
Overview
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
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Geneva
Works
Search Professor Alan Pegna’s works on UQ eSpace
2006
Conference Publication
Selective amobarbital test in the anterior choroidal artery: Is it predictive of postoperative memory?
Vulliemoz, S., Annoni, J., Willi, J., Landis, T., Yilmaz, H., Pegna, A. and Seeck, M. (2006). Selective amobarbital test in the anterior choroidal artery: Is it predictive of postoperative memory?. 7th European Congress on Epileptology, Helsinki Finland, Jul 02-06, 2006. OXFORD: BLACKWELL PUBLISHING.
2005
Journal Article
Cerebral processes in mental transformations of body parts: Recognition prior to rotation
Overney , LS, Michel, CM, Harris, IM and Pegna, AJ (2005). Cerebral processes in mental transformations of body parts: Recognition prior to rotation. Cognitive Brain Research, 25 (3), 722-734. doi: 10.1016/j.cogbrainres.2005.09.024
2005
Conference Publication
Anatomical limitations and cerebral processes in mental transformations of body parts
Petit, LS, Harris, IM and Pegna, AJ (2005). Anatomical limitations and cerebral processes in mental transformations of body parts. SAN DIEGO: ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE.
2005
Conference Publication
Angry faces are easier to identify than happy faces
Raymond, JE, Gomez-Cuerva, J, Jackson, M and Pegna, A (2005). Angry faces are easier to identify than happy faces. LONDON: PION LTD.
2005
Journal Article
Discriminating emotional faces without primary visual cortices involves the right amygdala
Pegna, Alan J., Khateb, Asaid, Lazeyras, Francois and Seghier, Mohamed L. (2005). Discriminating emotional faces without primary visual cortices involves the right amygdala. Nature Neuroscience, 8 (1), 24-25. doi: 10.1038/nn1364
2004
Journal Article
Variability of fMRI activation during a phonological and semantic language task in healthy subjects
Seghier, ML, Lazeyras, F, Pegna, AJ, Annoni, JM, Zimine, , Mayer, E, Michel, CM and Khateb, A (2004). Variability of fMRI activation during a phonological and semantic language task in healthy subjects. Human Brain Mapping, 23 (3), 140-155. doi: 10.1002/hbm.20053
2004
Journal Article
Visual recognition of faces, objects, and words using degraded stimuli: Where and when it occurs
Pegna, AJ, Khateb, A, Michel, CM and Landis, T (2004). Visual recognition of faces, objects, and words using degraded stimuli: Where and when it occurs. Human Brain Mapping, 22 (4), 300-311. doi: 10.1002/hbm.20039
2004
Journal Article
Transient crossed aphasia evidenced by functional brain imagery
Khateb, A, Martory, MD, Annoni, JM, Lazeyras, F, de Tribolet, N, Pegna, AJ, Mayer, E, Michel, CM and Seghier, ML (2004). Transient crossed aphasia evidenced by functional brain imagery. Neuroreport, 15 (5), 785-790. doi: 10.1097/00001756-200404090-00009
2003
Journal Article
Pure global acalculia following a left subangular lesion
Martory, MD, Mayer, E, Pegna, AJ, Annoni, JM, Landis, T and Khateb, A (2003). Pure global acalculia following a left subangular lesion. Neurocase, 9 (4), 319-328. doi: 10.1076/neur.9.4.319.15549
2003
Journal Article
Processing of semantic categorical and associative relations: an ERP mapping study
Khateb, A, Michel, CM, Pegna, AJ, O'Dochartaigh, SD, Landis, T and Annoni, JM (2003). Processing of semantic categorical and associative relations: an ERP mapping study. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 49 (1), 41-55. doi: 10.1016/S0167-8760(03)00076-X
2003
Journal Article
Pure imagery hemi-neglect of far space
Ortigue, S, Viaud-Delmon, , Michel, CM, Blanke, O, Annoni, JM, Pegna, A, Mayer, E, Spinelli, L and Landis, T (2003). Pure imagery hemi-neglect of far space. Neurology, 60 (12), 2000-2002. doi: 10.1212/01.WNL.0000068028.63291.B6
2003
Journal Article
Representation of anatomical constraints in motor imagery: Mental rotation of a body segment
Petit, L.S., Pegna, A.J., Mayer, E. and Hauert, C.-A. (2003). Representation of anatomical constraints in motor imagery: Mental rotation of a body segment. Brain and Cognition, 51 (1), 95-101. doi: 10.1016/s0278-2626(02)00526-2
2003
Journal Article
Neuropsychological test in daily practice L'examen neuropsychologique en pratique quotidienne
Annoni, Jean-Marie, Pertusio, Françoise Bernasconi, Caldara, Anne-Sarah, Khateb, Asaid, Lubini, Deborah, Martory, Marie-Dominique, Mayer, Eugène, Ortigue, Stéphanie, Pegna, Alan J and Valenza, Nathalie (2003). Neuropsychological test in daily practice L'examen neuropsychologique en pratique quotidienne. Revue médicale de la Suisse romande, 123 (4), 263-267.
