| Post: | Associate Tutor |
| Location: | Accelerator |
| Email: | G.Sebestyen@sussex.ac.uk |
| Telephone numbers | |
| Internal: | 2825 |
| UK: | (01273) 872825 |
| International: | +44 1273 872825 |
Biography
Education
B.Sc. - University of California San Diego - Cognitive Science Department Honors Thesis: Face recognition in squirrel monkeys as a function of social status and attention using event-related potentials. Published in Cognitive Brain Research
D.Phil. - University of Oxford - Department of Experimental Psychology Examined shifts of attention in vision and language using ERPs, fMRI and PET in collaboration with the Wellcome Functional Imaging Laboratory, UCL and Northwestern University Medical School. Thesis title: Shifting Attention Based on Perceptual or Linguistic Information: Behavioural and Electrophysiological Studies
Role
Lecturer in Psychology (01/01/08 - present)
Department of Psychology
Open University
Research Fellow (01/08/08 - present)
Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development
Birkbeck College, University of London
Multidimensional Investigation of typical preverbal children and children with specific language impairments.
Associate Tutor (01/10/08 - present)
Cognitive Psychology II
Department of Psychology
University of Sussex
Daphne Jackson Research Fellow
University of Sussex (2004-Present) Department of Psychology, School of Life Sciences. Three year post-doctoral grant to study multimodal communication in Western Lowland Gorillas. Gorillas located at Port Lympne Animal Park (John Aspinall Foundation).
Research
Research Background
Since my undergraduate studies, I have maintained a concentrated research focus on human and non-human primate cognition at both the neural and behavioural levels. My current research centres on building an understanding of the mechanisms that underlie complex communication in non-human primates (specifically, great apes). I have developed a novel method of recording, coding and analysing multimodal behaviours in gorillas as they interact with their social partners and the environment. Drawing from my knowledge of neuroscience and brain processes, I take a distributed approach to social cognition. Primate behaviour can never be analysed as a single isolated event, but rather one that is comprised of a network of interacting sensory signals within a particular social context over space and time. Unlike previous research in the area of primate communication, this approach requires one to consider the coordinated efforts of the entire body as it generates auditory, tactile and visual signals. This research is important both for understanding a unique species of ape as well as for drawing comparisons between apes and humans in an attempt to better understand the evolution of modern human language.
Current Areas of Investigation
- Multidimensional behaviour in gorillas
- Methods and Analyses Structure in multimodal signals
- Simultaneous and sequential signals
- Limb laterality in object manipulation and emotive behaviours
- Dynamic behaviour: the role of social context, proximity and timing
- Individuals differences, groups and mother/baby dyads
Publications
PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
Forrester, G.S. (2008) A multidimensional approach to investigations of behavior: Revealing structure in multicomponent ape signals. Animal Behaviour. 76, 1749-1760. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.05.026
Forrester, G.S., Leavens, D.A. (under review) Differential Hand Use for Affinitive and Manipulative Manual Actions by aFemale Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Laterality
MANUSCRIPTS IN PREPARATION
Forrester, G.S., Forrester, N.A., Leavens, D.A., Bard, K.A., Herrick, R. (In Prep). Multidimensional behaviour in western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla): An Empirical Report.
Forrester, G.S., Bard, K.A. (In Prep.) The role of head motion during great ape communication.
PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
Nobre, A.C., Sebestyen, G.N., Gitelman, D.R., Mesulam, M.M. (2002). Filtering of distractors during visual search studied by positron emission tomography. Neuroimage 16: 968-976.
Nobre, A.C., Sebestyen, G.N., Miniussi, C. (2000). The dynamics of shifting visuospatial attention revealed by event-related potentials. Neuropsychologia 38:964-974.
Nobre, A.C., Sebestyen, G.N., Gitelman, D.R., Mesulam, M.M., Frackowiak, R.S.J., Frith, C.D. (1997). Functional localisation of the neural network for visual spatial attention by positron-emission tomography. Brain 120:515-533.
Pineda, J.A., Sebestyen, G., Nava, C. (1994). Face recognition as a function of social attention in non-human primates: an ERP study. Cognitive Brain Research, 1994, 2: 1-12.
