天美传媒

Academic Leadership

• PGR Academic Leader (Postgraduate Lead, PhD), Department of Psychology听(2024鈥损谤别蝉别苍迟).听

• Lab Lead, EEG and Development Research Group (2024鈥損resent): /research/psychology/eeg-and-development

• Chair, Mathematical, Statistical & Computing Psychology Section, The British Psychological Society (BPS)聽鈥� 2025鈥�2028. First woman to lead this section in its 56-year history.

BPS conferences organised:

1. Event Organiser & Chair: Machine Learning Applications in Psychology: Using Large Datasets聽(Sept 2025). Coordinated the programme and delivered an invited talk.
2. Event Organiser & Chair: Advancing Reproducible Machine Learning for Psychological Research聽(Dec 2025). Coordinated the programme and delivered a talk.聽
   
   
• Senior Editor, Europe鈥檚 Journal of Psychology (EJOP), 2025鈥损谤别蝉别苍迟.

• Mathematical cognition & numerical learning across the lifespan
• Cognitive development, including dyscalculia
• Perceptual learning & decision making
• Multisensory integration across the lifespan
• Neural & behavioural data science (e.g., drift鈥揹iffusion modelling)
• EEG: experimental design, acquisition, and analysis

• PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology. At the Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology. The University of Glasgow.
• MSc in Brain Imaging and Cognitive Neuroscience (with distinction). The University of Nottingham.
• Master鈥檚 in Clinical Psychology (60 credits). Autonomous University of Madrid. (Overall grade point average 95%).
• Licenciatura (BSc and MSc) in Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid (Overall grade point average in the 97th percentile, final degree-stage 5 grade point average in the 99th percentile).

Additional training

• Sign-language interpreting in mental health settings. 30 hour training course by Spanish Society for Mental Health and Deafness.
• Theoretical and practical training for working with people with autism spectrum disorder. 100 hours of training by Centre for Applied Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid.
• Spanish Sign Language. Official qualification at Levels I, II and III. 384 hours of training by Deafness Association of Madrid.

• Honorary Treasurer of the Mathematical, Statistical, and Computing section of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
• Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol),聽British Psychological Society聽(BPS).
• Member of British Psychological Society sections (BPS): Developmental Psychology; Mathematical, Statistical, and Computing; Neuropsychology.
• Associate Fellow of the聽Higher Education Academy聽(AFHEA).
• Chair, Mathematical, Statistical & Computing Section, British Psychological Society (BPS) (2025鈥�2028):

Module Leader (BPS-accredited):

• PSY7057 鈥� Psychology Dissertation for MSc Psychology (Online), 2022鈥損resent.
• PSY7077 鈥� The Applied Psychology of Child and Adolescent Development, MSc Cognitive Development, 2024鈥損resent.
• PSY7049 鈥� Quantitative Research Methods, MSc Psychology (Online), 2022鈥�2025.

Guest Lecturer (BPS-accredited):

• PSY7054 鈥� Brain and Cognition, MSc Psychology (Online), 2022鈥損resent.
• PSY5047 鈥� Neuropsychology (BSc, Level 5), 2022鈥損resent.

Summary

My research sits at the intersection of cognitive neuroscience and psychology, investigating how the brain learns and makes decisions from childhood through older adulthood. I combine EEG聽with sequential sampling / drift鈥揹iffusion models聽to uncover the neural dynamics of perceptual learning, multisensory decision-making, and mathematical cognition聽(including dyscalculia). Recent work characterises how prior expectations聽shape evidence accumulation and how multisensory processes聽evolve with age; ongoing projects examine the Approximate Number System (ANS)聽in adults and children using single-trial EEG and hierarchical modelling. I lead the EEG & Developmental Research Lab聽in the College of Psychology.

Current questions

• What neural signatures index the influence of prior expectations聽during perceptual learning and decision-making?
• How do multisensory integration聽and decision processes change across development?
• What are the neural and computational bases of numerical ability (ANS), and how do they relate to dyscalculia?