2002
Conference Publication
Semantic processing of categorical and associative relationships: A brain mapping study
Khateb, A, Annoni, JM, Pegna, AJ, O'Dochartaigh, SD, Landis, T and Michel, CM (2002). Semantic processing of categorical and associative relationships: A brain mapping study. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV.
2002
Journal Article
Visuospatial processing and right hemisphere specialisation
Pegna, AJ and Landis, T (2002). Visuospatial processing and right hemisphere specialisation. Revue De Neuropsychologie, 12 (2), 213-240.
2002
Journal Article
Visuospatial processing and right hemisphere specialisation Fonctions visuospatiales et spécialisation hémisphérique droite
Pegna, Alan J. and Landis, Theodor (2002). Visuospatial processing and right hemisphere specialisation Fonctions visuospatiales et spécialisation hémisphérique droite. Revue de Neuropsychologie, 12 (2), 213-240.
2002
Journal Article
Neural processing of illusory and real contours revealed by high-density ERP mapping
Pegna, AJ, Khateb, A, Murray, MM, Landis, T and Michel, CM (2002). Neural processing of illusory and real contours revealed by high-density ERP mapping. Neuroreport, 13 (7), 965-968. doi: 10.1097/00001756-200205240-00013
2002
Journal Article
Dynamics of brain activation during an explicit word and image recognition task: an electrophysiological study
Khateb, Asaid, Pegna, Alan J., Michel, Christoph M., Landis, Theodor and Annoni, Jean-Marie (2002). Dynamics of brain activation during an explicit word and image recognition task: an electrophysiological study. Brain Topography, 14 (3), 197-213. doi: 10.1023/A:1014502925003
2002
Journal Article
Is the right amygdala involved in visuospatial memory? Evidence from MRI volumetric measures (vol 47, pg 148, 2002)
Pegna, AJ, Caldara-Schnetzer, AS, Perrig, SH, Lazeyras, F, Khateb, A, Mayer, E, Landis, T and Seeck, M (2002). Is the right amygdala involved in visuospatial memory? Evidence from MRI volumetric measures (vol 47, pg 148, 2002). European Neurology, 47 (4), 243-243.
2002
Journal Article
Is the right amygdala involved in visuospatial memory? Evidence from MRI volumetric measures
Pegna, AJ, Caldara-Schnetzer, AS, Perrig, SH, Lazeyras, F, Khateb, A, Landis, T and Seeck, M (2002). Is the right amygdala involved in visuospatial memory? Evidence from MRI volumetric measures. European Neurology, 47 (3), 148-155. doi: 10.1159/000047973
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Alan Pegna is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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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.
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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..
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
Examining Stress, and Cognitive-Affective Processing in Emotion Disorders
Principal Advisor
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Master Philosophy
Exploring links between Human Eating Disorder pathology and the visual perception of foods.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr James Kesby, Professor Gemma Sharp
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Doctor Philosophy
Do Fearful Faces Attract Spatial Attention under Different Conditions of Visual Awareness?
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Stefanie Becker
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Doctor Philosophy
The Persistence of Statistical Learning and Its Variation Across Individuals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Jess Taubert
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Doctor Philosophy
Examining Stress, and Cognitive-Affective Processing in Emotion Disorders
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Effects of oxytocin on the temporal dynamics of emotion processing
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
The Eureka Effect: Top-Down Attentional Tuning in Visual Search With Modulated Visual Priming.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Stefanie Becker
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Doctor Philosophy
The role of the amygdala in primate social intelligence.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Amanda Robinson, Associate Professor Jess Taubert
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the importance of VSTM in visual attention vs target identification
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Stefanie Becker
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Doctor Philosophy
Memory Symptoms in People with Epilepsy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Catherine Haslam
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Doctor Philosophy
Attraction vs suppression. Comparing EEG and eye-tracking to disentangle the mechanisms of attention.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Jess Taubert
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the importance of VSTM in visual attention vs target identification
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Stefanie Becker
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the Relationship Between Prediction and Attention in Response to Emotional Stimuli in the Human Brain
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Jess Taubert, Dr Margaret Moore, Professor Derek Arnold
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Do Fearful Faces Attract Spatial Attention under Different Conditions of Visual Awareness?
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Stefanie Becker
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the Role of the Amygdala in the Early Processing of Emotional Faces and Threat Related Stimuli
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Jess Taubert
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Rapid Visual Processing of Looming Emotional Faces
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Ada Kritikos
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
The Influence of Agency on Space Representation and Social Threat
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Ada Kritikos
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Preterm Birth and its Impact on the Maturation of Executive Function
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Samudragupta Bora
Media
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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