropsychologist whose interests lie in the field of cognitive neuroscience and clinical neuropsychology. After receiving a Masters degree in Psychology from the University of Geneva (Switzerland) and a second Masters degree in Human Physiology from University College London (UK), he obtained his PhD from the University of Geneva, using brain imaging techniques to study spatial processing in both healthy controls and brain-damaged patients.

He worked for over 20 years as a clinical neuropsychologist at Geneva University Hospital, and as an academic at the University of Geneva, where he supervised numerous research projects in the field of visual processing, again in healthy participants and in persons with focal brain lesions.

He joined UQ in 2015, where he now explores the neural basis of visual and spatial processing of emotional stimuli. More specifically, using EEG, he examines the brain's response to different facial expressions, as well as to faces that vary in their perceived approachability (e.g., their apparent trustwothiness). When possible, these studies are also carried out with brain-damaged individuals, in order to investigate the role of particular brain regions in these processes.

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Availability

Associate Professor Alan Pegna is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Cognitive and computational psychology Psychology

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Geneva

Search Professor Alan Pegna’s works on UQ eSpace

175 works between 1986 and 2024
All (175) Journal Article (145) Conference Publication (30)

61 - 80 of 175 works

2016

Journal Article

Audiovisual association learning in absence of primary visual cortex

Seirafi, Mehrdad, De Weerd, Peter, Pegna, Alan J. and De Gelder, Beatrice (2016). Audiovisual association learning in absence of primary visual cortex. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 9 (JAN2016) 686. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2015.00686

Audiovisual association learning in absence of primary visual cortex

2015

Journal Article

Assessment of social cognition and theory of mind: initial validation of the geneva social cognition scale

Martory, Marie-Dominique, Pegna, Alan John, Sheybani, Laurent, Metral, Melanie, Pertusio, Francoise Bernasconi and Annoni, Jean-Marie (2015). Assessment of social cognition and theory of mind: initial validation of the geneva social cognition scale. European Neurology, 74 (5-6), 288-295. doi: 10.1159/000442412

Assessment of social cognition and theory of mind: initial validation of the geneva social cognition scale

2015

Journal Article

The effects of stereo disparity on the behavioural and electrophysiological correlates of perception of audio-visual motion in depth

Harrison, Neil R., Witheridge, Sian, Makin, Alexis, Wuerger, Sophie M., Pegna, Alan J. and Meyer, Georg F. (2015). The effects of stereo disparity on the behavioural and electrophysiological correlates of perception of audio-visual motion in depth. Neuropsychologia, 78, 51-62. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.09.023

The effects of stereo disparity on the behavioural and electrophysiological correlates of perception of audio-visual motion in depth

2015

Journal Article

Visual imagery influences brain responses to visual stimulation in bilateral cortical blindness

de Gelder, Beatrice, Tamietto, Marco, Pegna, Alan J. and Van den Stock, Jan (2015). Visual imagery influences brain responses to visual stimulation in bilateral cortical blindness. Cortex, 72, 15-26. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2014.11.009

Visual imagery influences brain responses to visual stimulation in bilateral cortical blindness

2015

Journal Article

Looming sensitive cortical regions without V1 input: Evidence from a patient with bilateral cortical blindness

Hervais-Adelman, Alexis, Legrand, Lore B., Zhan, Minye, Tamietto, Marco, de Gelder, Beatrice and Pegna, Alan J. (2015). Looming sensitive cortical regions without V1 input: Evidence from a patient with bilateral cortical blindness. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 9 (51) A051, 1-12. doi: 10.3389/fnint.2015.00051

Looming sensitive cortical regions without V1 input: Evidence from a patient with bilateral cortical blindness

2015

Journal Article

Direction of biological motion affects early brain activation: a link with social cognition

Pegna, Alan John, Gehring, Elise, Meyer, Georg and Del Zotto, Marzia (2015). Direction of biological motion affects early brain activation: a link with social cognition. PLoS One, 10 (6) e0131551, e0131551. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131551

Direction of biological motion affects early brain activation: a link with social cognition

2015

Journal Article

Body shape recognition in a patient with bilateral primary visual cortex lesions

Van den Stock, J., Tamietto, M., Hervais-Adelman, A., Pegna, A. J. and de Gelder, B. (2015). Body shape recognition in a patient with bilateral primary visual cortex lesions. Biological Psychiatry, 77 (7) 11921, e31-e33. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.06.023

Body shape recognition in a patient with bilateral primary visual cortex lesions

2015

Journal Article

Processing of masked and unmasked emotional faces under different attentional conditions: an electrophysiological investigation

