Professor Jan de Fockert

Jan is an expert in selective attention, studying how we prioritise the processing of relevant information in our environment.

Staff details

Position

Professor

Summary

Jan is a Professor of Psychology at Goldsmiths, where he is Co-Head of Department. His main research interest is human visual selective attention.

He uses a range of selective attention paradigms to investigate to what extent the attention system of the human brain is capable of selective processing of to-be-attended information.

He is specifically interested in the control of selective attention by frontal areas of the human brain, which he investigates using behavioural measures, functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and Electro-encephalography (EEG).

His research also looks at individual differences in selective attention, including between groups of different ages and cultures.

Grants and Awards

Jan has received external grant funding from a variety of organisations to support his work including: ESRC, Wellcome Trust, and the British Academy.

Public Engagement and Knowledge Exchange

Jan has frequently engaged with the news media to communicate his research or to provide expert commentary on developments in psychological science, and regularly gives seminars and lectures in schools.

Publications and research outputs

Article

Pacheco-Unguetti, A.P. and De Fockert, J. W.. 2025. Effects of negative mood and angry faces on the Ebbinghaus illusion. Psychological Research, 89, 159. ISSN 0340-0727
Gunduz, H.; Gunduz, T. and De Fockert, J. W.. 2025. Effects of visual working memory load and item priority on susceptibility to distraction and memory accuracy. Psychological Research, 89, 155. ISSN 0340-0727
Eisenkoeck, Antonia; De Fockert, J. W. and Moore, James W.. 2025. Investigating the effect of cognitive load on the intentionality bias. Psychological Research, 89, 4. ISSN 0340-0727

