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I am a Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychology. My Bachelor’s degree was in Cognitive Science from UCLA (1992), after which I completed a PhD in Psychology at Princeton University with Prof Anne Treisman (1998). After postdoctoral work at MIT with Prof Nancy Kanwisher (1998-2000), I was appointed Lecturer in the School of Psychology at Â鶹Íø. In 2010 I was promoted to Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience. From 2008-17, I served as Deputy Head of College (Research) for the College of Health and Behavioural Sciences, and for academic year 17/18 I was acting Dean of the College. As chair of the School’s MRI Steering Group, I oversaw the tender and selection process for our new 3T MRI system, which was installed in October 2019. From September 2020 I have been associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for research at Â鶹Íø. 

My research and teaching interests are focused in the area of "Social Vision". That is, I am interested in using the tools and concepts from vision science to understand how we perceive, understand, and interact with the social world. Specifically, we use neuroimaging, neurostimulation, and behavioural methods to understand how healthy adult observers perceive, categorise, and interpret others' faces, bodies, and actions. My work on these topics has been funded by the BBSRC, Leverhulme Trust, and, currently, the ESRC. More detail is on my website: https://sites.google.com/view/downinglab/home

My interest in social vision also informs a much wider view of the "Social Brain" in my third year undergraduate module of that name. In that module, students engage closely with relevant primary source material, through brief written assignments, oral presentations, and longer written critiques.

Department of Psychology

Adeilad Brigantia

Penrallt Road

Gwynedd LL57 2AS

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 1248 382159

Fax: +44 (0) 1248 382599

Email: p.downing@bangor.ac.uk

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The main focus of my teaching is on the Year 3 module entitled "The Social Brain". Humans spend much of their time in the company of other people, whose behaviour is complex, often unpredictable, and highly relevant to our own daily lives. Making sense of all of this places strong demands on the "social brain". We can think of the social brain as a system that continuously (and often unconsciously) seeks answers to questions: Is anyone there? Who is that? What are they looking at? What are they doing? What are they feeling? What are they thinking? How do I feel about them? Modern social-cognitive neuroscience has uncovered a great deal about the brain systems that ask and answer these questions. The module covers important concepts and findings in this area.

One of the tasks that confronts us daily is the requirement to quickly and accurately make sense of the people around us. This involves detecting people in the scene around us, identifying them, perceiving their states (e.g. emotions) and traits (e.g. gender), and interpreting their actions and goals.  Our work has revealed much about the mental processes and brain regions that make it possible for us to perceive this information. Over the years, our projects have been funded by the BBSRC, the ESRC, the Leverhulme Trust, and the DSTL. A new 3-year project, funded by the ESRC, starts in September 2023; it concerns how we are able to rapidly and effortlessly make sense of other people's actions. 

Professor Paul Downing is a member of the Cognitive Neuroscience Institute.

Professor Downing welcomes informal enquiries from prospective PhD students interested in projects related to the cognitive neuroscience of person perception. After reviewing relevant information at his lab web page () please get in touch vial email and include a draft research proposal of 1-2 pages.

Competitive scholarship opportunities available: None at present.

2025

• Published
  Mitev, D., Koldewyn, K. & Downing, P., 1 Jan 2025, In: Journal of Neurophysiology. 133, 1, p. 177-192 16 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Gandolfo, M., D'Argenio, G., Downing, P. & Urgesi, C., 15 Apr 2025, In: Neuroimage. 310, p. 121102
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2024

• Published
  Lingnau, A. & Downing, P., 9 May 2024, Cambridge Elements : Elements in Perception. Cambridge University Press, 76 p. (Elements in Perception).
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
• Published
  Walbrin, J., Downing, P., Sotero, F. D. & Almeida, J., 12 Mar 2024, In: Neuropsychologia. 195, 108815.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• E-pub ahead of print
  Gandolfo, M., Abassi, E., Balgova, E., Papeo, L., Downing, P. & Koldewyn, K., 4 Jan 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Current Biology. 34, 9 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Mitev, D., Koldewyn, K. & Downing, P., Aug 2024.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster

2023

• Published
  Gandolfo, M. & Downing, P., Apr 2023, In: Psychonomic Bulletin and Review. 30, 2, p. 585-595 11 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Peelen, M. V. & Downing, P., Sept 2023, In: Nature Human Behaviour. 7, p. 1430-1441
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Peelen, M. V. & Downing, P., 3 Jun 2023, In: PsyArXiv Preprints.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2022

• Published
  Landsiedel, J., Daughters, K., Downing, P. E. & Koldewyn, K., 15 Nov 2022, In: Neuroimage. 262, 119533.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2020

