Penny Pexman
@pennypexman.bsky.social
Professor of Psychology and Vice President (Research) at Western University 🇨🇦
Reposted by Penny Pexman
Each year, we come together to honour all who have served our country in times of war, conflict, and peace. #WesternU has been associated with Canada's armed forces throughout our shared history, and many of our members serve in the Canadian Armed Forces.
#LestWeForget #LdnOnt
#LestWeForget #LdnOnt
November 11, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Each year, we come together to honour all who have served our country in times of war, conflict, and peace. #WesternU has been associated with Canada's armed forces throughout our shared history, and many of our members serve in the Canadian Armed Forces.
#LestWeForget #LdnOnt
#LestWeForget #LdnOnt
Reposted by Penny Pexman
We're seeking the next Director of the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics! Lead cutting-edge research in language & cognition. Nominations (incl. self) due 19 Dec 2025.
mpi.nl/career-education/vacancies/vacancy/nominations-and-self-nominations-sought-position-director-max
mpi.nl/career-education/vacancies/vacancy/nominations-and-self-nominations-sought-position-director-max
October 3, 2025 at 7:53 AM
We're seeking the next Director of the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics! Lead cutting-edge research in language & cognition. Nominations (incl. self) due 19 Dec 2025.
mpi.nl/career-education/vacancies/vacancy/nominations-and-self-nominations-sought-position-director-max
mpi.nl/career-education/vacancies/vacancy/nominations-and-self-nominations-sought-position-director-max
Reposted by Penny Pexman
Done! Daria successfully defended her PhD thesis!
And that in front of an incredible jury who are the absolute top on this topic: @annaborghi.bsky.social , @pennypexman.bsky.social , @gabriellavigliocco.bsky.social
So proud of her!
bravo of course also to Jo Ziegler and Núria Gala!
And that in front of an incredible jury who are the absolute top on this topic: @annaborghi.bsky.social , @pennypexman.bsky.social , @gabriellavigliocco.bsky.social
So proud of her!
bravo of course also to Jo Ziegler and Núria Gala!
September 30, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Done! Daria successfully defended her PhD thesis!
And that in front of an incredible jury who are the absolute top on this topic: @annaborghi.bsky.social , @pennypexman.bsky.social , @gabriellavigliocco.bsky.social
So proud of her!
bravo of course also to Jo Ziegler and Núria Gala!
And that in front of an incredible jury who are the absolute top on this topic: @annaborghi.bsky.social , @pennypexman.bsky.social , @gabriellavigliocco.bsky.social
So proud of her!
bravo of course also to Jo Ziegler and Núria Gala!
Reposted by Penny Pexman
This morning, we connected over breakfast with Western Research staff, followed by updates from @pennypexman.bsky.social and a panel on AI in Research with Joanna Redden, Lyle Muller and @cribravo.bsky.social, moderated by @jamesshelley.com.
Thanks, everyone, for a great start to the school year!
Thanks, everyone, for a great start to the school year!
September 9, 2025 at 7:36 PM
This morning, we connected over breakfast with Western Research staff, followed by updates from @pennypexman.bsky.social and a panel on AI in Research with Joanna Redden, Lyle Muller and @cribravo.bsky.social, moderated by @jamesshelley.com.
Thanks, everyone, for a great start to the school year!
Thanks, everyone, for a great start to the school year!
Reposted by Penny Pexman
#WesternU’s new Pathogen Research Centre will position #LdnOnt as a national leader in virus transmission research and the development of vaccines and treatments for a range of diseases. @schulichmeddent.bsky.social
Western Pathogen Research Centre to advance study of infectious disease
Western has begun construction on the Pathogen Research Centre, which will position London as a national leader in the understanding of infectious diseases.
news.westernu.ca
September 3, 2025 at 7:28 PM
#WesternU’s new Pathogen Research Centre will position #LdnOnt as a national leader in virus transmission research and the development of vaccines and treatments for a range of diseases. @schulichmeddent.bsky.social
Reposted by Penny Pexman
Call for Papers for a new Special Issue of Cortex on Concept Knowledge
The editors, Penny Pexman, Richard Binney, Veronica Diveica, and Emiko Muraki welcome original empirical research articles, as well as reviews and perspectives.
