Torch

Dr Vanessa Wilson

Lecturer

Faculty and Department

  • Faculty of Health Sciences
  • School of Psychology and Social Work

Qualifications

  • BSc
  • MSc (University of Edinburgh)
  • PhD / DPhil (University of Edinburgh)

Summary

Qualifications

PhD Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, UK

MSc Psychology, The University of Edinburgh

BSc Zoology, The University of Aberdeen

Previous posts

Postdoc, University of Neuchatel, CH

Postdoc, German Primate Center, DE

JSPS Visiting Researcher, Kyoto University, JP

Recent outputs

View more outputs

Journal Article

Humans and great apes visually track event roles in similar ways

Wilson, V. A. D., Sauppe, S., Brocard, S., Ringen, E., Daum, M. M., Wermelinger, S., Gu, N., Andrews, C., Isasi-Isasmendi, A., Bickel, B., & Zuberbü Hler, K. (2024). Humans and great apes visually track event roles in similar ways. PLoS Biology, 22(11), Article e3002857. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002857

A universal preference for animate agents in hominids

Brocard, S., Wilson, V. A., Berton, C., Zuberbühler, K., & Bickel, B. (2024). A universal preference for animate agents in hominids. iScience, 27(6), Article 109996. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.109996

Does the primate face cue personality?

Wilson, V. A., & Masilkova, M. (2023). Does the primate face cue personality?. Personality Neuroscience, 6, Article e7. https://doi.org/10.1017/pen.2023.5

Editorial: Using gaze to study social knowledge: current challenges and future directions

Wilson, V. A., Bethell, E. J., & Nawroth, C. (2023). Editorial: Using gaze to study social knowledge: current challenges and future directions. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1225626. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1225626

The use of gaze to study cognition: limitations, solutions, and applications to animal welfare

Wilson, V. A., Bethell, E. J., & Nawroth, C. (2023). The use of gaze to study cognition: limitations, solutions, and applications to animal welfare. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1147278. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1147278

Research interests

I study comparative cognition, and am particularly interested in how individuals perceive social stimuli, as well as in understanding individual differences in social cognition. This research has led me to explore diverging branches of research, incorporating both the study of personality, and consideration of methodologies used to assess responses to social stimuli. I have also worked on projects examining facial behaviour cues, and the relationship between wellbeing and measures of personality and welfare.

I am additionally interested in how our understanding of cognition can improve perceptions of other species and have a long term positive impact on the treatment and welfare of captive animals. I am happy to collaborate on or supervise topics along these themes.

Postgraduate supervision

Comparative social cognition/behaviour

Attention, perception

Emotion production/perception

Communication

Animal wellbeing and welfare

Human-animal interactions

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