Methods & approach

• EEG聽(time-resolved components; single-trial analyses) + behavioural modelling聽(drift鈥揹iffusion / hierarchical DDM)
• Computational/ML tools聽for large psychological datasets and multimodal integration

Recent highlight:

• Prior expectations modulate drift rate聽in perceptual decisions (Imaging Neuroscience, 2024)
• Age-related impacts on multisensory decision-making (Scientific Reports, 2024)
• EEG鈥揌DDM investigations of the Approximate Number System聽in adults and children (ongoing)

Training advisor to PhD students Joshua Bolam, Shaikha Sultan. University of Leeds. Both have completed their PhDs.

Feel free to contact Jessica if you are interested in doing a PhD.

Research Assistants Supervision

• PhD student Ethan Mayers.
• PhD Student Richard Bipp.
• PhD Student Ben Hopkins.
• MSc student Hassan Hussain - 2025鈥損resent

Cognitive Neuroscience Across the Lifespan

(Decision-making and computational neuroscience across development and ageing)

• D铆az, J. A., Birmpas, K., Andrews, M., Gori, M., & Delis, I. (2025). Decoding multisensory decision-making development from childhood to adolescence. Under review.

• Birmpas, K., D铆az, J. A., Astill, S. L., Philiastides, M. G., & Delis, I. (2025). Spatiotemporal neural signatures of multisensory learning in perceptual decision-making. Under review.
  
  
• Jessica A. Diaz, M. Andrea Pisauro, Ioannis Delis, Marios G. Philiastides; Prior probability biases perceptual choices by modulating the accumulation rate, rather than the baseline, of decision evidence. Imaging Neuroscience 2024; 2 imag鈥�2鈥�00338. doi:
• Bolam, J. W.,聽D铆az, J. A.,聽Andrews, M., Coats, R. O., Philiastides, M. G., Astill, S. L., & Delis, I. (2024). A drift diffusion model analysis of age-related impact on multisensory decision-making processes. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 14895.

• Diaz, J. A, Pisauro,A. Philiastides, M & Delis, I. (2024). Prior probability biases perceptual choices by modulating the interpretation, rather than the baseline, of decision evidence. 2024; 2 1鈥�19. doi:

• Bolam J, Diaz J. A., Andrews M, Coats RO, Philiastides MG, Astill SL, Delis I. (2024) A drift diffusion model analysis of age-related impact on multisensory decision-making processes. Sci Rep. 2024 Jun 28;14(1):14895.

• D铆az, J. A., Queirazza, F., & Philiastides, M. G. (2017). Perceptual learning alters post-sensory processing in human decision-making. Nature Human Behaviour, 1, 0035. (doi: ).聽Accompanied by an editorial introduction: Sasaki & Watanabe, 鈥淲hen perceptual learning occurs,鈥� Nature Human Behaviour.)

• Philiastides, M.,聽D铆az, J. A., & Gherman, S. (2016). Spatiotemporal characteristics and modulators of perceptual decision-making in the human brain.聽In J. Dreher & L. Tremblay (Eds.), Decision Neuroscience: An Integrative Perspective.

Mathematical Cognition & Numerical Learning Across the Lifespan

(Number processing, mathematical learning, dyscalculia)

• D铆az, J. A.,聽Birmpas, K., Andrews, M., & Delis, I. Neural signatures of the approximate number system in adults: Evidence from EEG and hierarchical drift diffusion modelling. In preparation.

• D铆az, J. A., Pisauro, A., & Delis, I. Neural signatures of the approximate number system in children: A novel EEG鈥揌DDM single-trial modelling approach. In preparation.

In Preparation

• Diaz, J. A, Birmpas, K,Astill,S.L, & Delis. (in preparation). The Impact of Lifespan Development on Multisensory Decision-Making: A Drift Diffusion Model Analysis.

• Diaz, J. A, Andrews, M (in preparation). The Neural Signatures of the Approximate Number System with adults: Insights from EEG Analysis.

• Diaz, J. A, Pisauro, A & Delis, I. (in preparation). A Drift Diffusion Model Analysis of Neural Signatures in the Approximate Number System.

• Birmpas, K, Diaz,J.A, Astill,S.L, Philiastides, M.G & Delis, I. (in preparation). Spatiotemporal characterisation of multisensory perceptual learning in the human brain.

• Diaz, J. A. (2018) The Neural Correlates of the Influence of Learning on Perceptual Decision Making. PhD Thesis. University of Glasgow.