The last date for submissions will be March 10th 2026.
The editors, Penny Pexman, Richard Binney, Veronica Diveica, and Emiko Muraki welcome original empirical research articles, as well as reviews and perspectives.
The last date for submissions will be March 10th 2026.
The multidimensionality, variability and flexibility of concepts: Opening editorial
www.sciencedirect.com
July 1, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Call for Papers for a new Special Issue of Cortex on Concept Knowledge
The editors, Penny Pexman, Richard Binney, Veronica Diveica, and Emiko Muraki welcome original empirical research articles, as well as reviews and perspectives.
The last date for submissions will be March 10th 2026.
The editors, Penny Pexman, Richard Binney, Veronica Diveica, and Emiko Muraki welcome original empirical research articles, as well as reviews and perspectives.
The last date for submissions will be March 10th 2026.
Reposted by Penny Pexman
How does the sound of names bias hiring decisions?
From @westernu.ca Vice-President (Research) @pennypexman.bsky.social and her @carleton.ca colleague, @davidmsidhu.bsky.social in @ca.theconversation.com:
theconversation.com/whats-in-a-n...
From @westernu.ca Vice-President (Research) @pennypexman.bsky.social and her @carleton.ca colleague, @davidmsidhu.bsky.social in @ca.theconversation.com:
theconversation.com/whats-in-a-n...
What’s in a name? How the sound of names can bias hiring decisions
New research shows that even the sound of a name can influence how job candidates are judged.
theconversation.com
September 2, 2025 at 1:11 PM
How does the sound of names bias hiring decisions?
From @westernu.ca Vice-President (Research) @pennypexman.bsky.social and her @carleton.ca colleague, @davidmsidhu.bsky.social in @ca.theconversation.com:
theconversation.com/whats-in-a-n...
From @westernu.ca Vice-President (Research) @pennypexman.bsky.social and her @carleton.ca colleague, @davidmsidhu.bsky.social in @ca.theconversation.com:
theconversation.com/whats-in-a-n...
Really looking forward to #AMLAP2025 in Prague this week. Big Data morning with @aggieerin.bsky.social and Emmanuel Keuleers looks 🔥
Full program here:
amlap2025.ff.cuni.cz/program/
Full program here:
amlap2025.ff.cuni.cz/program/
August 31, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Really looking forward to #AMLAP2025 in Prague this week. Big Data morning with @aggieerin.bsky.social and Emmanuel Keuleers looks 🔥
Full program here:
amlap2025.ff.cuni.cz/program/
Full program here:
amlap2025.ff.cuni.cz/program/
Reposted by Penny Pexman
What’s in a name? How the sound of names can bias hiring decisions
What’s in a name? How the sound of names can bias hiring decisions
New research shows that even the sound of a name can influence how job candidates are judged.
theconversation.com
August 28, 2025 at 5:13 PM
What’s in a name? How the sound of names can bias hiring decisions
Reposted by Penny Pexman
We are proud to share that @westernu.ca continues its collaboration with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) through the Academic Partnership Program.
(1/2)
#CNL #AECL #Nuclear #Innovation #Research
(1/2)
#CNL #AECL #Nuclear #Innovation #Research
July 30, 2025 at 7:35 PM
We are proud to share that @westernu.ca continues its collaboration with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) through the Academic Partnership Program.
(1/2)
#CNL #AECL #Nuclear #Innovation #Research
(1/2)
#CNL #AECL #Nuclear #Innovation #Research
Reposted by Penny Pexman
✨️Excited to share my first paper is out in Behavior Research Methods with @rjbinney.bsky.social and @pennypexman.bsky.social! We quantified the association of a word's meaning with reward, showing that it is a dimension relevant to semantic processing.
📄🔗Link: rdcu.be/eyqvn
📄🔗Link: rdcu.be/eyqvn
Reward as a facet of word meaning: Ratings of motivation for 8,601 English words
rdcu.be
July 31, 2025 at 10:01 AM
✨️Excited to share my first paper is out in Behavior Research Methods with @rjbinney.bsky.social and @pennypexman.bsky.social! We quantified the association of a word's meaning with reward, showing that it is a dimension relevant to semantic processing.
