Research Projects

Visual Short-Term Memory

My main research interest is focused on understanding the neural architecture of visual short-term memory. How are visual representations stored during working memory?

To study this, I combine behavioral experiments (think of these like some sort of very boring video games) with various technologies, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), eye-tracking, and brain imaging (EEG).

The main tool I employ is TMS, which is a non-invasive, reliable, and safe tool to induce brain stimulation with high temporal & spatial resolution. If you are curious about how I do this, but you want the lay-person version of the explanation, you can check out my TEDx talk.

An animated example of a TMS paradigm is shown below:

Statistical Methods for Psychology

I also enjoy conducting simulations that illustrate methodological and statistical issues, which could inform the broader field of psychology.

My main motivation for this is the replication crisis of psychology, which became a popular topic of discussion during the time that I was discovering my passion for psychological research. Partly, I was inspired by the book The Seven Deadly Sins of Psychology by Chris Chambers.

Through this work I try to tackle issues concerning the use of p-values and Bayes Factors, Bayesian sample size determination, statistical software reliability, and others.

Laterality

Did you notice that, as humans, we are extremely asymmetric? Dominant hands, dominant eyes, asymmetric feet, placement of visceral organs, facial features!

I certainly haven’t paid that much attention to this asymmetry, until I established an amazing collaboration with Dr Marietta Papadatou-Pastou, who’s main research interest focuses on the behavioural aspects of laterality.

You can check out the details of our laterality work here to understand how we utilize functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound, in order to figure out laterality in the brain during writing in both neurotypical individuals and individuals with atypical neurological development.

Psychometrics

Psychologists often try to transform a psychological state into something measurable, using some sort of tool, such as a questionnaire.

In order to create reliable and valid tools, this transformation process, has to come from researchers who can understand both (1) the underlying mechanisms (e.g., the emotional, cognitive, or behavioral mechanisms) and (2) how to utilize the underlying tools for measuring them (e.g., the statistics behind them).

You can compare this transformation process to driving. Even if someone is an experienced driver (i.e., understands the underlying mechanisms of driving), if the car is faulty (i.e., cannot utilize it), travelling from A to B is impossible.

My academic training in psychology along with my enthusiasm for statistics, has led me to be part of a fruitful consortium, where we standardize, validate, and create numerous psychometric tools -mainly in Greek- with clinical applications for the Greek-speaking populations.

Comics in Education

Did you know that comics can be employed as educational material?

When we refer to comics we are not implying superhero comics or comic strips, but to comics that incorporated the use of “visual language” and writing.

But someone would wonder why comics? Comics can be processed faster and be remembered better than texts!

So, can they successfully improve educational outcomes when utilized as a teaching method? Are there any differences between STEM and non-STEM education through comics?

By providing my meta-science expertise, I collaborate with an amazing team working on the MSCA funded SellSTEM project, to better understand how we can improve STEM education.

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