![Associate Professor Alan Pegna](/sites/default/files/profiles/12924.jpeg)
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
1998
Journal Article
Comprehensive postictal neuropsychology improves focus localization in epilepsy
Pegna, AJ, Qayoom, Z, Gericke, CA, Landis, T and Seeck, M (1998). Comprehensive postictal neuropsychology improves focus localization in epilepsy. European Neurology, 40 (4), 207-211. doi: 10.1159/000007981
1998
Journal Article
Motor perseverations: A function of the side and the site of a cerebral lesion
Annoni, GM, Pegna, AJ, Michel, CM, Estade, M and Landis, T (1998). Motor perseverations: A function of the side and the site of a cerebral lesion. European Neurology, 40 (2), 84-90. doi: 10.1159/000007963
1997
Journal Article
Spatio-temporal analysis of electric brain activity during mental rotation: An event-related potentials study
Pegna, A. J., Khateb, A., Morand, S. M., Seeck, M., Landis, T. and Michel, C. M. (1997). Spatio-temporal analysis of electric brain activity during mental rotation: An event-related potentials study. NeuroImage, 5 (4 PART II).
1997
Journal Article
Random motor generation in a finger tapping task: influence of spatial contingency and of cortical and subcortical hemispheric brain lesions
Annoni, JM and Pegna, AJ (1997). Random motor generation in a finger tapping task: influence of spatial contingency and of cortical and subcortical hemispheric brain lesions. Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 63 (5), 654-659. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.63.5.654
1997
Journal Article
Unraveling the cerebral dynamics of mental imagery
Pegna, Alan J., Khateb, Asaid, Spinelli, Laurent, Seeck, Margitta, Landis, Theodor and Michel, Christoph M. (1997). Unraveling the cerebral dynamics of mental imagery. Human Brain Mapping, 5 (6), 410-421. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0193(1997)5:63.0.co;2-6
1997
Journal Article
Unraveling the cerebral dynamics of mental imagery
Pegna, AJ, Khateb, A, Spinelli, L, Seeck, M, Landis, T and Michel, CM (1997). Unraveling the cerebral dynamics of mental imagery. Human Brain Mapping, 5 (6), 410-421.
1997
Journal Article
Unraveling the cerebral dynamics of mental imagery
Pegna, Alan J., Khateb, Asaid, Spinelli, Laurent, Seeck, Margitta, Landis, Theodor and Michel, Christoph M. (1997). Unraveling the cerebral dynamics of mental imagery. Human Brain Mapping, 5 (6), 410-421. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0193(1997)5:63.3.co;2-t
1996
Conference Publication
Postictal neuropsychological examination is a highly localizing tool in presurgical epilepsy evaluation
Qayoom, Z, Pegna, A, Annoni, JM, Slosman, D, Allaoua, M, Landis, T and Seeck, M (1996). Postictal neuropsychological examination is a highly localizing tool in presurgical epilepsy evaluation. BOSTON: LITTLE BROWN CO.
1995
Journal Article
Cholinergic nucleus basalis neurons are excited by histamine in vitro
Khateb, A., Fort, P., Pegna, A., Jones, B.E. and Mühlethaler, M. (1995). Cholinergic nucleus basalis neurons are excited by histamine in vitro. Neuroscience, 69 (2), 495-506. doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(95)00264-j
1995
Journal Article
NORADRENERGIC MODULATION OF CHOLINERGIC NUCLEUS BASALIS NEURONS DEMONSTRATED BY IN-VITRO PHARMACOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EVIDENCE IN THE GUINEA-PIG BRAIN
FORT, P, KHATEB, A, PEGNA, A, MUHLETHALER, M and JONES, BE (1995). NORADRENERGIC MODULATION OF CHOLINERGIC NUCLEUS BASALIS NEURONS DEMONSTRATED BY IN-VITRO PHARMACOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EVIDENCE IN THE GUINEA-PIG BRAIN. European Journal of Neuroscience, 7 (7), 1502-1511. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.1995.tb01145.x
1995
Journal Article
HEMISPHERIC DOMINANCE FOR MELODY RECOGNITION IN MUSICIANS AND NON-MUSICIANS
MESSERLI, P, PEGNA, A and SORDET, N (1995). HEMISPHERIC DOMINANCE FOR MELODY RECOGNITION IN MUSICIANS AND NON-MUSICIANS. Neuropsychologia, 33 (4), 395-405. doi: 10.1016/0028-3932(94)00123-7
1994
Journal Article
UNILATERAL DYSGRAPHIA OF THE DOMINANT HAND IN A LEFT-HANDER - A DISRUPTION OF GRAPHIC MOTOR PATTERN SELECTION
ZESIGER, P, PEGNA, A and RILLIET, B (1994). UNILATERAL DYSGRAPHIA OF THE DOMINANT HAND IN A LEFT-HANDER - A DISRUPTION OF GRAPHIC MOTOR PATTERN SELECTION. Cortex, 30 (4), 673-683. doi: 10.1016/S0010-9452(13)80243-2
1994
Conference Publication
MOTOR PERSEVERATIONS AND OTHER MOTOR INTENTIONAL DISORDERS IN PATIENTS WITH SINGLE CEREBRAL-LESIONS
ANNONI, JM, PEGNA, A, ESTADE, M and LEFLOCH, J (1994). MOTOR PERSEVERATIONS AND OTHER MOTOR INTENTIONAL DISORDERS IN PATIENTS WITH SINGLE CEREBRAL-LESIONS. OXFORD: OXFORD UNIV PRESS UNITED KINGDOM.
1990
Conference Publication
THE EFFECT OF NORADRENALINE ON SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION IN SLICES OF RAT NEOCORTEX INVITRO
BINDMAN, LJ, DEDICOAT, M, HAMIDUDDIN, RB, HARNETT, PR and PEGNA, A (1990). THE EFFECT OF NORADRENALINE ON SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION IN SLICES OF RAT NEOCORTEX INVITRO. NEW YORK: CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS.
1986
Conference Publication
EAR ADVANTAGE - HEMISPHERIC DOMINANCE AND COGNITIVE STRATEGY
MESSERLI, P and PEGNA, A (1986). EAR ADVANTAGE - HEMISPHERIC DOMINANCE AND COGNITIVE STRATEGY. LISSE: SWETS ZEITLINGER PUBLISHERS.
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Alan Pegna is:
- Available for supervision
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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
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
Attraction vs suppression. Comparing EEG and eye-tracking to disentangle the mechanisms of attention.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Jess Taubert
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Doctor Philosophy
Effects of oxytocin on the temporal dynamics of emotion processing
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Examining Stress, and Cognitive-Affective Processing in Emotion Disorders
Principal Advisor
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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
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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
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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
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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
Effectiveness of Memory Rehabilitation Techniques in Improving Memory Function in Patients with Epilepsy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Catherine Haslam
Completed supervision
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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: Professor Sailesh Kumar, 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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