📄🔗Link: rdcu.be/eyqvn
📄🔗Link: rdcu.be/eyqvn
Reposted by Penny Pexman
🧠 Just out with @pennypexman.bsky.social “Simulation in the ‘Blind’ Mind”.
We found that even without conscious imagery (aphantasia), people still simulate sensorimotor info when processing language. 💭🔤
We found that even without conscious imagery (aphantasia), people still simulate sensorimotor info when processing language. 💭🔤
July 17, 2025 at 4:55 PM
🧠 Just out with @pennypexman.bsky.social “Simulation in the ‘Blind’ Mind”.
We found that even without conscious imagery (aphantasia), people still simulate sensorimotor info when processing language. 💭🔤
We found that even without conscious imagery (aphantasia), people still simulate sensorimotor info when processing language. 💭🔤
Reposted by Penny Pexman
Registration for the second Symposium on Individual Differences in Cognition (SIDIC), scheduled for the Thursday of the next Psychonomics Annual Meeting (in Denver) is now open. Please register as soon as possible to help us plan. Abstracts due August 1.
caliberlab.wixsite.com/sidic2025/re...
caliberlab.wixsite.com/sidic2025/re...
Registration | SIDIC 2025
caliberlab.wixsite.com
July 1, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Registration for the second Symposium on Individual Differences in Cognition (SIDIC), scheduled for the Thursday of the next Psychonomics Annual Meeting (in Denver) is now open. Please register as soon as possible to help us plan. Abstracts due August 1.
caliberlab.wixsite.com/sidic2025/re...
caliberlab.wixsite.com/sidic2025/re...
So privileged to have been your supervisor @emij.bsky.social. You are a star. 🌟
As I wrap up my PhD journey, I want to profoundly thank my supervisor @pennypexman.bsky.social .
Her generous mentorship shaped my vision of what research can be and guided my next big steps – a postdoc and tenure track position (more on those soon!)
I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor. 🙏🧠💫
Her generous mentorship shaped my vision of what research can be and guided my next big steps – a postdoc and tenure track position (more on those soon!)
I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor. 🙏🧠💫
July 1, 2025 at 7:04 PM
So privileged to have been your supervisor @emij.bsky.social. You are a star. 🌟
Reposted by Penny Pexman
🚨 New preprint!
With @lehtorituomo.bsky.social, Matti Laine, & @pennypexman.bsky.social
🔍 We analyzed data from two eye-tracking studies to explore individual differences in how #children process and comprehend written #irony. We showed that empathy and working memory mattered — gender didn't.
With @lehtorituomo.bsky.social, Matti Laine, & @pennypexman.bsky.social
🔍 We analyzed data from two eye-tracking studies to explore individual differences in how #children process and comprehend written #irony. We showed that empathy and working memory mattered — gender didn't.
Who gets it? Explaining variability in children's written irony comprehension: https://osf.io/y486w
June 26, 2025 at 6:36 AM
🚨 New preprint!
With @lehtorituomo.bsky.social, Matti Laine, & @pennypexman.bsky.social
🔍 We analyzed data from two eye-tracking studies to explore individual differences in how #children process and comprehend written #irony. We showed that empathy and working memory mattered — gender didn't.
With @lehtorituomo.bsky.social, Matti Laine, & @pennypexman.bsky.social
🔍 We analyzed data from two eye-tracking studies to explore individual differences in how #children process and comprehend written #irony. We showed that empathy and working memory mattered — gender didn't.
Reposted by Penny Pexman
🚨📄 New paper!
Abstract words are hard to acquire: Does social relevance help?
We tested if social experience helps children learn words—analyzing >4,000 words by socialness, valence, and concreteness.
👬 More social words were learned earlier
💭 Socialness particularly helped abstract words, but…
Abstract words are hard to acquire: Does social relevance help?
We tested if social experience helps children learn words—analyzing >4,000 words by socialness, valence, and concreteness.
