Dr Dan Kennedy-Higgins is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology Education in the Department of Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN).

His research focuses on trying to understand the cognitive and neural mechanisms involved in the successful perception of clear speech and how these mechanisms change when speech becomes distorted, for example, due to the presence of background noise. To investigate this topic, he uses behavioural, neuroimaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) research paradigms.

In addition, he also investigates the extent to which written word processing is automatic, and the role of orthographic/phonological similarity and training on the size of the Stroop interference effect. Finally, Dan conducts pedagogical research investigating the factors which contribute to difficult academic progress with a specific focus on the role of language proficiency and academic progress.

• PhD Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Speech, Hearing and Phonetic Sciences, UCL
• MSc Neuroscience, Language and Communication, UCL
• BSc Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London.

Research interests

• Speech perception and perceptual adaptation
• Stroop Effect
• Academic progress and language proficiency

Teaching

• Psychology BSc: Key Studies in Cognitive Science, Theories and Methods in Psycholinguistic Research, Research Methods 1, Research Methods 2, Research Methods 4, Psychological Skills – Creating Online Experiments.