Associate Professor Alan Pegna
Associate Professor

Alan Pegna

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Phone: 
+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

179 works between 1986 and 2025
All (179) Journal Article (149) Conference Publication (30)

161 - 179 of 179 works

1999

Conference Publication

Electrical cortical stimulation of the human prefrontal cortex evokes complex visual hallucinations

Blanke, O, Pegna, A, Spinelli, L, Perrig, S, Landis, T and Seeck, M (1999). Electrical cortical stimulation of the human prefrontal cortex evokes complex visual hallucinations. PHILADELPHIA: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS.

Electrical cortical stimulation of the human prefrontal cortex evokes complex visual hallucinations

1999

Journal Article

Increased focal interictal discharges during specific cognitive tasks

Blanke, O, Pegna, A, Marcoz, JP, Landis, T and Seeck, M (1999). Increased focal interictal discharges during specific cognitive tasks. Neurocase, 5 (1), 13-19. doi: 10.1093/neucas/5.1.13

Increased focal interictal discharges during specific cognitive tasks

1998

Conference Publication

Spatio-temporal analysis of electric brain activity during semantic and phonological word processing

Khateb, A, Annoni, JM, Landis, T, Pegna, AJ, Custodi, MC, Fonteneau, E, Morand, SM and Michel, CM (1998). Spatio-temporal analysis of electric brain activity during semantic and phonological word processing. CAMBRIDGE: MIT PRESS.

Spatio-temporal analysis of electric brain activity during semantic and phonological word processing

1998

Journal Article

Ictal agraphia: A patient study

Schomer, DL, Pegna, A, Matton, B, Seeck, M, Bidaut, L, Slossman, D, Roth, S and Landis, T (1998). Ictal agraphia: A patient study. Neurology, 50 (2), 542-545. doi: 10.1212/WNL.50.2.542

Ictal agraphia: A patient study

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

Motor perseverations: A function of the side and the site of a cerebral lesion

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

Comprehensive postictal neuropsychology improves focus localization in epilepsy

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).

Spatio-temporal analysis of electric brain activity during mental rotation: An event-related potentials study

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

Random motor generation in a finger tapping task: influence of spatial contingency and of cortical and subcortical hemispheric brain lesions

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.

Unraveling the cerebral dynamics of mental imagery

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

Unraveling the cerebral dynamics of mental imagery

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

Unraveling the cerebral dynamics of mental imagery

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.

Postictal neuropsychological examination is a highly localizing tool in presurgical epilepsy evaluation

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

Cholinergic nucleus basalis neurons are excited by histamine in vitro

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

NORADRENERGIC MODULATION OF CHOLINERGIC NUCLEUS BASALIS NEURONS DEMONSTRATED BY IN-VITRO PHARMACOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EVIDENCE IN THE GUINEA-PIG BRAIN

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

HEMISPHERIC DOMINANCE FOR MELODY RECOGNITION IN MUSICIANS AND NON-MUSICIANS

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

UNILATERAL DYSGRAPHIA OF THE DOMINANT HAND IN A LEFT-HANDER - A DISRUPTION OF GRAPHIC MOTOR PATTERN SELECTION

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.

MOTOR PERSEVERATIONS AND OTHER MOTOR INTENTIONAL DISORDERS IN PATIENTS WITH SINGLE CEREBRAL-LESIONS

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.

THE EFFECT OF NORADRENALINE ON SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION IN SLICES OF RAT NEOCORTEX INVITRO

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.

EAR ADVANTAGE - HEMISPHERIC DOMINANCE AND COGNITIVE STRATEGY

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

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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