Research Grants and Funding

• Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship. PI: D铆az, J. A. (Planned submission Feb 2026). Neural Signatures of Number Sense Across Development: Identifying Risk for Mathematical Learning Difficulties.

• Internal Start-up Research Grant, BCU.听笔滨: D铆az, J. A. (2025). EEG-based exploration of the approximate number system in childhood development.

• Internal Start-up Research Grant, BCU. PI:聽D铆az, J. A.听(2024). Uncovering neural signatures of the approximate number system in children via a novel EEG analytic method.

• ESRC (APP53809). Do player motivations and in-game features predict psychological and neurophysiological responses to microtransactions in video games?听颁辞-濒别补诲: D铆az, J. A.聽(2024) with C. Fullwood.

• 天美传媒 Start-Up Grant. Principal investigator (Diaz, J. A, 2024). Uncovering the Neural Signature of the Approximate Number System in Children: Insights from a Novel EEG Analytic Method.

• 天美传媒 Start-Up Grant. Principal investigator (Diaz, J. A, 2024). The Neural Signatures of the Approximate Number System: An EEG Analysis.

• I was named investigator on a grant (Diaz, J. A, 2013) (Ref. CTINV041/11) worth 21K given to the National Distance Education University (UNED). Effective socio-educational intervention strategies with adolescents at risk of social exclusion.

Book Chapters

• D铆az, J. A. Introduction to EEG: Insights and brief applications in neuroscience and business. Encyclopedia of Business and Neuroscience聽(in press, 2025).

• D铆az, J. A.,聽& Bolam, J. W. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence & Neuroscience. Encyclopedia of Business and Neuroscience聽(in press, 2025).

• Diaz, J. A. Introduction to EEG: Insights and Brief Applications in Neuroscience and Business (under review, 2024). Encyclopedia for Business and Neuroscience.

• Andrews, M, Diaz, J. A. & Bolam, J. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence & Neuroscience. (under review, 2024). Encyclopedia for Business and Neuroscience.

• Philiastides, M. &聽Diaz, J. A.聽& Gherman, S. (2016). Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Modulators or Perceptual Decision-Making in the Human Brain in Dreher, J., &Tremblay, L., (eds) Decision Neuroscience: An Integrative Perspective.

Books

• Diaz, J.聽collaborating author on Melendro, M. (2014). Estrategias eficaces de Intervencion socioeducativa con adolescentes en riesgo de exclusion.13 UNED Press. This book was based on studies using qualitative data analysis.
• Diaz, J.聽collaborating author on Melendro, M. (2007). Estrategias educativas con adolescents y j贸venes en dificultad social.14 UNED Press. This book was based on studies using qualitative data analysis.

Oral Conference Presentations

• International Multisensory Research Forum (IMRF), Durham, UK (2025).
  D铆az, J. A., Birmpas, K., Gori, M., Philiastides, M. G., & Delis, I. Decoding multisensory decision-making development from childhood to adolescence.

• IMRF, Durham, UK (2025).
  Birmpas, K.,聽D铆az, J. A., Jiang, Z., Astill, S. L., Philiastides, M. G., & Delis, I. Spatiotemporal characterisation of multisensory perceptual learning in the human brain.

• Diaz, J.A, Andrews, M, Delis, I. (2024).The Neural Signatures of the Approximate Number System with adults: An EEG Analysis. BACN Cognitive Neuroscience Conference University of London, 2024.

• Diaz, J.A. & Delis, I., Philiastides, M. (2022) Prior Expectation Influences on Perceptual Decision Making. Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Glasgow.

• Diaz, J.A. & Andrews, M. (2019) The Approximate Number System and Mathematical Achievement: A Drift Diffusion Model Analysis. British Psychological Society鈥檚 Cognitive and Developmental Psychology Conference, Stoke-on-Trent.

• Diaz, J.A. & Philiastides, M. (2017) Perceptual learning alters post-sensory processing in human decision-making. Barcelona Young Neuroscientists symposium (BYNS), University of Barcelona.

• Diaz, J.A. & Philiastides, M. (2014) The Nature and Neural Locus of Perceptual Learning. iCog conference 2014. Perspectives on Learning. Informatics Forum, University of Edinburgh.