• Published
  Gandolfo, M. & Downing, P., Dec 2020, In: Cognition. 205, 104436.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Williams, E., Bilbao-Broch, L., Downing, P. & Cross, E., 15 Nov 2020, In: Neuroimage. 222, 117276.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Perini, F., Powell, T., Watt, S. & Downing, P., 1 Jul 2020, In: Journal of Neurophysiology. 124, 1, p. 218-231
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2019

• Published
  Ramsey, R., Darda, K. M. & Downing, P., May 2019, In: Journal of Experimental Psychology - Human Perception and Performance. 45, 5, p. 601-615
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Gandolfo, M. & Downing, P., 5 Aug 2019, In: Current Biology. 29, 15, p. 2496-2500
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Greven, I., Downing, P. & Ramsey, R., May 2019, In: Social Neuroscience. 14, 3, p. 328-344
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Gandolfo, M. & Downing, P., 25 Jun 2019, In: Cognition and Emotion. 11 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2018

• Published
  Butler, E., Ward, R., Downing, P. & Ramsey, R., 14 Aug 2018, In: PLoS ONE. 13, 8, e0201237.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Walbrin, J., Downing, P. & Koldewyn, K., Apr 2018, In: Neuropsychologia. 112, April, p. 31-39
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2017

• Published
  Peelen, M. V. & Downing, P., Oct 2017, In: Neuropsychologia. 105, p. 177-183
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Johnstone, L. & Downing, P., Jul 2017, In: Visual Cognition. 25, 4-6, p. 507-523
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Dundon, N., Katshu, M. Z. U., Harry, B., Roberts, D., Leek, C., Downing, P., Sapir, A., Roberts, C. & D-Avossa, G., 15 Sept 2017, In: Cerebral Cortex. 2017, p. 1-11
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2016

• Published
  Harry, B. B., Umla-Runge, K., Lawrence, A. D., Graham, K. S. & Downing, P. E., Aug 2016, In: Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. 28, 8, p. 1178-1193
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Hodgetts, C., Shine, J., Lawrence, A., Downing, P. & Graham, K., Nov 2016, In: Human Brain Mapping. 37, p. 3779–3794
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Greven, I. M., Downing, P. E. & Ramsey, R., 25 Feb 2016, In: Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. 11, 4, p. 641-651
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2015

• Published
  Downing, P. E. & Peelen, M. V., 1 Jun 2015, In: Neuropsychologia. 83, p. 138-148
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Greven, I. M., Downing, P. E. & Ramsey, R., 1 Aug 2015, p. 34.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review
• Published
  D-Avossa, G. G., Dundon, N. M., Leek, C., D'Avossa, G., Dundon, N., Katshu, M. Z., Roberts, D., Harry, B., Roberts, C., Downing, P. E. & Leek, E. C., 1 Aug 2015, In: Perception. 44, p. 43
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Watt, S. J., Perini, F., Watt, S. & Downing, P. E., 1 Aug 2015, In: Perception. 44, 1, p. 340-341
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Lingnau, A. & Downing, P. E., 3 Apr 2015, In: Trends in Cognitive Science. 19, 5, p. 268-277
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2014

• Published
  Mundy, M. E., Downing, P. E., Honey, R. C., Singh, K. D., Graham, K. S. & Dwyer, D. M., 26 Jun 2014, In: PLoS ONE. 9, 6
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  van Paasschen, J., Walker, S. C., Phillips, N., Downing, P. E. & Tipper, S. P., 12 Dec 2014, In: International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 37, 1, p. 108-115
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2013

• Published
  van Koningsbruggen, M. G., Peelen, M. V. & Downing, P. E., 17 Apr 2013, In: Journal of Neuroscience. 33, 16, p. 7003-7010
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Mundy, M. E., Downing, P. E., Dwyer, D. M., Honey, R. C. & Graham, K. S., 19 Jun 2013, In: Journal of Neuroscience. 33, 25, p. 10490-10502
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2012

• Published
  Linden, D., Oosterhof, N., Klein, C. & Downing, P. E., 1 Jan 2012, In: Journal of Neurophysiology. 107, 2, p. 628-639
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Oosterhof, N. N., Tipper, S. P. & Downing, P. E., 1 Apr 2012, In: Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. 24, 4, p. 975-989
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2011

• Published
  Oosterhof, N. N., Wiestler, T., Downing, P. E. & Diedrichsen, J., 15 May 2011, In: Neuroimage. 56, 2, p. 593-600
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Taylor, J. C. & Downing, P. E., 1 Dec 2011, In: Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. 23, 12, p. 4122-4137
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Chan, A. W. & Downing, P. E., 2 Jun 2011, In: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 5, 51, p. 1-10
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Wiggett, A. J., Hudson, M., Tipper, S. P. & Downing, P. E., 1 Jun 2011, In: Brain and Cognition. 76, 1, p. 87-96
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Kontaris, I. & Downing, P. E., 14 Dec 2011, In: Perception. 40, 11, p. 1320-1334
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Wiggett, A. J. & Downing, P. E., 1 Jul 2011, In: Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. 23, 7, p. 1765-1780
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Downing, P. E. & Peelen, M. V., 1 Nov 2011, In: Cognitive Neuroscience. 2, 3-4, p. 186-203
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2010

• Published
  Taylor, J. C., Wiggett, A. J. & Downing, P. E., 1 Mar 2010, In: Journal of Neurophysiology. 103, 3, p. 1467-1477
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Taylor, J. C., Roberts, M. V., Downing, P. E. & Thierry, G., 1 Aug 2010, In: Brain and Cognition. 73, 3, p. 153-159
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Parkinson, C., Piech, R. M., Lewis, J., Parkinson, C. H., Owen, A. M., Roberts, A. C., Downing, P. E. & Parkinson, J. A., 1 Mar 2010, In: Brain and Cognition. 72, 2, p. 282-288
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Oosterhof, N. N., Wiggett, A. J., Diedrichsen, J., Tipper, S. P. & Downing, P. E., 1 Aug 2010, In: Journal of Neurophysiology. 104, 2, p. 1077-1089
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Peelen, M. V., Rogers, J., Wing, A. M., Downing, P. E. & Bracewell, R. M., 1 Jul 2010, In: Experimental Brain Research. 204, 3, p. 457-464
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2009

• Published
  Wiggett, A. J., Pritchard, I. C. & Downing, P. E., 1 Dec 2009, In: Neuropsychologia. 47, 14, p. 3111-3117
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Kontaris, I., Wiggett, A. J. & Downing, P. E., 1 Dec 2009, In: Neuropsychologia. 47, 14, p. 3118-3124
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Mundy, M. E., Honey, R. C., Downing, P. E., Wise, R. G., Graham, K. S. & Dwyer, D. M., 28 Oct 2009, In: Neuroreport. 20, 16, p. 1397-1401
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Parkinson, C., Piech, R. M., Lewis, J., Parkinson, C. H., Owen, A. M., Roberts, A. C., Downing, P. E. & Parkinson, J. A., 12 Aug 2009, In: PLoS ONE. 4, 8, p. e6581
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2008

• Published
  Wiggett, A. J. & Downing, P. E., 1 Apr 2008, In: Neuroimage. 40, 2, p. 420-422
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2007

• Published
  Thierry, G., Martin, C. D., Downing, P. E. & Pegna, A. J., 4 Mar 2007, In: Nature Neuroscience. 10, 4, p. 505-511
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Downing, P. E., 23 Oct 2007, In: Current Biology. 17, 20, p. R888-R889
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Downing, P. E., Wiggett, A. J. & Peelen, M. V., 3 Jan 2007, In: Journal of Neuroscience. 27, 1, p. 226-233
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Taylor, J. C., Wiggett, A. J. & Downing, P. E., 1 Sept 2007, In: Journal of Neurophysiology. 98, 3, p. 1626-1633
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Thierry, G., Martin, C. D., Downing, P. E. & Pegna, A. J., 1 Jul 2007, In: Nature Neuroscience. 10, 7, p. 802-803
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Morrison, I. & Downing, P. E., 15 Aug 2007, In: Neuroimage. 37, 2, p. 642-651
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Downing, P. E., Morrison, I., Poliakoff, E., Gordon, L. & Downing, P., 1 Aug 2007, In: Cognition. 104, 2, p. 407-416
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Thierry, G., Martin, C., Downing, P. & Pegna, A., 1 Jan 2007.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• Published
  Peelen, M. V. & Downing, P. E., 1 Aug 2007, In: Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 8, 8, p. 636-648
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Morrison, I., Peelen, M. V. & Downing, P. E., 1 Sept 2007, In: Cerebral Cortex. 17, 9, p. 2214-2222
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Peelen, M. V. & Downing, P. E., 1 Jan 2007, In: Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 11, 1, p. 4-5
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Piech, R. M., Lewis, J., Owen, A. M., Roberts, A. C., Downing, P. E., Parkinson, C. H. & Parkinson, J. A., 1 Jan 2007.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

2006

• Published
  Van Koningsbruggen, M. G., Peelen, M. V., Downing, P. E. & Rafal, R. D., 1 Jan 2006.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• Published
  Thierry, G., Pegna, A. J., Dodds, C., Roberts, M., Basan, S. & Downing, P., 15 Aug 2006, In: Neuroimage. 32, 2, p. 871-879
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Chan, A. W., Peelen, M. V. & Downing, P. E., 1 Jan 2006.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• Published
  Downing, P. E., Chan, A. W., Peelen, M. V., Dodds, C. M. & Kanwisher, N., 1 Oct 2006, In: Cerebral Cortex. 16, 10, p. 1453-1461
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Morrison, I., Peelen, M. V. & Downing, P. E., 1 Jan 2006.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• Published
  Wiggett, A. J., Peelen, M. V. & Downing, P. E., 1 Jan 2006.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• Published
  Peelen, M. V., Wiggett, A. J. & Downing, P. E., 16 Mar 2006, In: Neuron. 49, 6, p. 815-822
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Downing, P. E., Peelen, M. V., Wiggett, A. J. & Tew, B. D., 1 Mar 2006, In: Social Neuroscience. 1, 1, p. 52-62
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2005

• Published
  Peelen, M. & Downing, P. E., 1 Jan 2005.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• Published
  Downing, P. E. & Peelen, M., 1 Jan 2005.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• Published
  Peelen, M. V. & Downing, P. E., 1 Feb 2005, In: Nature Neuroscience. 8, 2, p. 125
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Peelen, M. V. & Downing, P. E., 1 Jan 2005, In: Journal of Neurophysiology. 93, 1, p. 603-608
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Ward, R., Danziger, S., Quirk, R. T., Goodson, L. & Downing, P. E., 1 Feb 2005, In: Visual Cognition. 12, 2, p. 376-394
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Peelen, M. V. & Downing, P. E., 1 Aug 2005, In: Human Brain Mapping. 25, 4, p. 402-408
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2004

• Published
  Bray, D. M., Downing, P. E., Bray, D., Rogers, J. & Childs, C., 1 Aug 2004, In: Cognition. 93, 1, p. B27-B38
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Downing, P. E. & Dodds, C. M., 1 Aug 2004, In: Visual Cognition. 11, 6, p. 689-703
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Downing, P. E., Chan, A. W. & Downing, P., 1 Jan 2004.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• Published
  Downing, P. E. & Peelen, M., 1 Jan 2004.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• Published
  Chan, A. W., Peelen, M. V. & Downing, P. E., 25 Oct 2004, In: Neuroreport. 15, 15, p. 2407-2410
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Downing, P., Dodds, C. M. & Bray, D. M., 1 Jan 2004, In: Visual Cognition. 11, 1, p. 71-79
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2003

• Published
  Downing, P. E. & Dodds, C. M., 1 Jan 2003.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• Published
  Downing, P. E., Chan, A. & Dodds, C., 1 Jan 2003.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• Published
  Downing, P. E., Dodds, C. M., Chan, A. W. & Turnbull, O., 1 Jan 2003.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• Published
  Epstein, R., Graham, K. S. & Downing, P. E., 6 Mar 2003, In: Neuron. 37, 5, p. 865-876
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2002

• Published
  Downing, P. E., Rafal, R., Lauder, J., Machado, L., Dodds, C. & Downing, P., 1 Jan 2002.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• Published
  Downing, P. E., Epstein, R., Graham, K. S., Kanwisher, N. & Downing, P., 1 Jan 2002.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

2001

• Published
  Downing, P. E., Jiang, Y., Shuman, M. & Kanwisher, N., 28 Sept 2001, In: Science. 293, 5539, p. 2470-2473
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Downing, P. E., Downing, P. & Kanwisher, N., 1 Jan 2001.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• Published
  Downing, P. E., Downing, P. & Kanwisher, N., 1 Jan 2001.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• Published
  Downing, P. E., Kanwisher, N., Downing, P., Epstein, R., Kourtzi, Z., Cabeza, R. (Editor) & Kingstone, A. (Editor), 1 Jan 2001, Handbook of functional neuroimaging of cognition. 2001 ed. MIT Press, p. 109-152
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
• Published
  Downing, P. E., Downing, P., Liu, J. & Kanwisher, N., 1 Jan 2001, In: Neuropsychologia. 39, 12, p. 1329-1342
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2000

• Published
  Downing, P. E., 1 Nov 2000, In: Psychological Science. 11, 6, p. 467-473
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

• 04/09/2023 – 31/10/2026 (Active)

• 01/05/2020 – 02/04/2026 (Active)

• 30/08/2014 – 31/03/2017 (Finished)

• 01/10/2013 – 31/07/2018 (Finished)

• 01/01/2012 – 18/08/2016 (Finished)

• 01/10/2009 – 31/07/2012 (Finished)

• 01/02/2005 – 31/07/2009 (Finished)

Qualifications

BS Cognitive Science, University of California, Los Angeles 1992

PhD Psychology, Princeton University 1998