
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
2001
Journal Article
So near yet so far: Neglect in far or near space depends on tool use
Pegna, AJ, Petit, L, Caldara-Schnetzer, AS, Khateb, A, Annoni, JM, Sztajzel, R and Landis, T (2001). So near yet so far: Neglect in far or near space depends on tool use. Annals of Neurology, 50 (6), 820-822. doi: 10.1002/ana.10058
2001
Journal Article
Electric source imaging of human brain functions
Michel, Christoph M, Thut, Gregor, Morand, Stéphanie, Khateb, Asaid, Pegna, Alan J, Grave de Peralta, Rolando, Gonzalez, Sara, Seeck, Margitta and Landis, Theodor (2001). Electric source imaging of human brain functions. Brain Research Reviews, 36 (2-3), 108-118. doi: 10.1016/s0165-0173(01)00086-8
2001
Conference Publication
fMRI on patients with lesions involving language areas: Implications for neurosurgery
Seghier, ML, Lazeyras, F, Pegna, AJ, Zimine, , Delavelle, J, Mayer, E, Annoni, JM and Khateb, A (2001). fMRI on patients with lesions involving language areas: Implications for neurosurgery. SAN DIEGO: ACADEMIC PRESS INC.
2001
Journal Article
Dynamics of brain activation during a word and image recognition task: An electrophysiological study
Khateb, Asaid, Michel, Christoph M., Pegna, Alan J., Landis, Theodor and Annoni, Jean-Marie (2001). Dynamics of brain activation during a word and image recognition task: An electrophysiological study. NeuroImage, 13 (6), 550. doi: 10.1016/s1053-8119(01)91893-2
2001
Conference Publication
Time course of visual processing for real and illusory contours as determined by event-related potential analysis
Pegna, AJ, Khateb, A, Caldara-Schnetzer, AS, Landis, T and Michel, CM (2001). Time course of visual processing for real and illusory contours as determined by event-related potential analysis. SAN DIEGO: ACADEMIC PRESS INC.
2001
Journal Article
Time course of visual processing for real and illusory contours as determined by event-related potential analysis
Pegna, Alan J., Khateb, Asaid, Caldara-Schnetzer, Anne-Sarah, Landis, Theodor and Michel, Christoph M. (2001). Time course of visual processing for real and illusory contours as determined by event-related potential analysis. NeuroImage, 13 (6), 926. doi: 10.1016/s1053-8119(01)92268-2
2001
Journal Article
fMRI on patients with lesions involving language areas: implications for neurosurgery
Seghier, Mohamed L., Lazeyras, Francois, Pegna, Alan J., Zimine, Ivan, Dela Velle, Jacqueline, Mayer, Eugene, Annoni, Jean-Marie and Khateb, Asaid (2001). fMRI on patients with lesions involving language areas: implications for neurosurgery. NeuroImage, 13 (6), 836. doi: 10.1016/s1053-8119(01)92178-0
2001
Conference Publication
Dynamics of brain activation during a word and image recognition task: An electrophysiological study
Khateb, A, Michel, CM, Pegna, AJ, Landis, T and Annoni, JM (2001). Dynamics of brain activation during a word and image recognition task: An electrophysiological study. SAN DIEGO: ACADEMIC PRESS INC.
2001
Conference Publication
Analysis of brain activity during processing of categorical and associative semantic relations
Annoni, JM, Khateb, A, Pegna, AJ, O'Dochartaigh, S, Landis, T and Michel, CM (2001). Analysis of brain activity during processing of categorical and associative semantic relations. LONDON: BRITISH MED JOURNAL PUBL GROUP.
