Research Interests

My research focuses on understanding how attention and perception operate in everyday situation. I address this general issue using two distinct and complementary approaches. The first approach involves using standard laboratory tasks to uncover the cognitive and neural mechanisms that underlie attention and perception. The second approach involves observing and describing how attention and perception operate as individuals engage in purposeful activities in their natural environments.

My research not only considers the usual experiences that are associated with attention and perception but also various unusual experiences, such as those that accompany a fascinating condition known as synaesthesia. I use a broad range of methods including behavioural testing, neuro-imaging, naturalistic observation, and analysis of subjective reports. Often projects also involve the development of new measures and analysis techniques.

Funding Sources: NSERC

Synaesthesia Research Group web page: http://www.synaesthesia.uwaterloo.ca/

Research Opportunities for Students

If you are a student who is interested in research, there are lots of ways you can get involved in the lab. Please don't hesitate to e-mail me or to drop by my office - I will be happy to chat with you!

Selected Publications

• Smilek, D., Enns, J. T., Eastwood, J. D., & Merikle, P. M. (in press, 2004). Relax! Cognitive style influences visual search. Visual Cognition.
• Kingstone, A., Smilek, D., Ristic, J., Friesen, C. K., Eastwood, J. D. (2003) Attention researchers! It's time to take a look at the real world. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 12, 176-184.
• Smilek, D., Dixon, M. J., Cudahy, C., & Merikle, P. M. (2002). Synaesthetic colour experiences influence memory. Psychological Science, 13(6), 548-552.
• Smilek, D., Moffatt, B. A., Pasternak, J., White, B. N., Dixon, M. J., & Merikle, P. M. (2002). Synaesthesia: A case study of discordant monozygotic twins. Neurocase, 8, 338-342.
• Smilek, D., Eastwood, J. D., & Merikle, P. M. (2000). Does unattended information facilitate change detection? Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 26(2), 480-487.