I have a joint appointment as Assistant Professor at the Cognitive Psychology department at Leiden University and as Senior Investigator at the Max Planck Institute of Psycholinguistics. I am also a Visiting Professor at the Institute of Neuroscience at Newcastle University (UK). Furthermore, I will occupy the ILCB-IMéRA Chair at the University of Aix-en-Provence/Marseille (FR) from September 2023. ILCB is the Institute for Language Communication and the Brain. IMéRA is the Institute for Advanced Studies Marseille/Aix.

Language and Cognition

My main research interest is in Language and Cognition. With my students, I conduct research on cognitive determinants of language structure, language acquisition and processing, and the role of low level cognition, e.g. visual perception, world knowledge, and ‘minimal effort’ mechanisms in language. We use mainly  experimental behavioral (using artificial and natural language) methods, but also computational, neurocognitive and comparative approaches. My PolBoc Lab (Perception, Language, Behavior and Cognition) is a collaborative initiative with the Erasmus University of Rotterdam.

Decision Making  

I am also interested in how fundamental principles of Decision Making can be used in practical settings. For example, together with external parties, we research basic memory effects in police investigations in the IMMCI-project (Implicit Memory Methods for Criminal Investigation), the recognition of complex visual patterns, like in artistic styles, and the behavioral effects of different types of reward structures: like a basic income versus unemployment allowances. We also studied whether Snellius’ law of refraction of light applies to human planning behavior! 

• Google Scholar
• Research Gate

Professional Outreach

I am an expert witness, investigating and reporting on demand about cognitive psychological aspects in criminal cases for the Court or the police.

In the Media

In several (Dutch) media, university blogs (in English) and newspapers, I make my scientific work accessible to a large audience, explain the long term societal benefits of fundamental science, and contribute to discussions on science and education policy in Mare.

CV

For a brief CV see 'CV Fenna Poletiek'

Publications

Activities