👬 More social words were learned earlier
💭 Socialness particularly helped abstract words, but…
June 25, 2025 at 7:58 PM
🚨📄 New paper!
Abstract words are hard to acquire: Does social relevance help?
We tested if social experience helps children learn words—analyzing >4,000 words by socialness, valence, and concreteness.
👬 More social words were learned earlier
💭 Socialness particularly helped abstract words, but…
Abstract words are hard to acquire: Does social relevance help?
We tested if social experience helps children learn words—analyzing >4,000 words by socialness, valence, and concreteness.
👬 More social words were learned earlier
💭 Socialness particularly helped abstract words, but…
Reposted by Penny Pexman
Excited to announce a call for papers for a new virtual special issue in Cortex on Concept Knowledge.
Our opening editorial, plus further information and guidance for authors can be found here:
www.sciencedirect.com/special-issu...
Our opening editorial, plus further information and guidance for authors can be found here:
www.sciencedirect.com/special-issu...
June 21, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Excited to announce a call for papers for a new virtual special issue in Cortex on Concept Knowledge.
Our opening editorial, plus further information and guidance for authors can be found here:
www.sciencedirect.com/special-issu...
Our opening editorial, plus further information and guidance for authors can be found here:
www.sciencedirect.com/special-issu...
Reposted by Penny Pexman
Come to Prague in September!
The deadline for #AMLaP2025 in wonderful Prague 🇨🇿 organised by @janchromy.bsky.social has been extended to April 30! Send us your stuff! amlap2025.ff.cuni.cz
AMLaP 2025
amlap2025.ff.cuni.cz
April 26, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Come to Prague in September!
Reposted by Penny Pexman
🚨 New paper out in Human Brain Mapping! 🚨
with @pennypexman.bsky.social and @rjbinney.bsky.social
🧠 We show that the anterior temporal lobe (ATL) semantic hub supports abstract verb processing—with distinct activity patterns for:
• Emotional verbs
• Mental verbs
• Non-embodied verbs
with @pennypexman.bsky.social and @rjbinney.bsky.social
🧠 We show that the anterior temporal lobe (ATL) semantic hub supports abstract verb processing—with distinct activity patterns for:
• Emotional verbs
• Mental verbs
• Non-embodied verbs
April 25, 2025 at 3:27 PM
🚨 New paper out in Human Brain Mapping! 🚨
with @pennypexman.bsky.social and @rjbinney.bsky.social
🧠 We show that the anterior temporal lobe (ATL) semantic hub supports abstract verb processing—with distinct activity patterns for:
• Emotional verbs
• Mental verbs
• Non-embodied verbs
with @pennypexman.bsky.social and @rjbinney.bsky.social
🧠 We show that the anterior temporal lobe (ATL) semantic hub supports abstract verb processing—with distinct activity patterns for:
• Emotional verbs
• Mental verbs
• Non-embodied verbs
Reposted by Penny Pexman
🚨New paper alert!🚨
Name sound symbolism, personality, and job ads!
We found that the sounds in a name affected which candidate participants chose as the best fit for a job ad.
With @pennypexman.bsky.social, Josh Bourdage and Tim Wingate.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🧵 Thread below!
Name sound symbolism, personality, and job ads!
We found that the sounds in a name affected which candidate participants chose as the best fit for a job ad.
With @pennypexman.bsky.social, Josh Bourdage and Tim Wingate.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🧵 Thread below!
Would you hire Liam over Kirk? Name sound symbolism and hiring
Sound symbolism is the phenomenon by which certain language sounds evoke particular associations. Previous work has demonstrated that names evoke pers…
www.sciencedirect.com
April 24, 2025 at 3:01 PM
🚨New paper alert!🚨
Name sound symbolism, personality, and job ads!
We found that the sounds in a name affected which candidate participants chose as the best fit for a job ad.
With @pennypexman.bsky.social, Josh Bourdage and Tim Wingate.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🧵 Thread below!
Name sound symbolism, personality, and job ads!
We found that the sounds in a name affected which candidate participants chose as the best fit for a job ad.
