Cynthia Cabañas

Cynthia Cabañas is a Research Associate in the Department of Communication at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Network Institute. She holds a PhD in Psychology (Film Cognition) from Birkbeck, University of London, an MA in Film and TV from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, and multiple master's degrees in Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology. Her research focuses on how complex film narratives influence cognitive and affective processes in neurotypical and neurodiverse populations, emphasizing narrative structure’s role in fostering psychological resilience.

Her work bridges cognitive psychology, communication science, and film studies, exploring how narrative complexity in media enhances problem-solving, ambiguity tolerance, and empathy. Key projects examine viewers’ engagement with puzzle films and non-linear storytelling, leveraging tools like eye-tracking and neuroimaging. Cynthia has received grants from BBVA, the Economic and Research Council (UK), and La Caixa, and serves as a reviewer for Series: International Journal of TV Serial Narratives.

She collaborates with institutions like the Sagol School of Neuroscience and the Society for Cognitive Studies of the Moving Image. Cynthia’s research contributes to debates on media’s potential to cultivate cognitive flexibility and creative thinking, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) through innovative educational applications of narrative complexity.