Supervisors
Prof. Denis Mareschal, Dr. Natasha Kirkham
Research Interest
My research is part of the research project investigating multisensory learning and cross-modal attentional control across childhood. While there have been many studies about how children combine cross-modal information to form a multisensory representation, or how children differ in modality preference (i.e. modality dominance), there has been surprisingly little research into understanding how children flexibly shift attention between different modalities, and importantly, whether this ability coincides with the development of cognitive flexibility in switching goal representations.
To understand this, computerized behaviour experiments were carried out with 4-year-olds, 6-year-olds and adults. These experiments involved novel task-switching paradigm that either involved modality-shifting or not, and either with unimodal or bimodal stimuli. Finally, I employed computation models with connectionist architecture to test the hypotheses on the information processes of different network ages.
Education
PhD Psychology
Birkbeck, University of London (2014-2018)
MSc Computation and Cognition (Distinction)
Birkbeck, University of London (2013-2014)
Dissertation: Intrinsic capacities and latching dynamics of different network structures.
BSc Psychology
Royal Holloway, University of London
Dissertation: Brain localization and functioning in rapid categorization process, in particular, differences between explicit and implicit categorization of everyday information.
Publication
Peng, A., Kirkham, N. Z., & Mareschal, D. (in press). Information processes in task-switching and modality-shifting across development. PLoS One.
Peng, A., Kirkham, N. Z., & Mareschal, D. (2018). Task switching costs in preschool children and adults. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 172, 59–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2018.01.019
Broadbent, H. J., Osborne, T., Rea, M., Peng, A., Mareschal, D., & Kirkham, N. Z. (2018). Incidental category learning and cognitive load in a multisensory environment across childhood. Developmental Psychology, 54(6). http://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000472
Seminar Presentations
Peng, A., Kirkham, N. Z., & Mareschal, D. (Apr, 2017). Attention control in task-switching and modality-shifting across development. SRCD Biennial Meeting.
Peng, A., Mareschal, D., & Kirkham, N. Z. (Nov, 2016). Cross-modal task-switching across development. BPS Developmental Section Annual Conference.
Peng, A., Mareschal, D., & Kirkham, N. Z. (May, 2016). Cross-modal task-switching across development. Developmental Seminar, Birkbeck, University of London.
Peng, A., Mareschal, D., & Kirkham, N. Z. (Jun, 2015). Task-switching in multisensory environment across development. UCL Institute of Education Doctoral Summer Conference.
Poster Presentations
Peng, A., Kirkham, N. Z., & Mareschal, D. (Jun, 2018) Computation model of attention control in task-switching. Expanding the Field: Dynamic Field Workshop, University East Anglia.
Peng, A., Mareschal, D., & Kirkham, N. Z. (Sep, 2017). Task-switching and modality-shifting across development. BPS developmental Section Annual Conference.
Peng, A., Mareschal, D., & Kirkham, N. Z. (Jan, 2017). Task-switching and modality-shifting across development. Budapest CEU Conference on Cognitive Development.
Peng, A., Kirkham, N. Z., & Mareschal, D. (Jan, 2016). Task-switching in preschoolers. Budapest CEU Conference on Cognitive Development.
What I do to keep me sane
I previously pretended to be a keen cyclist by cycling 20 miles to Birkbeck each way, and realized that it did not improve my productivity (quite the contrary in fact). I now pretend to be a keen swimmer by doing 3 to 5km a week.
In my younger years, I was an aspiring artist/designer (previously an interior designer). Now I dabble in stained glass designs. If anyone is interested in commissioning stained glass windows for your front door, do get in touch!