Johannes Koehn, an undergraduate student in the School of Psychology, has been awarded an Experimental Psychology Society (EPS) Undergraduate Research Bursary to undertake a summer research project exploring the neural mechanisms of memory. Specifically, Johannes will investigate why information that is read aloud tends to be remembered better than information read silently—a phenomenon known as the “production effect”. His project will integrate two cognitive neuroscience techniques: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG).
Under the supervision of Dr Brian Mathias, Lecturer in the School of Psychology, Johannes will explore how neurostimulation of motor-related brain regions affects EEG responses associated with the production effect. The research aims to clarify how the brain’s motor system may contribute to the memory advantages of verbalizing learning content. A deeper understanding of why production-based learning is effective could broaden its application in educational settings.
The EPS Scholarship will provide Johannes with hands-on experience in cognitive neuroscience techniques. Johannes shares, “I am excited to learn more about how brain electrical responses can be measured with EEG and to take on the challenge of integrating neurostimulation with EEG recording.”
Johannes’ research is funded by the EPS Undergraduate Bursary Scheme and is supervised by Dr Brian Mathias. If you would like to learn more about Johannes’ work, please contact by email at j.koehn.21@abdn.ac.uk.