PEER REVIEWED ABSTRACTS
Forrester, G. S. & Forrester, N. (2006). Assessing Sensory Integration of Higher Cognitive Function: Great Ape Communication (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Proceedings from the 7th Annual Meeting of the International Multisensory Research Forum.
Forrester, G. S. & Forrester, N. (2005). Methodology For Detecting Multimodal Communication In Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Abstract published in the American Journal of Primatology , Suppl. 1, v66, pg.167.
Sebestyen, G.N. & Nobre, A.C. (1997). Temporal Correlates of Covert Shifts of Visual Spatial Attention Using Event-Related Potentials-II. Human Brain Mapping, Copenhagen, Denmark. Abstract printed in special issues of NeuroImage.
Sebestyen, G.N. & Nobre, A.C. (1996). Temporal correlates of covert shifts visual spatial attention using event-related potentials. 2nd Meeting of Europ. Neurosci., Strasbourg. European J Neurosci; Suppl 9: 123.
Nobre, A.C., Gitelman, D.R., Sebestyen, G.N., Meyer, J., Frackowiak, R.S.J., Frith, C.D., et al. (1996a). Functional localisation for the neural system of visual spatial attention using PET and fMRI. 2nd Meeting of European Neuroscience, Strasbourg. European J Neurosci., Suppl 9: 122.
Nobre, A.C., Gitelman, D.R., Sebestyen, G.N., Meyer, J., Frackowiak, R.S.J., Frith, C.D., et al. (1996b). Cortical network for visuospatial attention imaged using PET and fMRI. J Neurosci., Suppl 9, 22: 1692.
Nobre, A.C., Mesulam, M.M., Sebestyen, G.N. Frackowiak, R.S.J., Frith, C.D. (1996). Functional Localisation of the Neural Network for Visual Spatial Attention by Positron-Emission Tomography. Human Brain Mapping, Boston. Abstract published in special issues of NeuroImage.
Paulsen, J.S., Heaton, R.K., Sadek, J.R., Harris, H.J., McAdams, L.A., Sebestyen, G.N., Jeste, D.V. (1994). The effects of neuroleptic and anticholinergic medications on neuropsychological impairments. Abstract printed for: Collegium International Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum (CNIP), Washington D.C.
SCIENTIFIC JOURNALISM
Sebestyen, G. (2000). Furthering Females, Science’s Next Wave,15 Dec, UK. http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/previous_issues/articles/0770/furthering_females/(parent)/158
Sebestyen, G. (2000). UK sets out to create a globally competitive e-University Science’s Next Wave, 3 Nov, United Kingdom. http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/previous_issues/articles/0700/uk_sets_out_to_create_a_globally_competitive_e_university/(parent)/158
Sebestyen, G. (2000). Writing Wrongs, Science’s Next Wave, 13 Oct, United Kingdomhttp://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/previous_issues/articles/0630/writing_wrongs/
Sebestyen, G. (2000). ‘Watching the Consultants’, Science’s Next Wave, 28 Jul, UK. http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/previous_issues/articles/0560/watching_the_consultants/
INVITED TALKS
Forrester, G.S. (2008). A Multidimensional Method for Assessing Nonverbal Communication. Daphne Jackson Trust Reception, BA Festival of Science, University of Liverpool, 10 September
Forrester, G.S. (2007). Methods for Assessing Cognition and Communication in Great Apes (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Birkbeck College, University of London, 28 Feb.
Forrester, G.S. (2006). Assessing Sensory Integration of Higher Cognitive Function: Great Ape Communication (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), International Multisensory Research Forum, Dublin, 20 June.
Forrester, G.S. (2006). Microanalysis of Multimodal Communication in Western Lowland Gorillas Research on languages and linguistics seminars, University of Sussex, Department of Linguistics, 16 January.
Forrester, G.S. (2005). Extending the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) methodology to body motion. CHIMPFACS Meeting, University of Portsmouth, Department of Psychology, 18 March.