Fernandez, Sergio; Ortells, Juan Jose; Kiefer, Markus; Noguera, Carmen and De Fockert, J. W.. 2021. Working memory capacity modulates expectancy-based strategic processing: Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence. Biological Psychology, 159, 108023. ISSN 0301-0511
Hein, Thomas; De Fockert, J. W. and Herrojo Ruiz, Maria. 2021. State anxiety biases estimates of uncertainty and impairs reward learning in volatile environments. NeuroImage, 224, 117424. ISSN 1053-8119
Job, Xavier; Brady, Daniel; De Fockert, J. W.; Di Bernardi Luft, Caroline; Hill, Elisabeth L. and Van Velzen, Jose L.. 2019. Adults with probable Developmental Coordination Disorder selectively process early visual, but not tactile information during action preparation. An electrophysiological study. Human Movement Science, 66, pp. 631-644. ISSN 0167-9457
Job, Xavier; Golemme, Mara; Bhattacharya, Joydeep; Cappelletti, Marinella; De Fockert, J. W. and Van Velzen, Jose L.. 2019. The influence of motor preparation on the processing of action-relevant visual features. Scientific Reports, 9, 11084. ISSN 2045-2322
Thoma, Volker and De Fockert, J. W.. 2019. Three-Quarter Views of Depth-Rotated Faces Induce Face-Specific Capacity Limits in Visual Search induce face-specific capacity limits in visual search. Experimental Psychology, 65(6), pp. 360-369. ISSN 1618-3169
Ortells, JJ; De Fockert, J. W.; Alvarez, NR and Garcia, SF. 2018. Expectancy-based strategic processes are influenced by spatial working memory load and individual differences in working memory capacity. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, ISSN 1664-1078
Linnell, Karina J; Bremner, Andrew J.; Caparos, S.; Davidoff, Jules B. and De Fockert, J. W.. 2018. Urban experience alters lightness perception. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 44(1), pp. 2-6. ISSN 0096-1523
Job, Xavier; Van Velzen, Jose L. and De Fockert, J. W.. 2017. Grasp preparation modulates early visual processing of size and detection of local/global stimulus features. Cortex, 96, pp. 46-58. ISSN 0010-9452
Ortells, JJ; 脕lvarez, D; Noguera, C; Carmona, E and De Fockert, J. W.. 2017. The Influence of Working Memory Load on Expectancy-Based Strategic Processes in the Stroop-Priming Task. Frontiers in Psychology, 8(129), ISSN 1664-1078
Thoma, Volker; Ward, Neil and De Fockert, J. W.. 2016. Misaligned and Polarity-Reversed Faces Determine Face-specific Capacity Limits. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 1470. ISSN 1664-1078
Gosling, Angela; Thoma, Volker; De Fockert, J. W. and Richardson-Klavehn, Alan. 2016. Event-Related Potential Effects of Object Repetition Depend on Attention and Part-Whole Configuration. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 10, 478.
Job, Xavier; De Fockert, J. W. and Van Velzen, Jose L.. 2016. Action preparation modulates sensory perception in unseen personal space: an electrophysiological investigation. Neuropsychologia, 89, pp. 445-452. ISSN 0028-3932
Wakui, E.; Thoma, Volker and De Fockert, J. W.. 2016. View-sensitive ERP repetition effects indicate automatic holistic processing of spatially unattended objects. Neuropsychologia, 89, pp. 426-436. ISSN 0028-3932
Bremner, Andrew J.; Doherty, Martin J.; Caparos, Serge; De Fockert, J. W.; Linnell, Karina J and Davidoff, Jules B.. 2016. Effects of culture and the urban environment on the development of the Ebbinghaus illusion. Child Development, 87(3), pp. 962-981. ISSN 0009-3920
Moynihan, Jennifer; Rose, Mark; Van Velzen, Jose L. and De Fockert, J. W.. 2016. Local and global visual processing and eating disorder traits: An event-related potential study. Biological Psychology, 115, pp. 27-34. ISSN 0301-0511
Bremner, Andrew J. and De Fockert, J. W.. 2016. Sensory development: Childhood changes in visual cortical function. Current Biology, 26(1), R36-R37.
De Fockert, J. W. and Leiser, Jaclyn. 2014. Better target detection in the presence of collinear flankers under high working memory load. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8, 821. ISSN 1662-5161
Ramchurn, Anusha; De Fockert, J. W.; Mason, Luke; Darling, Stephen and Bunce, David. 2014. Intraindividual reaction time variability affects P300 amplitude rather than latency. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8, 557. ISSN 1662-5161