2001
Journal Article
The time course of semantic category processing in the cerebral hemispheres: an electrophysiological study
Khateb, Asaid, Michel, Christoph M, Pegna, Alan J, Thut, Gregor, Landis, Theodor and Annoni, Jean-Marie (2001). The time course of semantic category processing in the cerebral hemispheres: an electrophysiological study. Cognitive Brain Research, 10 (3), 251-264. doi: 10.1016/s0926-6410(00)00042-2
2000
Journal Article
Interhemispheric transfer evaluation in multiple sclerosis
Ortiz, N, Reicherts, M, Pegna, AJ, Garran, E, Chofflon, M, Roth, S, Annoni, JM, Landis, T and Mayer, E (2000). Interhemispheric transfer evaluation in multiple sclerosis. Swiss Journal of Psychology, 59 (3), 150-158. doi: 10.1024//1421-0185.59.3.150
2000
Journal Article
New insights into the Stroop effect: a spatiotemporal analysis of electric brain activity
Khateb, A, Michel, CM, Pegna, AJ, Landis, T and Annoni, JM (2000). New insights into the Stroop effect: a spatiotemporal analysis of electric brain activity. Neuroreport, 11 (9), 1849-1855. doi: 10.1097/00001756-200006260-00010
2000
Journal Article
New insights into the stroop effect: Spatio-temporal analysis of electric brain activity
Khateb, Asaid, Michel, Christoph M., Pegna, Alan J., Landis, Theodor and Annoni, Jean-Marie (2000). New insights into the stroop effect: Spatio-temporal analysis of electric brain activity. NeuroImage, 11 (5), S71. doi: 10.1016/s1053-8119(00)91005-x
2000
Conference Publication
Subjective contours of the kanisza type induce perceptual errors in variations of the Ponzo and Poggendorf illusions
Caklara, AS, Pegna, AJ, Annoni, JM and Landis, T (2000). Subjective contours of the kanisza type induce perceptual errors in variations of the Ponzo and Poggendorf illusions. OXFORD: BLACKWELL SCIENCE LTD.
2000
Journal Article
Semantic Category and Rhyming Processing in the Left and Right Cerebral Hemisphere
Khateb, Asaid, Pegna, Alan J., Michel, Christoph M., Custodi, Marie-Carmen, Landis, Theodor and Annoni, Jean-Marie (2000). Semantic Category and Rhyming Processing in the Left and Right Cerebral Hemisphere. Laterality, 5 (1), 35-53. doi: 10.1080/135765000396825
2000
Journal Article
Semantic category and rhyming processing in the left and right cerebral hemisphere
Khateb, A, Pegna, AJ, Michel, CM, Custodi, MC, Landis, T and Annoni, JM (2000). Semantic category and rhyming processing in the left and right cerebral hemisphere. Laterality, 5 (1), 35-53. doi: 10.1080/713754355
1999
Journal Article
A pure case of Gerstmann syndrome with a subangular lesion
Mayer, E, Martory, MD, Pegna, AJ, Landis, T, Delavelle, J and Annoni, JM (1999). A pure case of Gerstmann syndrome with a subangular lesion. Brain, 122, 1107-1120. doi: 10.1093/brain/122.6.1107
1999
Journal Article
Spatio-temporal analysis of electric brain activity during semantic and phonological word processing
Khateb, Asaid, Annoni, Jean-Marie, Landis, Theodor, Pegna, Alan J., Custodi, Marie-Carmen, Fonteneau, Elisabeth, Morand, Stéphanie M. and Michel, Christoph M. (1999). Spatio-temporal analysis of electric brain activity during semantic and phonological word processing. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 32 (3), 215-231. doi: 10.1016/s0167-8760(99)00017-3
1999
Journal Article
Semantically-triggered reading epilepsy: An experimental case study
Pegna, AJ, Picard, F, Martory, MD, Vuilleumier, P, Seeck, M, Jallon, P and Landis, T (1999). Semantically-triggered reading epilepsy: An experimental case study. Cortex, 35 (1), 101-111. doi: 10.1016/S0010-9452(08)70788-3
1999
Journal Article
Increased focal interictal discharges during specific cognitive tasks
Blanke, Olaf, Pegna, Alan, Marcoz, Jean-Pierre, Landis, Theodor and Seeck, Margitta (1999). Increased focal interictal discharges during specific cognitive tasks. Neurocase, 5 (1), 13-19. doi: 10.1080/13554799908404060
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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