Steven Brown, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
(905) 525-9140 ext. 23892
stebro@mcmaster.ca

Research Interests: Neural, cognitive, anthropological and evolutionary aspects of the arts, as well as the inter-relationships among the arts themselves. My lab training is in molecular biology and human brain imaging. In addition, I am a classical pianist and avid dancer.

Matthew Berry, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow at large
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
(905) 525-9140 ext. 21443
berryma@mcmaster.ca

Research Interests: The psychology and cognitive neuroscience of drama (gesture), literature (narrative and storytelling), creativity, humor and improvisation. I am attempting to develop a new field devoted to analyzing the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying the production, perception, and synthesis of these areas. Beyond the lab, I am a writer, improvist, photographer, and fully licensed scuba diver.

Carmen Tu, B.H.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. student
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
(905) 525-9140 ext. 21443
tuc4@mcmaster.ca

Research Interests: Social cognition and joint action during conversation. This research involves analyzing dynamic patterns of how people become aligned and affiliated with one another during social interactions. My other research interests include character psychology and cross-media comparisons of narrative plot structure. I am also interested in the health humanities, and I enjoy painting, writing, dance, and film photography outside of research.

Elizabeth Phillips, B.M., B.Sc., Ph.D. student
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
(905) 525-9140 ext. 21443
phille10@mcmaster.ca>

Research Interests: Music theory and cognition, especially what defines human music as a global category of sound. This involves comparing music across cultures and contrasting it to other categories of sound (such as language and environmental noise). I am currently working on a vocal-based model for the evolution of scale structure. I also study the psychology of film music, and am a duathlete and classical pianist.

Zoe Lazar-Kurz, B.Sc., Ph.D. student
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
(905) 525-9140 ext. 21443
lazarkzc@mcmaster.ca

Research Interests: The cognitive psychology and neuroscience of creativity. I am currently working to characterize the creative process to better understand how an initial idea evolves into a final product. Currently, we are studying graphic designers, painters, creative writers and musicians in order to develop a unified theory spanning many creative domains. Outside of the lab, I love to cook, play piano, and enjoy the great outdoors.

Kiah Prince, B.Cog.Sc., Ph.D. student
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
(905) 525-9140 ext. 21443
princk2@mcmaster.ca

Research Interests: The neural correlates of the self, cooperation, and mentalizing. I am using functional MRI to explore the overlap in the brain networks between implicit mentalizing and rhythmic entrainment during cooperative social interactions. Apart from my work in the lab, I am a flamenco guitarist, photographer, writer, and music composer.

Jacob Cameirao, B.Sc., Master's student
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
(905) 525-9140 ext. 21443
cameiraj2@mcmaster.ca

Research Interests: The applied arts, particularly in the context of arts-based therapies. I am studying the mechanisms of action of arts-based therapies with the goal of developing a framework to guide the selection, combination, and integration of the arts in therapy.

Jessica Yang, Honours thesis student
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
(905) 525-9140 ext. 21443
yangj237@mcmaster.ca

Research Interests: Human perception of acoustic sounds and the classification of global music. For my thesis project, I am investigating the complex relationship between speech and music, and other possible correlates, such as pitch discreteness. Outside of the lab, I love engaging in community work, playing the electric guitar, and creating art.

Stacey Zoutis, Honours thesis student
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
(905) 525-9140 ext. 21443
zoutiss@mcmaster.ca

Research Interests: I am interested in using conversation analysis to study group dynamics and leadership. My thesis project aims to understand the impact of cognitive conflict on group performance and creativity. Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing ringette and ultimate frisbee for McMaster University.

Kylie Meyerman, Honours thesis student
Health Sciences Program
(905) 525-9140 ext. 21443
meyermak@mcmaster.ca

Research Interests: I am interested in the cognitive neuroscience of creativity, and its applications in cultural evolution. Currently, I am working on an fMRI study about the neural basis of feedback on the creative process. Outside of academics, I love writing and performing music, and overpriced caffeinated beverages.

Tia Suomela, Honours thesis student
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
(905) 525-9140 ext. 21443
suomelat@mcmaster.ca

Research Interests: I am interested in the evolution of dance and rhythm. My thesis is looking at how different models of entrainment affect synchrony between dancers. Outside of the lab, I have an interest in mental health and spend most of my time volunteering with children.

Miranda Wu, Honours thesis student
Health Sciences Program
(905) 525-9140 ext. 21443
wum75@mcmaster.ca

Research Interests: The mechanisms of arts-based therapies. My thesis project is examining the use of techniques from drama-based psychotherapies, in particular how shifting narrative perspective may impact an individual’s experience of an event in terms of emotional expressiveness, insight, mood, psychological distance, and empathy. Outside the lab, I enjoy dancing and horror movies.

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