Cognitive Processes and Behaviour Group

The Cognitive Processes and Behavior group (GI-1842) of the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) is a consolidated research group of the Galician University System. With more than 20 years of experience, our team is made up of researchers from various areas of specialisation, all committed to the advancement of knowledge and the spread of innovation in the field of psychology from a dual perspective, both basic and applied.

We have traditionally focused our research on basic psychological processes, covering central issues of Cognitive Science. Thus, we explore processing, emotion, and cognitive control in the realms of human language, memory, and learning and try to find out how the type of language, the emotional content of words and the level of learning influence lexical and syntactic processing. We also study the acquisition and control of emotional memories (including the role played by memory reconsolidation processes) as well as the reduction of false memories (especially using the DRM experimental paradigm). Furthermore, we study the relationships between control and learning, analyzing the forms of learning that escape the control of the learner, and the way in which people learn to control the interference caused by their automatic processes. These lines of research are mainly approached from an experimental approach, although we also pay attention to individual differences. We use various techniques, such as behavioral observation and recording, monitoring of physiological indices (such as heart rate and electrodermal response), recording of electroencephalographic activity (evoked potentials) and eye movement tracking.

Our research goes beyond understanding these processes, as we implement an applied perspective in an attempt to identify how our findings can have a significant impact in areas such as personal development and emotional well-being, social interaction in a multilingual world, or safety, health, and well-being at work. This includes the development of strategies aimed at improving the prevention of occupational risks and promoting workplace wellbeing (we do this in the Psychosocial Risk Laboratory of Galicia).

We invite you to explore more about our lines of research, ongoing projects and scientific publications, or digital resources by browsing this website.