Poster Conference Presentations

• UK Neural Computation Conference, University of Sheffield (2024).
  D铆az, J. A., Pisauro, A., Philiastides, M. G., & Delis, I. Prior probability biases perceptual choices by modulating the accumulation rate鈥�

• UK Neural Computation Conference, University of Sheffield (2024).
  Birmpas, K., Bolam, J. W.,聽D铆az, J. A., Jiang, Z., Astill, S. L., Philiastides, M. G., & Delis, I. Spatiotemporal characterisation of multisensory perceptual learning in the human brain.

• BACN Cognitive Neuroscience Conference, University of London (2024).
  D铆az, J. A., Andrews, M., & Delis, I. The neural signatures of the approximate number system in adults: An EEG analysis.

• BACN Cognitive Neuroscience Conference, University of London (2024).
  Birmpas, K., Bolam, J. W., D铆az, J. A., Jiang, Z., Astill, S. L., Philiastides, M. G., & Delis, I. Spatiotemporal characterisation of multisensory perceptual learning in the human brain.

• Diaz,J.A, Pisauro,A. Philiastides, M & Delis, I.(2024).Prior probability biases perceptual choices by modulating the accumulation rate, rather than the baseline, of decision evidence. UK Neural Computation, University of Sheffield.

• Birma鈥檚 K, Bolam JW, Diaz JA, Jiang Z, Astill SL, Philiastides MG, Delis,I. (2024). Spatiotemporal characterisation of multisensory perceptual learning in the human brain. UK Neural Computation, University of Sheffield.

• Delis, I., Diaz, J.A., Philiastides, M. (2022) Prior probability affects the drift rate, not the starting point, of evidence accumulation in perceptual decision making. British Association for Cognitive Neuroscience, 天美传媒.

• Diaz, J.A. & Philiastides, M. (2017) Prior Expectation Influences Perceptual Learning in Human decision-making -Using Drift Diffusion Models. EEG Cutting, Cutting-Edge Methods for EEG Research on Cognition. University of Glasgow.

• Diaz, J.A. & Philiastides, M. (2015) Perceptual learning affects post-sensory processing on a visual decision making task. Society of Neuroscience (SfN), Chicago, IL.

• Diaz, J.A. & Philiastides, M. (2015) The Nature and Neural Local of Perceptual Learning. Cutting EEG, Cutting-Edge Methods for EEG Research on Cognition. Humboldt University, Berlin.

• Almendros, C., G谩mez-Guadix, M., Carrobles, J.A., D铆az, J., Mu帽oz, M. (2011). Religion related disciplinary practices among people born in isolated authoritarian groups. European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (EABCT), 41st Annual Congress.

Conference Workshops

• Delis, I., Birmpas, K., & D铆az, J. A.听(2025). Decoding EEG signatures of multisensory decision-making using MATLAB.聽IMRF, Durham, UK.

Invited Talks in Mathematical Cognition

• The neural signatures of the approximate number system: An EEG analysis.聽School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, June 2024 (invited).

• Neural signatures of the approximate number system in adults: Evidence from EEG and hierarchical drift diffusion modelling.聽School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, December 2025 (invited).

• Neural signatures of the approximate number system in children: A novel EEG鈥揌DDM single-trial modelling approach.聽Department of Psychology, University of Nottingham, April 2026 (invited).

Supervision & Examination

• External examiner (PhD viva):聽Candidate: Zhishan Liu, The Learning Brain: Exploring the Cognitive Processes and Potential Neural Mechanisms in Learning, School of Psychology, Cardiff University. First viva (April 2024) and second viva following minor revisions (August 2025).

• Research assistant (supervised): Hasan Husein (2025), worked as my research assistant on an EEG project over the lifespan; I served as the Principal Investigator (PI).

• Clinical Child Psychologist (2011/2012), 3-Olivos Education Center in collaboration with Centre for Applied Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid. Work focused on the psychometric evaluation of the general intelligence of deaf, autistic, and gifted children with observation in the classrooms and interviewing the parents.
• Social Worker, Opci贸n3 (2009-2011). The work focused on the social integration of psychologically high-risk adolescents. This work was coordinated in a multidisciplinary team.