Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences
@psychunimelb.bsky.social
News, events and research from the University of Melbourne's School of Psychological Sciences.
🎧 Tune into PsychTalks on your favourite podcast platform.
➡ psychologicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au
🎧 Tune into PsychTalks on your favourite podcast platform.
➡ psychologicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au
Pinned
Are we really making healthy choices for our children in the supermarket? Or are we being nudged by bright colours and fruit-filled imagery?
A/Prof Helen Dixon and Jane Martin unpack the psychology, policy and packaging that influence what ends up in our shopping trolleys.
go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
A/Prof Helen Dixon and Jane Martin unpack the psychology, policy and packaging that influence what ends up in our shopping trolleys.
go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
‘Supervised’ self-driving cars are here – and Australia’s laws aren’t ready
Dr Angus McKerral and Professor Kristen Pammer contribute to a discussion in The Conversation:
theconversation.com/supervised-s...
Dr Angus McKerral and Professor Kristen Pammer contribute to a discussion in The Conversation:
theconversation.com/supervised-s...
November 11, 2025 at 11:30 PM
‘Supervised’ self-driving cars are here – and Australia’s laws aren’t ready
Dr Angus McKerral and Professor Kristen Pammer contribute to a discussion in The Conversation:
theconversation.com/supervised-s...
Dr Angus McKerral and Professor Kristen Pammer contribute to a discussion in The Conversation:
theconversation.com/supervised-s...
Reposted by Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences
New preprint from the lab led by @violetchae.bsky.social! We debut an open EEG dataset for research into food cognition and dietary choices.
Featuring data from 117 different brains relating to 120 different food stimuli.
@tgro.bsky.social @psychunimelb.bsky.social
Featuring data from 117 different brains relating to 120 different food stimuli.
@tgro.bsky.social @psychunimelb.bsky.social
Our new preprint on the FOODEEG open dataset is out! EEG recordings and behavioural responses on food cognition tasks for 117 participants will be made publicly available 🧠 @danfeuerriegel.bsky.social @tgro.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
FOODEEG: An open dataset of human electroencephalographic and behavioural responses to food images
Investigating the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying food choices has the potential to advance our understanding of eating behaviour and inform health-targeted interventions and policy. Large, publi...
www.biorxiv.org
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
New preprint from the lab led by @violetchae.bsky.social! We debut an open EEG dataset for research into food cognition and dietary choices.
Featuring data from 117 different brains relating to 120 different food stimuli.
@tgro.bsky.social @psychunimelb.bsky.social
Featuring data from 117 different brains relating to 120 different food stimuli.
@tgro.bsky.social @psychunimelb.bsky.social
Congratulations to the successful recipients of 2026 ARC Discovery Project funding: A/Prof Piers Howe, Dr Daniel Bennett, Prof Nick Haslam, Dr Sarah Tashjian and Prof Katherine Johnson!
November 11, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Congratulations to the successful recipients of 2026 ARC Discovery Project funding: A/Prof Piers Howe, Dr Daniel Bennett, Prof Nick Haslam, Dr Sarah Tashjian and Prof Katherine Johnson!
Congratulations Dr @ccwalton.bsky.social ! He has been awarded a Movember grant for his project,'Enhancing suicide postvention in community sport’. This program delivered with the AFL and @orygen.org.au aims to better understand how sports clubs respond to instances of youth suicide and self-harm.
November 5, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Congratulations Dr @ccwalton.bsky.social ! He has been awarded a Movember grant for his project,'Enhancing suicide postvention in community sport’. This program delivered with the AFL and @orygen.org.au aims to better understand how sports clubs respond to instances of youth suicide and self-harm.
Still feeling the Halloween spirit🎃? Listen to Dr Sarah Tashjian on NPR's Short Wave discuss the science behind why we seek out scary experiences like haunted houses.
Find the podcast here: www.npr.org/2025/10/29/n...
Find the podcast here: www.npr.org/2025/10/29/n...
Why do we like haunted houses? The science behind why people pursue fear : Short Wave
Like haunted houses? Scientists do! That’s because they’re an excellent place to study how humans respond to – and even actively seek out – fear. In an immersive threat setting, as opposed to a carefu...
www.npr.org
November 2, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Still feeling the Halloween spirit🎃? Listen to Dr Sarah Tashjian on NPR's Short Wave discuss the science behind why we seek out scary experiences like haunted houses.
Find the podcast here: www.npr.org/2025/10/29/n...
Find the podcast here: www.npr.org/2025/10/29/n...