Del Zotto, Marzia and Pegna, Alan J. (2015). Processing of masked and unmasked emotional faces under different attentional conditions: an electrophysiological investigation. Frontiers in Psychology, 6 (OCT) 1691, 1691.1-1691.12. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01691

Processing of masked and unmasked emotional faces under different attentional conditions: an electrophysiological investigation

2014

Journal Article

Lack of automatic attentional orienting by gaze cues following a bilateral loss of visual cortex

Burra, Nicolas, Kerzel, Dirk, de Gelder, Beatrice and Pegna, Alan J. (2014). Lack of automatic attentional orienting by gaze cues following a bilateral loss of visual cortex. Neuropsychologia, 58 (1), 75-80. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.04.003

Lack of automatic attentional orienting by gaze cues following a bilateral loss of visual cortex

2014

Journal Article

Neural correlates of body and face perception following bilateral destruction of the primary visual cortices

Van den Stock, Jan, Tamietto, Marco, Zhan, Minye, Heinecke, Armin, Hervais-Adelman, Alexis, Legrand, Lore B., Pegna, Alan J. and de Gelder, Beatrice (2014). Neural correlates of body and face perception following bilateral destruction of the primary visual cortices. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 8 (FEB) 30. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00030

Neural correlates of body and face perception following bilateral destruction of the primary visual cortices

2014

Conference Publication

ALTHOUGH WOMEN COME FROM VENUS AND MEN FROM MARS, BOTH DESIRE IN THE SAME DIRECTION: AN ORIGINAL AND EXPLORATORY EYETRACKING STUDY

Bolmont, M., Bianchi-Demicheli, F. and Pegna, A. (2014). ALTHOUGH WOMEN COME FROM VENUS AND MEN FROM MARS, BOTH DESIRE IN THE SAME DIRECTION: AN ORIGINAL AND EXPLORATORY EYETRACKING STUDY. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

ALTHOUGH WOMEN COME FROM VENUS AND MEN FROM MARS, BOTH DESIRE IN THE SAME DIRECTION: AN ORIGINAL AND EXPLORATORY EYETRACKING STUDY

2014

Conference Publication

Semantic processing of invisible words under interocular suppression: Evidence from evoked-related potentials

Yeh, Su-Ling, Zhou, Jifan, Li, Kuei-An, Tien, Yung-Hsuan, Chen, Yi-Huan, Lin, Yih-Shiuan and Pegna, Alan (2014). Semantic processing of invisible words under interocular suppression: Evidence from evoked-related potentials. LONDON: PION LTD.

Semantic processing of invisible words under interocular suppression: Evidence from evoked-related potentials

2013

Journal Article

Emotional expressions modulate low α and β oscillations in a cortically blind patient

Del Zotto, Marzia, Deiber, Marie-Pierre, Legrand, Lore Billie, De Gelder, Beatrice and Pegna, Alan John (2013). Emotional expressions modulate low α and β oscillations in a cortically blind patient. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 90 (3), 358-362. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2013.10.007

Emotional expressions modulate low α and β oscillations in a cortically blind patient

2013

Journal Article

Basic Instinct Undressed: Early Spatiotemporal Processing for Primary Sexual Characteristics

Legrand, Lore B., Del Zotto, Marzia, Tyrand, Remi and Pegna, Alan J. (2013). Basic Instinct Undressed: Early Spatiotemporal Processing for Primary Sexual Characteristics. Plos One, 8 (7) e69726, e69726. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069726

Basic Instinct Undressed: Early Spatiotemporal Processing for Primary Sexual Characteristics

2013

Journal Article

Amygdala activation for eye contact despite complete cortical blindness

Burra, Nicolas, Hervais-Adelman, Alexis, Kerzel, Dirk, Tamietto, Marco, de Gelder, Beatrice and Pegna, Alan J. (2013). Amygdala activation for eye contact despite complete cortical blindness. Journal of Neuroscience, 33 (25), 10483-10489. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3994-12.2013

Amygdala activation for eye contact despite complete cortical blindness

2013

Journal Article

Dissociation between goal-directed and discrete response localization in a patient with bilateral cortical blindness

Buetti, Simona, Tamietto, Marco, Hervais-Adelman, Alexis, Kerzel, Dirk, de Gelder, Beatrice and Pegna, Alan J. (2013). Dissociation between goal-directed and discrete response localization in a patient with bilateral cortical blindness. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 25 (10), 1769-1775. doi: 10.1162/jocn_a_00404

Dissociation between goal-directed and discrete response localization in a patient with bilateral cortical blindness