Forrester, G.S. (2005). How do gorillas communicate through body language? Session Title: Primate social cognition: What monkeys & apes know and feel about each other, BA Festival of Science, Trinity College, Dublin, 6 September.
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION OF SCIENCE
Public Outreach:
(2008) CNN: Interview: similarities between human and ape behaviour:10th October Airdate: TBA
British Association for the Advancement of Science Festival, September 2005
Invited speaker at the British Association for the Advancement of Science Festival.
FameLab, April 2005
Finalist in the London heat of the FameLab competition for science presenting.
Athena Project, December 2000
As a Journalist for Science’s Next Wave, covered the Athena Project Conference in London, which aims to boost the number of women in British academic science positions.
SPARKS, September 2000
As a Journalist for Science’s Next Wave, covered the SPARKS festival held in London, which aims to bring science and the arts together.
Featured in Print:
Forrester, G.S. (2008). ‘So, how do I return to my career?’ View from the top, Research Fortnight, 10 September
Forrester, G.S. (2006). Video research into gorilla communication. Falmer Magazine:04 Falmer, Sussex University News.
Forrester, G.S. (2005). Apes use complex body language. Irish Times Article, by Dick Ahlstrom, Science Editor, published: 7 September.
Forrester, G.S. (2005). Gorilla Uses Tool to Plumb the Depths. Quoted in New Scientistregarding gorillas and wild tool use, Print Edition, 8 October. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18825204.300.html.
Forrester, G.S. (2005). Gorillas are video stars of Sussex. University of Sussex Press Release, 5 September. http://www.sussex.ac.uk/press_office/media/media503.shtml.
Forrester, G.S. (2005). News: reports from the British Association Festival of Science and
the BPS Cognitive Section annual conference. The Psychologist, Volume 18, Part 10, pp: 588-595.
Featured in Radio:
Forrester, G.S. (2008). Multidimensional Approaches to the investigation of nonverbal behaviour in humans and primates – building a common framework for comparison across disparate populations. The Science Show, ABC Radio National: Airdate TBA.
Forrester, G.S. (2008). Gorilla Communication and Right Handedness, BBC Radio, Kent, Talk Radio, Airdate: 16th October 2008.
Forrester, G.S. (2005). Non-vocal Communication in Gorillas, The Naked Scientist, Science Radio Show, BBC Eastern Region, Cambridge, 11 December 2005, Hosted by Chris Smith with Kat Arney http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/shows/2005.12.11.htm.
Forrester, G.S. (2005). Gorilla Communication. The Science Show, ABC Radio National: Saturday 10th December: Hosted by: Robyn Williams http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/ss/stories/s1523402.htm.
Forrester, G.S. (2005). Interview. The Orla Barry Show, NewsTalk 106 - Dublin's Talk Radio Station, 7 September http://www.newstalk106.ie/orla-barry.htm.
Forrester, G.S. (2005). Great Ape Body Language. Kossuth Radio, Hungarian National Radio, Interviewed by Julia Gimes, Science Editor, 6 September.
Forrester, G.S. (2005). Invited panellist, X-Change radio programme hosted by Quentin Cooper to discuss scientific topics in an open forum with the public at the BA Festival. 6 September.
Featured in Film/Television:
(2008). Big Wave Productions for Channel 5. Animal Altruism: A documentary series discussing the cognitive capacity for altruistic behaviour in animals. Primate specialist for episode on gorillas. (Airdate 2009).
Forrester, G.S. (2006). Inside Out, BBC South East: Regional news series featuring three factual stories. Wildlife segment. (Airdate: 6th November 2006). Text review of this programme can be found at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/southeast/series10/week9.shtml.A video sample of this programme can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-GNQoGf9Xc.
Ad-Hoc Consulting for production companies using primate behaviour and communication as a story focus. Latest projects: King Kong with special projects supervisor, Mark Sagar, (director: Peter Jackson) and Mute Marmalade Productions specialising in short films.
Forrester, G.S. (2000). ‘Who’s Aping Who?’ – A look at the similarities and differences between man and ape (part 1, Bringing up Baby), National Geographic, January, Tigress Productions.