There's just two days remaining before the Brotherton Lecture with Prof Beatrice de Gelder as she presents "The body inside out: From experience to perception and back"
When: 30 Oct, 6:00–7:00pm
Where: Forum Theatre
Register here: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-body-i...
When: 30 Oct, 6:00–7:00pm
Where: Forum Theatre
Register here: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-body-i...
The body inside out: From experience to perception and back
Join us for the annual Brotherton Lecture, presented by Professor Beatrice de Gelder, exploring the science of visual body perception.
www.eventbrite.com.au
October 27, 2025 at 10:20 PM
There's just two days remaining before the Brotherton Lecture with Prof Beatrice de Gelder as she presents "The body inside out: From experience to perception and back"
When: 30 Oct, 6:00–7:00pm
Where: Forum Theatre
Register here: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-body-i...
When: 30 Oct, 6:00–7:00pm
Where: Forum Theatre
Register here: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-body-i...
Reposted by Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences
New article in @theconversation.com - featuring some exciting new findings on how our brains rapidly encode a wide range of food properties when we see a food item.
Your brain is doing a lot of work when you scroll through food delivery apps!
Led by @violetchae.bsky.social w/ @tgro.bsky.social
Your brain is doing a lot of work when you scroll through food delivery apps!
Led by @violetchae.bsky.social w/ @tgro.bsky.social
Using EEG 🧠⚡ and representational similarity analysis, we mapped how the neural representations of food attributes (e.g., taste & health) unfold over time when viewing foods🍎🍰🥗 @danfeuerriegel.bsky.social @tgro.bsky.social
theconversation.com/our-brains-e...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ap...
theconversation.com/our-brains-e...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ap...
Redirecting
doi.org
October 22, 2025 at 10:20 PM
New article in @theconversation.com - featuring some exciting new findings on how our brains rapidly encode a wide range of food properties when we see a food item.
Your brain is doing a lot of work when you scroll through food delivery apps!
Led by @violetchae.bsky.social w/ @tgro.bsky.social
Your brain is doing a lot of work when you scroll through food delivery apps!
Led by @violetchae.bsky.social w/ @tgro.bsky.social
Are we really making healthy choices for our children in the supermarket? Or are we being nudged by bright colours and fruit-filled imagery?
A/Prof Helen Dixon and Jane Martin unpack the psychology, policy and packaging that influence what ends up in our shopping trolleys.
go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
A/Prof Helen Dixon and Jane Martin unpack the psychology, policy and packaging that influence what ends up in our shopping trolleys.
go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
October 23, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Are we really making healthy choices for our children in the supermarket? Or are we being nudged by bright colours and fruit-filled imagery?
A/Prof Helen Dixon and Jane Martin unpack the psychology, policy and packaging that influence what ends up in our shopping trolleys.
go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
A/Prof Helen Dixon and Jane Martin unpack the psychology, policy and packaging that influence what ends up in our shopping trolleys.
go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
This morning, Associate Professor Scott Griffiths went on ABC Hobart Breakfast to discuss how social media algorithms create negative echo chambers and how we can take back control.
Listen to it here: www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Listen to it here: www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Breakfast - ABC listen
Bonsai, mall cops, and the almighty algorithm - today on Hobart Breakfast
www.abc.net.au
October 21, 2025 at 12:09 AM
This morning, Associate Professor Scott Griffiths went on ABC Hobart Breakfast to discuss how social media algorithms create negative echo chambers and how we can take back control.
Listen to it here: www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Listen to it here: www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Misinformation and disinformation now pose some of the biggest global risks to democracy and public trust. In the latest PsychTalks episode, A/Prof Piers Howe explains why it's important to stay informed, think critically and understand the science behind persuasion.
go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
October 19, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Misinformation and disinformation now pose some of the biggest global risks to democracy and public trust. In the latest PsychTalks episode, A/Prof Piers Howe explains why it's important to stay informed, think critically and understand the science behind persuasion.
go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
Misinformation and disinformation now pose some of the biggest global risks to democracy and public trust. In the latest PsychTalks episode, A/Prof Piers Howe explains why it's important to stay informed, think critically and understand the science behind persuasion.
go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
October 13, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Misinformation and disinformation now pose some of the biggest global risks to democracy and public trust. In the latest PsychTalks episode, A/Prof Piers Howe explains why it's important to stay informed, think critically and understand the science behind persuasion.
go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
Education at Melbourne interviewed Professor @andyperfors.bsky.social, Director of the Complex Human Data Hub at the University of Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, and Academic Lead, LGBTIQA+ Inclusion at the University.
