Doris Hernández Barros

Doris Hernández Barros is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Language and Communication Studies, University of Jyväskylä. Her research bridges cognitive neuroscience, linguistics, and psychology with a particular focus on sign language processing and attention mechanisms in developmental populations.

Dr. Hernández Barros completed her doctoral dissertation in 2023 titled Neuromagnetic studies of attention in children and youth: role of exercise and impact on cognitive competence. Her educational background demonstrates strong interdisciplinary training connecting brain function with language and cognitive processes, with evidence of doctoral work conducted within the Department of Psychology at the University of Jyväskylä.

Her primary research investigates the neural mechanisms of constructed action in Finnish Sign Language, examining how bodily enactment strategies are processed in the brain using EEG and MEG methodologies. She also explores the relationship between physical activity, aerobic fitness, and attentional mechanisms in children and adolescents. Her work consistently combines rigorous experimental design with sophisticated neuroimaging analysis to uncover how attention modulates language comprehension and how physical factors influence brain development.

Analysis of her publication record reveals a clear trajectory focusing on the intersection of language processing and cognitive neuroscience, with increasing specialization in sign language research. Her recent work demonstrates methodological sophistication in combining linguistic analysis with neurophysiological measures, particularly in studying constructed action phenomena in Finnish Sign Language. She has developed expertise in adapting experimental paradigms for sign language research while maintaining scientific rigor.

Dr. Hernández Barros actively collaborates across disciplines as evidenced by her co-authorship on projects combining linguistics, cognitive neuroscience, and psychology. She is involved in the Research Council of Finland-funded project Showing and telling in Finnish Sign Language (2021-2025) led by Tommi Jantunen, indicating sustained research funding and collaborative engagement.

Her institutional affiliations span multiple research groups at the University of Jyväskylä including the Psychology department (Department of Psychology PSY), Language Campus (Finnish Institute for Educational Research KTL), Centre for Applied Language Studies SOLKI, Department of Teacher Education OKL, and Centre for Multilingual Academic Communication Movi. These affiliations reflect the interdisciplinary nature of her work spanning language, cognition, and brain function within the university's School of Wellbeing research profile.