Holmes, Amanda; Mogg, Karin; De Fockert, J. W.; Nielsen, Maria and Bradley, Brendan. 2014. Electrophysiological evidence for greater attention to threat when cognitive control resources are depleted. Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Neuroscience, 14(2), pp. 827-835. ISSN 1530-7026
Doneva, Silviya and De Fockert, J. W.. 2014. More conservative go/no-go response criterion under high working memory load. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 26(1), pp. 110-117. ISSN 2044-5911
De Fockert, J. W. and Cooper, Andrew. 2014. Higher levels of depression are associated with reduced global bias in visual processing. Cognition & Emotion, 28(3), pp. 541-549. ISSN 0269-9931
Avery, Rachel; Smillie, Luke and De Fockert, J. W.. 2013. The Role of Working Memory in Achievement Goal Pursuit. Acta Psychologica, 144(2), pp. 361-372. ISSN 0001-6918
Linnell, Karina J; Caparos, Serge; De Fockert, J. W. and Davidoff, Jules B.. 2013. Urbanization decreases attentional engagement. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 39(5), pp. 1232-1247. ISSN 0096-1523
De Fockert, J. W. and Gautrey, Ben. 2013. Greater visual averaging of face identity for own-gender faces. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 20(3), pp. 468-473. ISSN 1069-9384
De Fockert, J. W.. 2013. Beyond perceptual load and dilution: a review of the role of working memory in selective attention. Frontiers in Psychology, 4, 287. ISSN 1664-1078
Caparos, S.; Linnell, Karina J; Bremner, Andrew J.; De Fockert, J. W. and Davidoff, Jules B.. 2013. Do local and global perceptual biases tell us anything about local and global selective attention? Psychological Science, 24(2), pp. 206-212. ISSN 0956-7976
Marchant, Alexander; Simons, Daniel and De Fockert, J. W.. 2013. Ensemble representations: Effects of set size and item heterogeneity on average size perception. Acta Psychologica, 142(2), pp. 245-250.
Bremner, Andrew J.; Caparos, Serge; Davidoff, Jules B.; De Fockert, J. W.; Linnell, Karina J and Spence, Charles. 2013. 鈥淏ouba鈥� and 鈥淜iki鈥� in Namibia? A remote culture make similar shape鈥搒ound matches, but different shape鈥搕aste matches to Westerners. Cognition, 126(2), pp. 165-172. ISSN 0010-0277
De Fockert, J. W. and Theeuwes, Jan. 2012. Role of frontal cortex in attentional capture by singleton distractors. Brain and Cognition, 80, pp. 367-373. ISSN 0278-2626
Ahmed, Lubna and De Fockert, J. W.. 2012. Focusing on Attention: The Effects of Working Memory Capacity and Load on Selective Attention. PLoS ONE, 7(8), e43101. ISSN 1932-6203
Murphy, S.; Van Velzen, Jose L. and De Fockert, J. W.. 2012. The role of perceptual load in action affordance by ignored objects. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, ISSN 1069-9384
Ahmed, Lubna and De Fockert, J. W.. 2012. Working memory can both impair and improve selective attention: Evidence from the Navon paradigm. Attention, Perception & Psychophysics, ISSN 1943-3921
Paul, R. and De Fockert, J. W.. 2012. The effects of using ticks and crosses on academic self-concept. Educational Psychology, 32(4), pp. 467-474. ISSN 0144-3410
Caparos, S.; Ahmed, L.; Bremner, Andrew J.; De Fockert, J. W.; Linnell, Karina J and Davidoff, Jules B.. 2012. Exposure to an urban environment alters the local bias of a remote culture. Cognition, 122(1), pp. 80-85. ISSN 0010-0277
De Fockert, J. W.; Caparos, S.; Linnell, Karina J and Davidoff, Jules B.. 2011. Reduced Distractibility in a Remote Culture. PLoS ONE, 6(10), e26337. ISSN 1932-6203
De Fockert, J. W. and Bremner, Andrew J.. 2011. Release of Inattentional Blindness by High Working Memory Load: Elucidating the Relationship between Working Memory and Selective Attention. Cognition, 121(3), pp. 400-408. ISSN 0010-0277
De Fockert, J. W.. 2010. Early top-down attentional modulation in visual processing. Acta Psychologica, 135(2), pp. 112-113.
De Fockert, J. W.; Mizon, Guy A. and D'Ubaldo, Mariangela. 2010. No negative priming without cognitive control. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 36(6), pp. 1333-1341. ISSN 0096-1523
Bergstr枚m, Zara M.; De Fockert, J. W. and Richardson-Klavehn, Alan. 2009. ERP and behavioural evidence for direct suppression of unwanted memories. NeuroImage, 48(4), pp. 726-737. ISSN 1053-8119