Read it here: go.unimelb.edu.au/t3qp
Read it here: go.unimelb.edu.au/t3qp
Storytelling, stats, and helping everyone belong with Andy Perfors
Storytelling, stats, and helping everyone belong with Andy Perfors
go.unimelb.edu.au
October 8, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Education at Melbourne interviewed Professor @andyperfors.bsky.social, Director of the Complex Human Data Hub at the University of Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, and Academic Lead, LGBTIQA+ Inclusion at the University.
Read it here: go.unimelb.edu.au/t3qp
Read it here: go.unimelb.edu.au/t3qp
What's the best way to convince your boss to take on an idea you have? According to Prof Jen Overbeck, it’s important to look beyond our immediate goal and focus on establishing a foundation of credibility and respect.
Tune in to PsychTalks to hear more: go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
Tune in to PsychTalks to hear more: go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
October 2, 2025 at 12:29 AM
What's the best way to convince your boss to take on an idea you have? According to Prof Jen Overbeck, it’s important to look beyond our immediate goal and focus on establishing a foundation of credibility and respect.
Tune in to PsychTalks to hear more: go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
Tune in to PsychTalks to hear more: go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
Want tips on how to use power and influence more effectively - whether you’re pitching an idea, leading a team, or asking your preschooler to brush their teeth? Prof Jen Overbeck unpacks how persuasion works, and why gender, identity and context matter.
Find it here go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
Find it here go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
September 24, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Want tips on how to use power and influence more effectively - whether you’re pitching an idea, leading a team, or asking your preschooler to brush their teeth? Prof Jen Overbeck unpacks how persuasion works, and why gender, identity and context matter.
Find it here go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
Find it here go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
Menopause and ageing are often portrayed as a fundamentally negative and frightening process.
In the latest episode of PsychTalks, Dr Lydia Brown offers a more nuanced approach that encourages women to pursue self-compassion and healthier attitudes towards ageing.
go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
In the latest episode of PsychTalks, Dr Lydia Brown offers a more nuanced approach that encourages women to pursue self-compassion and healthier attitudes towards ageing.
go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
September 18, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Menopause and ageing are often portrayed as a fundamentally negative and frightening process.
In the latest episode of PsychTalks, Dr Lydia Brown offers a more nuanced approach that encourages women to pursue self-compassion and healthier attitudes towards ageing.
go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
In the latest episode of PsychTalks, Dr Lydia Brown offers a more nuanced approach that encourages women to pursue self-compassion and healthier attitudes towards ageing.
go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
We speak to @simine.com, @wchiggins.bsky.social and Laura Conlon about MetaMelb. This lab studies what is essentially ‘the psychology of psychology research’ – examining practices and norms across psychology.
Read it here: go.unimelb.edu.au/753p
Read it here: go.unimelb.edu.au/753p
The psychology of psychology: Inside MetaMelb
The psychology of psychology: Inside MetaMelb
psychologicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au
September 16, 2025 at 11:53 PM
We speak to @simine.com, @wchiggins.bsky.social and Laura Conlon about MetaMelb. This lab studies what is essentially ‘the psychology of psychology research’ – examining practices and norms across psychology.
Read it here: go.unimelb.edu.au/753p
Read it here: go.unimelb.edu.au/753p
Congratulations Elizabeth Davie and Katie Possingham for their success presenting at the Professional Staff Conference 2025!
Read about their experience presenting "In Your Element: Play to Your Strengths" and "Improv 101: The Art of Embracing Uncertainty" go.unimelb.edu.au/8v3p
Read about their experience presenting "In Your Element: Play to Your Strengths" and "Improv 101: The Art of Embracing Uncertainty" go.unimelb.edu.au/8v3p
Professional Staff Conference Success
Professional Staff Conference Success
go.unimelb.edu.au
September 16, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Congratulations Elizabeth Davie and Katie Possingham for their success presenting at the Professional Staff Conference 2025!
Read about their experience presenting "In Your Element: Play to Your Strengths" and "Improv 101: The Art of Embracing Uncertainty" go.unimelb.edu.au/8v3p
Read about their experience presenting "In Your Element: Play to Your Strengths" and "Improv 101: The Art of Embracing Uncertainty" go.unimelb.edu.au/8v3p
Join us October 30 for the annual Brotherton with Professor Beatrice de Gelder: "The body inside out: From experience to perception and back" she will offer new perspectives on how the brain perceives and interprets bodies and social signals.
Register here: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-body-i...
Register here: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-body-i...
