Dr Claudia von Bastian
Department of Psychology
Senior Lecturer
+44 114 222 6560
Full contact details
Department of Psychology
Interdisciplinary Centre of the Social Sciences (ICOSS)
219 Portobello
Sheffield
S1 4DP
- Profile
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I am a cognitive psychologist and head of the Cognitive Ability & Plasticity Lab. My research focuses on cognitive individual differences and how cognitive abilities can change through experience.
I obtained my Ph.D. from the University of Zurich, where I worked with Klaus Oberauer. During my PhD, I also spent a year at the University of Bristol as a visiting researcher in Chris Jarrold's lab. Afterward, I returned to the University of Zurich as a Research Associate and Lecturer. Before joining The University of Sheffield, I was a Research Associate in Akira Miyake's lab at the University of Colorado Boulder, working in close collaboration with Mike Kane, and later a Lecturer in Psychology at Bournemouth University.
- Qualifications
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- PhD Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland (summa cum laude)
- MSc Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland (summa cum laude)
- Research interests
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My work aims at advancing our understanding of individual differences in cognitive abilities and how they can change through experience.
Mechanisms and structure of cognitive abilities
How do people differ in their cognitive abilities? Understanding cognitive individual differences is essential for identifying the best targets for interventions. Given their central role in human cognition, my work focuses particularly on working memory, attentional control and executive functions, and reasoning ability.
Experience-based plasticity
How do experiences shape our thinking, and how can we boost cognitive performance? To answer these questions, I investigate everyday experiences and leisure activities such as being bilingual or playing video games, and I develop and evaluate targeted interventions such as cognitive training or non-invasive brain stimulation. I am particularly interested in the theoretical mechanisms underpinning cognitive change.
Bridging research traditions and approaches
I have experienced looking beyond my own area of research not only as really exciting and enriching, but also incredibly fruitful for finding novel ways to answer the questions that propel my research. I therefore often combine approaches from experimental and differential psychology, and I use computational/mathematical as well as statistical modelling methods to better understand both behavioural and cognitive-neuroscientific data.
Open science and big team science
Throughout my work, I promote and follow open science best practices by regularly pre registering my work, openly sharing my research data and scripts, and by developing and maintaining the open-source experiment software Tatool Web alongside experimental materials for anyone to use for free. Furthermore, I have been local Co-Lead of the UK Reproducibility Network and created the role of departmental Open Science Lead to promote robust, transparent, and replicable research practices locally in my department and institution. I am also regularly involved in big team science such as with the Psychological Science Accelerator and other international multi-labs studies, such as the #EEGManyLabs.
- Publications
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Show: Featured publications All publications
Featured publications
Journal articles
- The Psychological Science Accelerator’s COVID-19 rapid-response dataset. Scientific Data, 10.
- In COVID-19 health messaging, loss framing increases anxiety with little-to-no concomitant benefits: experimental evidence from 84 countries. Affective Science, 3(3), 577-602. View this article in WRRO
- Mechanisms of processing speed training and transfer effects across the adult lifespan: protocol of a multi-site cognitive training study. BMC Psychology, 10. View this article in WRRO
- A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(22).
- Mechanisms underlying training-induced cognitive change. Nature Reviews Psychology, 1(1), 30-30. View this article in WRRO
- Neural correlates of verbal working memory: An fMRI meta-analysis. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 13. View this article in WRRO
- Functional Ability in Everyday Life: Are Associations with an Engaged Lifestyle Mediated by Working Memory?. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B. View this article in WRRO
- Is executive control related to working memory capacity and fluid intelligence?. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. View this article in WRRO
- Mechanisms of working memory training: insights from individual differences. Intelligence, 73, 78-87. View this article in WRRO
- Lower general executive function is primarily associated with trait worry: A latent variable analysis of negative thought/affect measures. Emotion. View this article in WRRO
- Working memory updating and binding training: Bayesian evidence supporting the absence of transfer. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 147(6), 829-858. View this article in WRRO
- Working memory training in older adults: Bayesian evidence supporting the absence of transfer.. Psychology and Aging, 32(8), 732-746. View this article in WRRO
- A combined experimental and individual-differences investigation into mind wandering during a video lecture. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 146(11), 1649-1674. View this article in WRRO
- Do individual differences predict change in cognitive training performance? A latent growth curve modeling approach. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement. View this article in WRRO
- Shifting between mental sets: An individual differences approach to commonalities and differences of task switching components.. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 146(9), 1266-1285.
- Transfer after process-based object-location memory training in healthy older adults. Psychology and Aging, 31(7), 798-814. View this article in WRRO
- Does working memory training have to be adaptive?. Psychological Research, 80(2), 181-194.