Hughes, Gethin; Velmans, Max and De Fockert, J. W.. 2009. Unconscious priming of a no-go response. Psychophysiology, 46(6), pp. 1258-1269. ISSN 0048-5772
De Fockert, J. W. and Wu, Si. 2009. High working memory load leads to more Ebbinghaus illusion. European Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 21(7), pp. 961-970. ISSN 0954-1446
Marchant, Alexander and De Fockert, J. W.. 2009. Priming by the mean representation of a set. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 62(10), pp. 1889-1895. ISSN 1747-0218
De Fockert, J. W. and Wolfenstein, Cecilia. 2009. Rapid extraction of mean identity from sets of faces. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 62(9), pp. 1716-1722. ISSN 1747-0218
De Fockert, J. W.; Ramchurn, Anusha; Van Velzen, Jose L.; Bergstr枚m, Zara M. and Bunce, David. 2009. Behavioral and ERP evidence of greater distractor processing in old age. Brain Research, 1282, pp. 67-73. ISSN 00068993
Bergstr枚m, Zara M.; De Fockert, J. W. and Richardson-Klavehn, Alan. 2009. Event-related Potential Evidence that Automatic Recollection Can Be Voluntarily Avoided. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 21(7), pp. 1280-1301. ISSN 0898-929X
De Fockert, J. W. and Marchant, Alexander. 2008. Attention modulates set representation by statistical properties. Perception & Psychophysics, 70(5), pp. 789-794. ISSN 0031-5117
De Fockert, J. W.; Davidoff, Jules B.; Fagot, J. and Goldstein, J.. 2007. More Accurate Size Contrast Judgments in the Ebbinghaus Illusion by a Remote Culture. Journal of Experimental Psychology Human Perception and Performance, 33(3), pp. 738-742. ISSN 00961523
Bergstr枚m, Zara M.; Velmans, Max; De Fockert, J. W. and Richardson-Klavehn, Alan. 2007. ERP evidence for successful voluntary avoidance of conscious recollection. Brain Research, 1151, pp. 119-133. ISSN 0006-8993
Lavie, Nilli and De Fockert, J. W.. 2006. Frontal control of attentional capture in visual search. Visual Cognition, 14(4-8), pp. 863-876. ISSN 1350-6285
De Fockert, J. W.. 2005. Keeping priorities: the role of working memory and selective attention in cognitive aging. Science of Aging Knowledge Environment, 2005(44), pe34.
Lavie, Nilli and De Fockert, J. W.. 2005. The role of working memory in attentional capture. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 12(4), pp. 669-674. ISSN 1069-9384
Lavie, N.; Hirst, A.; De Fockert, J. W. and Viding, E.. 2004. Load Theory of Selective Attention and Cognitive Control. Journal of Experimental Psychology General, 133(3), pp. 339-354. ISSN 00963445
De Fockert, J. W.; Rees, Geraint; Frith, Chris and Lavie, Nilli. 2004. Neural Correlates of Attentional Capture in Visual Search. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 16(5), pp. 751-759. ISSN 0898-929X
De Fockert, J. W.; Rees, Geraint; Frith, Christopher D. and Lavie, Nilli. 2004. Neural correlates of attentional capture in visual search. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 16(5), pp. 751-759. ISSN 0898-929X
Lavie, Nilli and De Fockert, J. W.. 2003. Contrasting effects of sensory limits and capacity limits in visual selective attention. Perception & Psychophysics, 65(2), pp. 202-212. ISSN 0031-5117
De Fockert, J. W.; Rees, Geraint; Frith, Christopher D. and Lavie, Nilli. 2001. The role of working memory in visual selective attention. Science, 291, pp. 1803-1806. ISSN 0036-8075 (print) 1095-9203 (online)
Fox, Elaine and De Fockert, J. W.. 2001. Inhibitory effects of repeating color and shape: Inhibition of return or repetition blindness? Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 27(4), pp. 798-812. ISSN 0096-1523
Fox, Elaine and De Fockert, J. W.. 1998. Negative priming depends on prime鈥損robe similarity: Evidence for episodic retrieval. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 5, pp. 107-113.

Research Interests

Jan鈥檚 main themes of research are human selective attention, cognitive control, and individual differences in visual cognition.

He has used behavioural and neuroimaging methods to study these themes.

He is a member of our Cognition and Neuroscience Group. Key areas of interest are listed below.

鈥� Selective attention
鈥� Cognitive control of attention
鈥� Role of working memory in attention
鈥� Individual differences in attention
鈥� Local and global visual processing
鈥� Visual averaging

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