Piia Astikainen appointed as Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience

Piia Astikainen has worked at the University of Jyväskylä as a researcher since 2004 and as an Associate Professor from May 2021. Astikainen's extensive research has focused on speech and face perception, learning and interaction. In her research, she has made use of psychophysiological and brain research methods.

The Active Mind Lab, led by Astikainen, generates knowledge to promote effective learning, interaction and mind-brain health. In addition, Astikainen leads a sub-project of InterLearn, Centre of Excellence in Learning Dynamics and Intervention Research, which uses brain research methods to study socio-emotional skills and information processing in school-age children and their links to learning difficulties.

Recently, Astikainen has been particularly interested in language learning and social perception. Her latest project (2022-2026), funded by the Academy of Finland, provides information on the role of interaction in foreign language learning. Astikainen's projects also include research on face perception and social interaction and their links to anxiety and depressive symptoms.

From laboratory conditions to natural situations

"In the coming years, my research group will focus on developing methods to study the neural responses of the brain and body in natural-like situations," says Astikainen.

"For example, we are currently studying social perception in real-life situations where people meet face-to-face. Such research situations are significantly different from traditional laboratory studies where, for example, subjects are asked to look at facial images while their brain activity is measured."

The research team also aims to develop more versatile ways to study verbal and non-verbal interactions.

"Current brain research focuses mainly on measuring brain activity of individuals, although understanding interaction requires looking at the brain activity of several people at the same time. This requires novel experimental setups and technical solutions that allow us to examine neural signals in real-time interaction situations," says Astikainen.

Piia Astikainen received her PhD in psychology from the University of Jyväskylä in 2004 and her Master's degree in psychology in 1997. She also holds a docentship in cognitive neuroscience from the University of Tampere (2009).

Piia Astikainen has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology since 2021. Prior to her appointment as Associate Professor, she worked as a University Researcher at the University of Jyväskylä.