- No Evidence of the Ego-Depletion Effect across Task Characteristics and Individual Differences: A Pre-Registered Study. PLoS ONE, 11(2). View this article in WRRO
- No evidence for bilingual cognitive advantages: A test of four hypotheses.. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 145(2), 246-258.
- Effects and mechanisms of working memory training: a review. Psychological Research, 78(6), 803-820.
- The effects of working memory training on functional brain network efficiency. Cortex, 49(9), 2424-2438.
- Distinct transfer effects of training different facets of working memory capacity. Journal of Memory and Language, 69(1), 36-58.
- Effects of working memory training in young and old adults. Memory & Cognition, 41(4), 611-624.
- Tatool: A Java-based open-source programming framework for psychological studies. Behavior Research Methods, 45(1), 108-115.
- Color impact on security screening. IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine, 25(10), 33-38.
- Reply to ‘Efficiency and capacity mechanisms can coexist in cognitive training’. Nature Reviews Psychology, 2(2), 128-128.
- Adaptive working memory training does not produce transfer effects in cognition and neuroimaging. Translational Psychiatry.
- Limits of near transfer: Content- and operation-specific effects of working memory training. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
- Elaboration by superposition: From interference in working memory to encoding in long-term memory.. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition. View this article in WRRO
- Author Correction: A multi-country test of brief reappraisal interventions on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nature Human Behaviour, 6(9), 1318-1319.
- Development and validation of a stress response measure: The Daily Stress Response Scale (DSRS). Health Psychology Report. View this article in WRRO
- Effectiveness of cognitive stimulation for dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin.
- Individual differences in task-unrelated thought in university classrooms. Memory and Cognition. View this article in WRRO
- Working memory training effects on white matter integrity in young and older adults. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
- Storage and processing in working memory: A single, domain-general resource explains multi-tasking. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
Chapters
- Cognitive Training Across the Adult Lifespan, Cognitive Training (pp. 141-152). Springer International Publishing
- How strong is the evidence for the effectiveness of working memory training? In Novick JM, Bunting MF, Dougherty MR & Engle RW (Ed.), Cognitive and Working Memory Training Perspectives from Psychology, Neuroscience, and Human Development (pp. 58-75). Oxford University Press, USA
- Adult Lifespan, Cognitive Training (pp. 45-55). Springer International Publishing
Conference proceedings papers
- The impact of color composition on X-ray image interpretation in aviation security screening. 43rd Annual 2009 International Carnahan Conference on Security Technology, 5 October 2009 - 8 October 2009.
All publications
Journal articles
- The Psychological Science Accelerator’s COVID-19 rapid-response dataset. Scientific Data, 10.
- In COVID-19 health messaging, loss framing increases anxiety with little-to-no concomitant benefits: experimental evidence from 84 countries. Affective Science, 3(3), 577-602. View this article in WRRO
- Mechanisms of processing speed training and transfer effects across the adult lifespan: protocol of a multi-site cognitive training study. BMC Psychology, 10. View this article in WRRO
- A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(22).
- Mechanisms underlying training-induced cognitive change. Nature Reviews Psychology, 1(1), 30-30. View this article in WRRO
- In search of the executive cognitive processes proposed by process-overlap theory. Journal of Intelligence, 9(3). View this article in WRRO
- A multi-country test of brief reappraisal interventions on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nature Human Behaviour. View this article in WRRO
- Neural correlates of verbal working memory: An fMRI meta-analysis. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 13. View this article in WRRO
- Functional Ability in Everyday Life: Are Associations with an Engaged Lifestyle Mediated by Working Memory?. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B. View this article in WRRO
- Is executive control related to working memory capacity and fluid intelligence?. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. View this article in WRRO
- Mechanisms of working memory training: insights from individual differences. Intelligence, 73, 78-87. View this article in WRRO
- Lower general executive function is primarily associated with trait worry: A latent variable analysis of negative thought/affect measures. Emotion. View this article in WRRO
- Bidialectalism and bilingualism: Exploring the role of language similarity as a link between linguistic ability and executive control. Frontiers in Psychology, 9. View this article in WRRO
- Working memory updating and binding training: Bayesian evidence supporting the absence of transfer. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 147(6), 829-858. View this article in WRRO
- Working memory training in older adults: Bayesian evidence supporting the absence of transfer.. Psychology and Aging, 32(8), 732-746. View this article in WRRO
- A combined experimental and individual-differences investigation into mind wandering during a video lecture. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 146(11), 1649-1674. View this article in WRRO
- Do individual differences predict change in cognitive training performance? A latent growth curve modeling approach. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement. View this article in WRRO
- Shifting between mental sets: An individual differences approach to commonalities and differences of task switching components.. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 146(9), 1266-1285.