The body inside out: From experience to perception and back
Join us for the annual Brotherton Lecture, presented by Professor Beatrice de Gelder, exploring the science of visual body perception.
www.eventbrite.com.au
September 12, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Join us October 30 for the annual Brotherton with Professor Beatrice de Gelder: "The body inside out: From experience to perception and back" she will offer new perspectives on how the brain perceives and interprets bodies and social signals.
Register here: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-body-i...
Register here: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-body-i...
What are the mental health impacts of menopause and how are they connected with our ideas about ageing? Dr Lydia Brown shares insights from her research on self-compassion and how it can help those managing the psychological challenges of menopause.
Find it here go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
Find it here go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
September 11, 2025 at 1:35 AM
What are the mental health impacts of menopause and how are they connected with our ideas about ageing? Dr Lydia Brown shares insights from her research on self-compassion and how it can help those managing the psychological challenges of menopause.
Find it here go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
Find it here go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
How do media portrayals shape public views of mental illness and what happens when violence makes the headlines? Join us October 9 for the 2025 World Mental Health Day with our expert panel where we discuss how we can shift the narrative.
Register here: go.unimelb.edu.au/ee3p
Register here: go.unimelb.edu.au/ee3p
September 9, 2025 at 2:44 AM
How do media portrayals shape public views of mental illness and what happens when violence makes the headlines? Join us October 9 for the 2025 World Mental Health Day with our expert panel where we discuss how we can shift the narrative.
Register here: go.unimelb.edu.au/ee3p
Register here: go.unimelb.edu.au/ee3p
How does language shape the way we think? While we can all see colours, different languages slice up the colour spectrum in unique ways. Some languages have far more words while others have just a handful.
Listen to the latest PsychTalks episode with Dr Frank Mollica here go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
Listen to the latest PsychTalks episode with Dr Frank Mollica here go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
September 8, 2025 at 12:52 AM
How does language shape the way we think? While we can all see colours, different languages slice up the colour spectrum in unique ways. Some languages have far more words while others have just a handful.
Listen to the latest PsychTalks episode with Dr Frank Mollica here go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
Listen to the latest PsychTalks episode with Dr Frank Mollica here go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
As part of Women’s Health Week, we are proud to spotlight Dr Lydia Brown: clinical psychologist, senior lecturer, and menopause and mental health expert. Catch her on next week's episode of PsychTalks or register for her CPD workshop October 30.
Read more: go.unimelb.edu.au/xn3p
Read more: go.unimelb.edu.au/xn3p
Navigating Menopause with Compassion: Dr Lydia Brown’s Work in Women’s Mental Health
Navigating Menopause with Compassion: Dr Lydia Brown’s Work in Women’s Mental Health
psychologicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au
September 5, 2025 at 3:42 AM
As part of Women’s Health Week, we are proud to spotlight Dr Lydia Brown: clinical psychologist, senior lecturer, and menopause and mental health expert. Catch her on next week's episode of PsychTalks or register for her CPD workshop October 30.
Read more: go.unimelb.edu.au/xn3p
Read more: go.unimelb.edu.au/xn3p
Serena Williams' openness about using GLP-1 meds for weight loss sparks debate. Is her honesty praiseworthy or does it glorify thinness over health? A/Prof Isabel Krug contributes her thoughts: go.unimelb.edu.au/u9kp
Serena Williams admitted to taking weight loss drugs. What’s going on?
Even when elite athletes and celebrities are seemingly transparent about their health and bodies, we still may not be getting the full story.
go.unimelb.edu.au
September 4, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Serena Williams' openness about using GLP-1 meds for weight loss sparks debate. Is her honesty praiseworthy or does it glorify thinness over health? A/Prof Isabel Krug contributes her thoughts: go.unimelb.edu.au/u9kp
What do the names of colours, kinship terms and legal jargon tell us about the human mind? In the latest episode of PsychTalks, Dr Frank Mollica explores language as a culturally shaped, far from universal cognitive tool.
Find it here go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
Find it here go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
August 27, 2025 at 11:29 PM
What do the names of colours, kinship terms and legal jargon tell us about the human mind? In the latest episode of PsychTalks, Dr Frank Mollica explores language as a culturally shaped, far from universal cognitive tool.
Find it here go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
Find it here go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
Why do some people seem naturally kind? Prof Luke Smillie breaks down personality traits like empathy, honesty and compassion – and how they shape behaviour. 🎧Find it here go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe
August 25, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Why do some people seem naturally kind? Prof Luke Smillie breaks down personality traits like empathy, honesty and compassion – and how they shape behaviour. 🎧Find it here go.unimelb.edu.au/7axe