With @pennypexman.bsky.social, Josh Bourdage and Tim Wingate.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🧵 Thread below!
Reposted by Penny Pexman
New content: Muraki, E. J., Born, S., & Pexman, P. M. (2025). Grasping Variance in Word Norms: Individual Differences in
Motor Imagery and Semantic Ratings. Journal of Cognition,
8(1): 12, pp. 1–10. DOI: doi.org/10.5334/joc.... #psychscisky
Motor Imagery and Semantic Ratings. Journal of Cognition,
8(1): 12, pp. 1–10. DOI: doi.org/10.5334/joc.... #psychscisky
Grasping Variance in Word Norms: Individual Differences in Motor Imagery and Semantic Ratings | Journal of Cognition
The Journal of Cognition, the official journal of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology, publishes reviews, empirical articles (including registered reports), data reports, stimulus developmen...
doi.org
January 23, 2025 at 10:55 AM
New content: Muraki, E. J., Born, S., & Pexman, P. M. (2025). Grasping Variance in Word Norms: Individual Differences in
Motor Imagery and Semantic Ratings. Journal of Cognition,
8(1): 12, pp. 1–10. DOI: doi.org/10.5334/joc.... #psychscisky
Motor Imagery and Semantic Ratings. Journal of Cognition,
8(1): 12, pp. 1–10. DOI: doi.org/10.5334/joc.... #psychscisky
Reposted by Penny Pexman
📢 Big news! Our 2025 Annual Meeting will be a collab with @wicseurope.bsky.social, during the Joint @exppsychsoc.bsky.social/CSBBCS Conference in Dundee, Scotland on ⭐July 8⭐, and will feature a panel on international collaboration.
Questions for the panel? Share here:
forms.gle/DTYpGh27etgq...
Questions for the panel? Share here:
forms.gle/DTYpGh27etgq...
April 5, 2025 at 6:56 PM
📢 Big news! Our 2025 Annual Meeting will be a collab with @wicseurope.bsky.social, during the Joint @exppsychsoc.bsky.social/CSBBCS Conference in Dundee, Scotland on ⭐July 8⭐, and will feature a panel on international collaboration.
Questions for the panel? Share here:
forms.gle/DTYpGh27etgq...
Questions for the panel? Share here:
forms.gle/DTYpGh27etgq...
Reposted by Penny Pexman
We are excited to launch a new program for postdoctoral scholars at #WesternU - the Western Research Scholar Awards, which provide an additional $30K over two years to postdoctoral scholars who have secured a position through a Tri-Agency fellowship program.
Learn more: uwo.ca/research/fun...
Learn more: uwo.ca/research/fun...
Western Research Scholar Awards
Western University, in vibrant London, Ontario, delivers an academic and student experience second to none.
uwo.ca
March 7, 2025 at 3:53 PM
We are excited to launch a new program for postdoctoral scholars at #WesternU - the Western Research Scholar Awards, which provide an additional $30K over two years to postdoctoral scholars who have secured a position through a Tri-Agency fellowship program.
Learn more: uwo.ca/research/fun...
Learn more: uwo.ca/research/fun...
Reposted by Penny Pexman
ICYMI: The Western Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is accepting applications for the 2025 cohort!
This fellowship offers a competitive stipend package over two years - learn more about the program on our website: uwo.ca/research/fun...
This fellowship offers a competitive stipend package over two years - learn more about the program on our website: uwo.ca/research/fun...
Western Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
Western University, in vibrant London, Ontario, delivers an academic and student experience second to none.
uwo.ca
March 20, 2025 at 2:39 PM
ICYMI: The Western Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is accepting applications for the 2025 cohort!
This fellowship offers a competitive stipend package over two years - learn more about the program on our website: uwo.ca/research/fun...
This fellowship offers a competitive stipend package over two years - learn more about the program on our website: uwo.ca/research/fun...
Reposted by Penny Pexman
We’re really looking forward to celebrating #WesternU researchers, scholars and artists at our annual awards celebration tonight. Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients!
March 20, 2025 at 9:04 PM
We’re really looking forward to celebrating #WesternU researchers, scholars and artists at our annual awards celebration tonight. Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients!