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Brain, Behaviour and Cognitive Sciences

The Brain, Behaviour and Cognitive Sciences (BBCS) area covers physiological and information- processing approaches to understanding behaviour, cognition, and perception.

Graphic representing Brain, Behaviour & Cognitive Science

Our BBCS laboratories investigate fundamental research problems in human and animal behaviour, as well as, applied topics such as virtual reality and low-gravity environments. Active research areas include visual perception, cognitive neuroscience, sensory-motor control, learning, animal behaviour, measurement theory, and neuropsychology.

Experimental approaches include psychophysics, computational modeling, single-unit and multi-electrode electrophysiology, brain imaging (fMRI, VEP), studies of neurological patients, kinematic analysis, and observational field-work.

Research projects form a key part of the training program. These projects can be carried out in our faculty laboratories and in a variety of clinical and applied settings. Several BBCS laboratories are part of the interdisciplinary Centre for Vision Research—one of the largest research groups in the world specializing in vision science.

Please see our Timeline for Completion of Requirements.

For more information about the Brain, Behaviour and Cognitive Sciences area, please contact the Area Coordinator Dr. Peter Kohler. For admissions queries, please email gradpsyc@yorku.ca.

To apply online, please visit How to Apply.

Additional Program Information

* Please kindly send an email to your preferred supervisor to inquire about their availability to admit new students for the upcoming academic year.

Faculty Member

  • Allison, Robert S
  • Bellana, Buddhika
  • Elder, James Harvey
  • Kohler, Peter Jes
  • Ma, Liya
  • Kupers, Eline
  • Sergio, Lauren E
  • Steeves, Jennifer K
  • Wilcox, Laurie M
  • Murray, Richard
  • DeSouza, Joeseph FX
  • Henriques, Denise Y P
  • Cleworth, Taylor
  • Murtha, Susan

Faculty Member

  • Allison, Robert S
  • Bellana, Buddhika
  • Bergevin, Christopher
  • Crawford, John Douglas
  • Cyr, Andree Ann
  • DeSouza, Joseph FX
  • Elder, James Harvey
  • Freud, Erez
  • Harris, Laurence Roy
  • Henriques, Denise Y P
  • Kohler, Peter Jes
  • Kupers, Eline
  • Ma, Liya
  • MacDonald, Suzanne E
  • Murray, Richard F
  • Murtha, Susan J. E.
  • Rivest, Josee S
  • Schall, Jeffrey
  • Sergio, Lauren E
  • Steeves, Jennifer K
  • Troje, Nikolaus
  • Wilcox, Laurie M
  • Zoidl, Georg R

Learn More

The Graduate Program in Psychology at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Assistant to learn more.