Neil Garrett

Neil Garrett is a Research Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in the Psychology Department at the University of East Anglia, where he is also a Visiting Lecturer and member of the Cognition, Action and Perception and Social Cognition Research Groups. He is actively involved in research and accepts PhD students, indicating ongoing academic engagement.

• Research Lecturer, Psychology Department, University of East Anglia
• Visiting Lecturer, School of Psychology, UEA
• Member, Cognition, Action and Perception Research Group
• Member, Social Cognition Research Group

Neil Garrett's research focuses on how beliefs and motivation emerge from learning processes. He employs computational modeling, neuroimaging, behavioral experiments, online games, and economic theory to understand decision-making and its neurobiological basis. His work spans cognitive and affective neuroscience, with applications in clinical disorders such as depression and schizophrenia.

His recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on belief updating, optimism bias, decision heuristics, and neural mechanisms of motivation. Articles span journals like Nature Communications, eLife, and Journal of Neuroscience, reflecting interdisciplinary and high-impact research. Topics include biased belief updating, foraging decisions, habenula-insular circuits, and computational psychiatry, indicating a cohesive research program in cognitive-affective neuroscience.

• Sir Henry Wellcome Research Fellow
• UCL IMPACT Scholar in Experimental Psychology
• Published in Nature Neuroscience, Nature Communications, eLife, PNAS
• Contributor to Aeon Magazine, The Conversation, and NBC

Garrett has led research projects funded by the Wellcome Trust and British Academy, focusing on information sharing motivations and neural mechanisms in clinical disorders. He collaborates widely, particularly with Tali Sharot, and has advised or co-authored with multiple early-career researchers. He is active in academic dissemination, having spoken at the Pavlovian Society conference. His lab investigates cognitive and neural mechanisms of belief and decision-making, likely involving computational and behavioral methodologies.