People

Ashvanti Valji

Research student, School of Psychology

Email:
valjia@cardiff.ac.uk

Research summary

I am interested in using structural and functional MRI  methods to investigate the neural mechanisms of intrinsic motivation, learning  and memory consolidation. My PhD project will focus on curiosity, a form of intrinsic  motivation, and its contribution to our everyday learning of new information. In  order to better understand the differences which exist between individuals and states  of curiosity my project will also examine the role personality and/or curiosity  traits play on learning.

Teaching summary

Postgraduate tutor – supporting Year  1 Psychology students in developing and improving skills in writing scientific  reports through deliverance of tutorials and feedback on their marked practical  reports.

Research interests

Research topics and related papers

I am interested in using structural and functional MRI  methods to investigate the neural mechanisms of intrinsic motivation, learning  and memory consolidation. My PhD project will focus on curiosity, a form of  intrinsic motivation, and its contribution to our everyday learning of new  information. In order to better understand the differences which exist between  individuals and states of curiosity my project will also examine the role  personality/curiosity traits play on learning.

Funding

School of Psychology, Cardiff University, 3 year  funded PhD studentship (2016-2019)

Research group

Neuroscience

CUBRIC

Memory and Motivation Lab:

  • Matthias Gruber (Psychology/Neuroscience,  Cardiff University)
  • Vera Dehmelt (PhD student, Psychology/Neuroscience,  Cardiff University)

Research collaborators

Matthias Gruber

2017