- Transfer after process-based object-location memory training in healthy older adults. Psychology and Aging, 31(7), 798-814. View this article in WRRO
- Does working memory training have to be adaptive?. Psychological Research, 80(2), 181-194.
- No Evidence of the Ego-Depletion Effect across Task Characteristics and Individual Differences: A Pre-Registered Study. PLoS ONE, 11(2). View this article in WRRO
- No evidence for bilingual cognitive advantages: A test of four hypotheses.. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 145(2), 246-258.
- Effects and mechanisms of working memory training: a review. Psychological Research, 78(6), 803-820.
- The effects of working memory training on functional brain network efficiency. Cortex, 49(9), 2424-2438.
- Distinct transfer effects of training different facets of working memory capacity. Journal of Memory and Language, 69(1), 36-58.
- Effects of working memory training in young and old adults. Memory & Cognition, 41(4), 611-624.
- Tatool: A Java-based open-source programming framework for psychological studies. Behavior Research Methods, 45(1), 108-115.
- Color impact on security screening. IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine, 25(10), 33-38.
- TDCS over PPC or DLPFC does not improve visual working memory capacity. Communications Psychology.
- Tackling cognitive decline in late adulthood: Cognitive interventions. Current Opinion in Psychology.
- Mechanisms of training-related change in processing speed: A drift-diffusion model approach. Journal of Cognition.
- Mechanisms of cognitive change: Training improves the quality but not the quantity of visual working memory representations. Journal of Cognition.
- Cognition: Memory perseverance through binding. Communications Psychology.
- Reply to ‘Efficiency and capacity mechanisms can coexist in cognitive training’. Nature Reviews Psychology, 2(2), 128-128.
- Adaptive working memory training does not produce transfer effects in cognition and neuroimaging. Translational Psychiatry.
- Limits of near transfer: Content- and operation-specific effects of working memory training. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
- Elaboration by superposition: From interference in working memory to encoding in long-term memory.. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition. View this article in WRRO
- Author Correction: A multi-country test of brief reappraisal interventions on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nature Human Behaviour, 6(9), 1318-1319.
- Development and validation of a stress response measure: the Daily Stress Response Scale (DSRS). Health Psychology Report, 10(3), 238-248.
- Development and validation of a stress response measure: The Daily Stress Response Scale (DSRS). Health Psychology Report. View this article in WRRO
- Effectiveness of cognitive stimulation for dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin.
- Individual differences in task-unrelated thought in university classrooms. Memory and Cognition. View this article in WRRO
- Working memory training effects on white matter integrity in young and older adults. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
- Storage and processing in working memory: A single, domain-general resource explains multi-tasking. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
- Are there reliable qualitative individual differences in cognition? Probably not. Journal of Cognition.
- Individual differences in updating are not related to reasoning ability and working memory capacity. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
Chapters
- Cognitive Training Across the Adult Lifespan, Cognitive Training (pp. 141-152). Springer International Publishing
- How strong is the evidence for the effectiveness of working memory training? In Novick JM, Bunting MF, Dougherty MR & Engle RW (Ed.), Cognitive and Working Memory Training Perspectives from Psychology, Neuroscience, and Human Development (pp. 58-75). Oxford University Press, USA
- Adult Lifespan, Cognitive Training (pp. 45-55). Springer International Publishing
Conference proceedings papers
- DOES PERSONALITY PREDICT WORKING MEMORY TRAINING EFFECTIVENESS IN OLDER ADULTS?. GERONTOLOGIST, Vol. 56 (pp 578-579)
- Does Training of Working Memory Improve Intelligence?. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, Vol. 27 (pp 44-44)
- The impact of color composition on X-ray image interpretation in aviation security screening. 43rd Annual 2009 International Carnahan Conference on Security Technology, 5 October 2009 - 8 October 2009.
Preprints
- Quality Over Quantity: Focusing on High-Conflict Trials to Improve the Reliability and Validity of Attentional Control Measures, Center for Open Science.
- Contralateral delay activity as a marker of visual working memory capacity: a multi-site registered replication, Center for Open Science.
- Does transcranial direct current stimulation enhance visual working memory? A replication study, Research Square Platform LLC.
- Mechanisms of cognitive change: Training improves the quality but not the quantity of visual working memory representations, Center for Open Science.
- PSACR: The Psychological Science Accelerator's COVID-19 Rapid-Response Dataset, OSF Preprints.
- A Global Experiment on Motivating Social Distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Center for Open Science.
- Advancing the understanding of individual differences in attentional control: Theoretical, methodological, and analytical considerations, Center for Open Science.
