NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH LABORATORY
WITS NeuRL
COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE
PhD, MA, BAHons, BA
Working memory; Executive Functions; Multilingualism; Creativity; Intelligence
DIVISION LEADER
Kate Cockcroft
Kate Cockcroft is a Professor in the Department of Psychology, School of Human and Community Development at the University of the Witwatersrand. She obtained both her Masters and PhD from Wits University. Her research and teaching are situated in the overlapping areas of Cognitive Psychology, Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology and Psychological Assessment. Kate's scholarly work focuses on the role of working memory in learning, development, language and creativity. Her research investigates how these processes develop and are assessed in typical monolingual and multilingual children and young adults, as well as in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ADHD and HIV. Related to this is the promise of working memory assessments as an equitable means of tapping the cognitive abilities and potential of children and young adults from diverse socio-economic, cultural and language backgrounds. Full publication list: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6166-8050
RESEARCH
Working Memory Across The Lifespan
This ongoing project is investigating ways in which working memory processes develop and are assessed in typical monolingual and multilingual children and young adults, as well as in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ADHD and HIV. Related to this is the promise of working memory assessments as an equitable means of tapping the cognitive abilities and potential of children and young adults from diverse socio-economic, cultural and language backgrounds. Projects explore the structure of working memory in childhood and young adulthood and how these processes are affected by bilingualism and multilingualism; the efficacy of a working memory intervention in improving and maintaining positive academic and executive functioning outcomes in children with HIV, and the relationship between working memory functioning and creativity.
These projects have been funded by the National Research Foundation.
Neuropsychological Assessment
This section features research into neurocognitive assessment methods and instruments, with a specific focus on their use in low resource, multicultural and multilingual settings, as well as other contexts that are not WEIRD (Westernised, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and/or Developed).
Nicky Israel
Nicky Israel is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology in the School of Human and Community Development at the University of the Witwatersrand. She obtained her Masters and her PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand. Her research and teaching are situated in cognitive psychology, research methods and design, and industrial/ organisational psychology. Her scholarly work focuses on teaching practice as well as cognitive assessment and the application of research theory. Some of the recent projects she has been involved with include explorations of analogical problem solving, generational identity in the workplace, and graduateness.
BAHons, MA, PhD
Teaching practice, application of research theory
RESEARCH
Dr Nicky Israel’s research interests span a number of areas in cognitive, educational, and industrial/ organisational psychology. Specific topics of interest include: problem-solving and intelligence; innovation and creativity; teaching and learning (e.g. learning styles; motivation; factors affecting performance; academic development); graduateness; people in the workplace (e.g. work-family balance; employer attractiveness; workplace generations; OCB; CSR; job satisfaction; workplace performance); programme evaluation; research design; psychometrics and assessment; and general cognitive psychology.
Andrew May
Andrew May is a Lecturer in Medical Genetics at Kingston University. He holds a PhD in Research Psychology and an MSc (Medicine) in Human Genetics from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). His previous roles include Postdoctoral Research Fellowships at Queen Mary University of London and the University of Surrey, following a position as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Biosciences (SBIMB) at Wits. He worked for eight years as a lecturer and medical scientist at the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) in the Wits Division of Human Genetics. He was awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship to lead biopsychosocial research on sensory processing sensitivity in Syrian refugee children.
PhD, MSc, BScHons, BSc
Teaching practice, application of research theory
RESEARCH
Andrew’s research focuses on how genetic variation impacts individual differences in health and behaviour. He is specifically interested in the field of Environmental Sensitivity, which combines genetics, developmental, and evolutionary psychology to explain why humans (and other animals) differ in their neurological sensitivity to environmental stimulation. Andrew is also interested in the interdisciplinary research fields of behaviour genetics and molecular psychiatry.
