STAFF PROFILE
Dr Robin Laycock
Dr Laycock is a cognitive and affective neuroscientist interested in the neural mechanisms underlying visual processing in neurotypical and neurodivergent populations as well as following concussion.
Dr Robin Laycock's research has a focus on visual neuroscience and in examining the contribution of early visual pathways to perception and attention. As an expert in understanding the visual system, this research also encompasses the field of affective neuroscience, in particular focussing on the visual and neural correlates of face processing.
Research in Robin's lab utilises a number of approaches, including eye-tracking, behavioural psychophysics, electroencephalography (EEG), and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
Robin completed his PhD at La Trobe University, on the topic of understanding visual processing pathways for motion and object recognition. During this time, he was trained in the use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) at the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre.
A focus of Robin's research has been to examine the visual mechanisms that are affected in the autism spectrum. Much of this research has studied subclinical traits of autism in the general population, finding differences in visual perception that provide a useful approach to model autism. More recently Robin's studies have begun exploring how population-level variation in visual processing might predict social skills more broadly in the general population.
Some of this research has also looked at how anxiety and acute stress can influence perception, as well as exploring the relationship between conscious and non-conscious visual processing.
Other projects include the BabyFace study, which is using neuroimaging (fNIRS) to examine the development of face perception in pre-term born babies.
In addition, Robin is using both eye-tracking and fNIRS to understand the longer term cognitive and neural effects of concussion.
Robin is affiliated with the Healthy Foundations Research Group.
Recent commentaries on how advances in Artificial Intelligence provide challenges and opportunities for academic researchers include:
- Hill E, Hutchinson M, Laycock R, Spencer S. (2023). A Chat(GPT) about the future of scientific publishing. Brain Behavior and Immunity. 110, 152-154. DOI:10.1016/j.bbi.2023.02.022.
- Becker C, & Laycock R. (2023). Embracing Deepfakes and AI-generated images in Neuroscience Research. European Journal of Neuroscience. Pre-print: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.168122346.61187955/v2
- BSc (University of Melbourne)
- Postgrad Dip AppPsych (La Trobe University)
- PhD (La Trobe University)
- Becker, C.,Conduit, R.,Chouinard, P.,Laycock, R. (2024). A Dynamic Disadvantage? Social Perceptions of Dynamic Morphed Emotions Differ from Videos and Photos In: Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, , 1 - 20
- Corluka, N.,Laycock, R. (2024). The influence of dynamism and expression intensity on face emotion recognition in individuals with autistic traits In: Cognition and Emotion, , 1 - 10
- Mcarthur, G.,Lee, E.,Laycock, R. (2023). Autism Traits and Cognitive Performance: Mediating Roles of Sleep Disturbance, Anxiety and Depression In: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53, 4560 - 4576
- Becker, C.,Laycock, R. (2023). Embracing deepfakes and AI-generated images in neuroscience research In: European Journal of Neuroscience, 58, 2657 - 2661
- Laycock, R.,Chouinard, P. (2023). Face masks impede basic and complex emotion recognition: Variation across the broader autism phenotype In: Applied Cognitive Psychology, 37, 1199 - 1209
- Goold, S.,Murphy, M.,Goodale, M.,Crewther, S.,Laycock, R. (2022). Faster social attention disengagement in individuals with higher autism traits In: Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 44, 1 - 13
- Becker, C.,Caterer, E.,Chouinard, P.,Laycock, R. (2021). Alterations in Rapid Social Evaluations in Individuals with High Autism Traits In: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51, 3575 - 3585
- Laycock, R.,Wood, K.,Wright, A.,Crewther, S.,Goodale, M. (2020). Saccade Latency Provides Evidence for Reduced Face Inversion Effects With Higher Autism Traits In: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 13, 1 - 9
- Laycock, R.,Crewther, S.,Chouinard, P. (2020). Blink and You Will Miss It: a Core Role for Fast and Dynamic Visual Processing in Social Impairments in Autism Spectrum Disorder In: Current Developmental Disorders Reports, 7, 237 - 248
- Bardalai, R.,Laycock, R.,Troynikov, O. (2020). Material-touch-emotion lexicon enabling design for wellbeing In: Proceedings of the AMPS Experiential Design – Rethinking relations between people, objects and environments Conference (AMPS 2020), Florida, United States, 16-17 January 2020
2 PhD Completions5 PhD Current Supervisions
- BRITE fNIRS Neuroimaging System. Funded by: Harold and Cora Brennen Trust Grant from (2021 to 2021)