- Individual Differences in Updating are not related to Reasoning Ability and Working Memory Capacity, Center for Open Science.
- Individual Differences in Task-Unrelated Thought in University Classrooms, Center for Open Science.
- A global test of brief reappraisal interventions on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Center for Open Science.
- In COVID-19 health messaging, loss framing increases anxiety with little-to-no concomitant benefits: Experimental evidence from 84 countries, Center for Open Science.
- The Psychological Science Accelerator’s COVID-19 rapid-response dataset. Scientific Data, 10.
- Research group
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Neuroscience and Cognition
Learning and Development
Are you interested in joining our lively lab as a voluntary research assistant, PhD student or postdoctoral researcher? Please read the information on this website first before contacting me.
- Grants
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• ESRC (2023-2026), “Strategy training to support healthy cognitive ageing: behavioural, neuroimaging, and real-world investigations” (£799,864), Co-I. With Louise Nicholls (PI; University of Strathclyde), Mario Parra Rodriguez (University of Strathclyde), Richard Allen (University of Leeds), & Mel Burke (University of Leeds).
• EPS (2023-2024), “How do we encode novel feature bindings in working memory? A test of serial and parallel processing models” (£9,836), PI.
• ORA VI ESRC, DFG, & SSHRC (2021-2024), “Cognitive training effects across the adult lifespan: A diffusion modelling approach” (£761,482), PI. With Tilo Strobach (Medical School Hamburg, Germany) & Sylvie Belleville (University of Montreal, Canada).
• British Academy (2019), “Limits when multi-tasking” (£9,983), Co-I. With Candice Morey (PI; Cardiff University) & Evie Vergauwe (University of Geneva, Switzerland).
• White Rose University Consortium (2018-2019), “Assessing functional ability in older adults” (£9,619), PI. with Richard Allen (University of Leeds), Fiona McNab (University of York), Tom Stafford, George Pavlidis, James Stone (University of Leeds), Alan Baddeley (University of York), Jessica Andrews-Hanna (University of Arizona, USA), & André Locher (Tatool Web).
• German Research Foundation (DFG; 2016-2019), “Plasticity of large-scale neural connectivity following working memory training” (£289,105), collaborator. With Kathrin Koch & Igor Yakushev (Technical University Munich, Germany).
• Suzanne and Hans Biäsch Foundation (2014-2016), “Features of an adequate control group for cognitive training studies” (£31,746), mentor. With Carla De Simoni (PI).
• Suzanne and Hans Biäsch Foundation (2014-2016), “Individual differences in the effectiveness of working memory training in older adults” (£44,988), mentor. With Sabrina Guye (PI).
• Swiss National Science Foundation (2013-2016), “Transfer effects of function-based working-memory training” (£199,263), PI. With Klaus Oberauer (applicant).
• Suzanne and Hans Biäsch Foundation (2014-2016), “Is there a bilingual executive processing advantage?” (£30,548), Co-I. With Miriam Gade (PI) & Alessandra Souza.
• Suzanne and Hans Biäsch Foundation (2011-2012), “Neural correlates of working memory training” (£44,359), PI.
• Forschungskredit Candoc, University of Zurich (2011-2012), “Training and transfer effects in working memory across the life-span” (£36,612), PI.
• Forschungskredit Candoc, University of Zurich (2009-2011), “Training and transfer effects in working memory” (£107,509), PI.
- Teaching activities
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Over the past years, I have been teaching cognitive psychology, research methods and statistics, and coding for psychologists in R and JavaScript. I am also a personal tutor to students at all levels and I regularly supervise undergraduate students for their extended essays, and postgraduate students for their MSc dissertations.
- Professional activities and memberships
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I am a Governing Board Member and Fellow of the Psychonomic Society. I am also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), a Member of the Experimental Psychology Society (EPS), and the European Society for Cognitive Psychology (ESCoP). I am also co-organising the ESCOP 2025 Conference in Sheffield.
Until recently, I held Action Editor roles at Behavior Research Methods and Communications Psychology. I have also acted as Guest Editor at the Journal of Cognition and Brain Sciences. I am an Editorial Board Member for several journals (Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, Journal of Intelligence, and Frontiers in Psychology).
In our department, I am currently Director of Postgraduate Taught Programme managing the Cognitive Neuroscience Courses, and Deputy Lead of the Cognitive and Neural Processes Across the Lifespan Research Cluster.
- PhD Opportunities
I am happy to receive applications for PhD study in my area of research.
We advertise PhD opportunities (Funded or Self-Funded) on FindAPhD.com
See the PhD studentship opportunities with Claudia von Bastian.
For further information, please see the department PhD Opportunities page.