Albert Flexas Oliver

Dr. Albert Flexas Oliver is a Full Professor in the Department of Applied Pedagogy and Educational Psychology at the Faculty of Education, University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), where he also serves as vice dean. He previously held a leadership role as Director of the Psychology Degree at Isabel I University and returned to UIB in 2017 as a Visiting Professor before assuming his current position. He is actively involved in academic management, teaching innovation, and quality assurance.

His educational background includes a degree in Psychology and a doctorate in Cognition and Human Evolution, for which he received the Extraordinary Doctoral Award (2013–2014). He is certified to practice psychology in clinical settings across Spain, with accreditation finalized in 2018.

Dr. Flexas's research centers on neuroesthetics and neuroethics, exploring the biological underpinnings of aesthetic appreciation and moral cognition. His work integrates cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, and educational theory. He has published in prestigious journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, PLOS ONE, and Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on fMRI, ERP, and behavioral studies examining moral decision-making, empathy, cultural influences, and aesthetic perception across the lifespan.

His research has consistently explored overlapping neural networks involved in judging beauty and morality, suggesting shared cognitive and emotional mechanisms. Key trends include the role of the prefrontal cortex, anterior insula, and reward systems in moral and aesthetic evaluations, as well as developmental trajectories in these processes.

• Extraordinary Doctoral Award (2013–2014)
• Certified Psychologist (National Accreditation, 2018)
• Active member of research groups EvoCog and i+DEL

Dr. Flexas advises undergraduate and master’s students through final thesis supervision in psychology and education programs. While no formal PhD students are listed, he contributes to academic training and mentoring. He has secured academic roles involving curriculum design and teaching innovation, and his entrepreneurial experience in audiovisual production has informed teaching capsules on innovation and startup advising. He has taught subjects in developmental psychology, research methodology, and marketing.

He is a member of the i+DEL research group (Development, Education, and Language), an experimental R&D&I laboratory, and also participates in EvoCog (Evolution and Human Cognition), focusing on experimental and cognitive neuroscience approaches to human behavior. His interdisciplinary work bridges psychology, education, neuroscience, and the arts.