2012

Journal Article

Neuropsychological outcome after extra-temporal epilepsy surgery

El Hassani, Yassine, Fournet, Maryll, Momjian, Shahan, Pollo, Claudio, Seeck, Margitta, Pegna, Alan and Schaller, Karl (2012). Neuropsychological outcome after extra-temporal epilepsy surgery. Acta Neurochirurgica, 154 (8), 1337-1342. doi: 10.1007/s00701-012-1379-0

Neuropsychological outcome after extra-temporal epilepsy surgery

2012

Journal Article

Attentional modulation of early ERP components in response to faces: Evidence from the attentional blink paradigm

Darque, Alexandra, Del Zotto, Marzia, Khateb, Asaid and Pegna, Alan J. (2012). Attentional modulation of early ERP components in response to faces: Evidence from the attentional blink paradigm. Brain Topography, 25 (2), 167-181. doi: 10.1007/s10548-011-0199-5

Attentional modulation of early ERP components in response to faces: Evidence from the attentional blink paradigm

2012

Conference Publication

Amygdala response for faces in a patient with cortical blindness

Pegna, A., Hervais-Adelman, A., Lore, L., Del Zotto, M. and de Gelder, B. (2012). Amygdala response for faces in a patient with cortical blindness. LONDON: PION LTD.

Amygdala response for faces in a patient with cortical blindness

2012

Journal Article

Can post-ictal memory predict post-operative memory in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy?

Vuilliemoz, S., Prilipko, O., Herrmann, F. R., Pollo, C., Landis, T., Pegna, A. J. and Seeck, M. (2012). Can post-ictal memory predict post-operative memory in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy?. Epilepsia, 53 (10), e170-e173. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2012.03535.x

Can post-ictal memory predict post-operative memory in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy?

Past funding

  • 2016
    A brain physiology laboratory for neuropsychological research in the new Queensland Neuropsychology Research Centre
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Alan Pegna is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Role of the amygdala in rapid emotional face processing

    Evidence has shown that the amygdala is responsible for the rapid detection of threat and emotion, however hard evidence is lacking to confirm this idea. This project will examine the electrical brain response to emotional stimuli in healthy individuals as well as patients who have undergone surgical removal of their amygdala (amygdalectomies). The aim will be to establish whether the amydgala indeed contributes to the rapid processing of the visual stimuli.

  • Role of the amygdala in attentional capture of emotional stimuli

    Evidence has shown that the amygdala is responsible for the rapid detection of threat and emotion. One question that arises is whether this process is a prequisite for attention shifting. This project will investigate the electrical coorelate of attention-shifting in healthy individuals as well as patients who have undergone surgical removal of their amygdala (amygdalectomies). The project aims to determine if amydgala removal affects the automatic shift of attetion towards threatening stimuli..

  • Effects of personal space on face processing: an ERP and VR study

    It has been known for some time that different brain regions process stimuli according to whether they are situated in near (peripersonal) or far (extrapersonal) space. Furthermore, evidence has demonstrated the existence of a personal spatial boundary that, when crossed by another individual, creates a sense of discomfort. Using ERP in conjunction with Virtual Reality, this project will examine the brain response to neutral and emotionally expressive faces, as well as trustworthy and untrustworthy faces, situated within or beyond personal space.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Effects of oxytocin on the temporal dynamics of emotion processing

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Examining Stress, and Cognitive-Affective Processing in Emotion Disorders

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigating the Relationship Between Prediction and Attention in Response to Emotional Stimuli in the Human Brain

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Derek Arnold

  • Master Philosophy

    Exploring links between Human Eating Disorder pathology and the visual perception of foods.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr James Kesby

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Do Fearful Faces Attract Spatial Attention under Different Conditions of Visual Awareness?

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Stefanie Becker

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Attraction vs suppression. Comparing EEG and eye-tracking to disentangle the mechanisms of attention.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Jess Taubert

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigating the importance of VSTM in visual attention vs target identification

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Stefanie Becker

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Effectiveness of Memory Rehabilitation Techniques in Improving Memory Function in Patients with Epilepsy

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Catherine Haslam

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The role of the amygdala in primate social intelligence.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Amanda Robinson, Professor Eric Vanman, Associate Professor Jess Taubert

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The sensory make-up of virtual environments and its role in the effective transfer of learning to real-world tasks

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Guy Wallis, Associate Professor Stefanie Becker, Associate Professor Philip Grove

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Alan Pegna directly for media enquiries about:

  • awareness
  • blindsight
  • brain
  • brain damage
  • brain-behaviour relation
  • cognition
  • cognitive function
  • electrophysiology
  • emotion
  • epilepsy
  • face
  • face blindness
  • Neuropsychology
  • object recognition
  • prosopagnosia
  • space
  • stroke
  • vision
  • visual perception

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