Victoria Williams
Victoria Williams is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). She has obtained degrees across disciplines, resulting in a comprehensive and holistic understanding of the human brain. In 2010, Victoria completed a BA in Humanties, majoring in Anthropology and Psychology, followed by an Honours (2011) and Masters in Anthropology (2014), at the University of Johannesburg, which provided deeper insight into the evolution of working memory in humans. In 2020, she received her PhD in Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits. The doctorate focused on the location and distribution of the orexinergic, serotonergic, catecholaminergic, and cholinergic systems in the brain of the lar gibbon and chimpanzee. The data obtained from this study has provided further insight into the anatomy and evolution of these clinically important neuromodulatory systems in the brain of apes, including humans. Victoria's skills and expertise include Immunohistochemistry, Brain Dissection, Stereology, EEG/ERP and Analysis.
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PhD, MA, BAHons, BA
Neuroanatomy and Brain Evolution; Cognitive Neuroscience.
RESEARCH
Currently, Victoria's research focuses on the effects of multilingualism on working memory capacity in young, cognitively healthy adults, using electroencephalogy (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERPs) methodology. Victoria also serves as a reviewer for impactful journals, such as the Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology.
Johanni Beukes
Johanni Beukes is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the NeurL, Psychology Department, School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). In 2011, Johanni completed a BSc in Human Physiology, Genetics and Psychology from the University of Pretoria (UP). After this, she completed her Honours in Psychology (2013) and Masters in Research Psychology (2018) from the University of South Africa (UNISA). Her science degree and keen interest in both physiology and psychology work led her to complete a Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) course in electroencephalography and in 2019 she registered with the HPCSA as both a Research Psychologist and EEG Technician. She homed in on neurofeedback as her field of interest and became a Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA) certified Neurofeedback Practitioner. Since 2016 and throughout her studies, Johanni worked as a Research Assistant in the Health Communication Research Unit, in the School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). In 2022, she received her PhD in Psychology from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). Her PhD thesis comprised a Conversation Analytic investigation of caller entitlement in medical emergency calls.
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PhD, MA, BAHons, BA
Neurofeedback and Neurorehabilitation..
RESEARCH
Dr. Beukes is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the NeuRL lab at the University of the Witwatersrand. She is an HPCSA registered Research Psychologist and EEG Technician, as well as a BCIA certified Neurofeedback Practitioner. Her research interests include health communication, health psychology, neuropsychology and psychophysiology, with particular interest in neurofeedback as a form of neurorehabilitation.
PhD, BAHons, BA
Immersive Virtual Reality and Cognitive Neuroscience.
Stephanie Alcock
Stephanie Alcock is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand. She obtained a BA in 2016, majoring in Psychology and English Literature, followed with an Honours degree in Psychology (2017). She began refining her skill and knowledge within the field of cognitive neuroscience during her Honours degree, which she continued to develop at a Master’s level. Her Master’s degree was subsequently upgraded to a Doctoral programme, which was completed in 2021. The doctorate focused developing an explanatory model of creative cognition in the elderly using structural equation modelling (SEM). The findings from this research has provided theoretical contributions towards elucidating the cognitive processes underpinning creativity in the elderly.
RESEARCH
Stephanie's current research investigates the interaction between mind and body systems, using immersive virtual reality (IVR). In particular, she capitalize on using IVR technology to manipulate individuals' sensory experiences and create a strong illusion of body ownership and examines how this affects attitudes and social perceptions.
PhD, BAHons, BA
Neuropsychology and Psychophysiology; Cognitive Neuroscience.
Michelle Leal
Michelle Leal is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). Michelle obtained a BA in Psychology and Information Technology in 1999 from the University of Johannesburg (UJ), formerly known as the Rand Afrikaans University. She completed her Honours in Psychology (2001) through the University of South Africa (UNISA). Her keen interest in both psychology and physiology prompted her to pursue a Master’s degree at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2015, which was subsequently upgraded to a PhD. Her thesis explored Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder from a Polyvagal perspective. She received her PhD in 2020 from the University of the Witwatersrand.
RESEARCH
My research interests include the relationships between physiology and cognition and the role of the autonomic nervous system in emotion regulation and cognition. I am currently working on an electrophysiological (EEG) and event-related potential (ERP) study on the effects of multilingualism on attention and working memory.