Haiko Ballieux

Haiko Ballieux is a Senior Lecturer in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at the Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, University of Westminster. He holds a PhD from Birkbeck College, University of London, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He is a member of the Centre for Psychological Sciences and the Cognitive Clinical Neuroscience group, and actively participates in the Comparative Cognition Group's 'Me, Human' public engagement project.

• MSc, Developmental and Experimental Psychology, University of Amsterdam
• MSc, Cognitive Science, Cognitive Science Centre Amsterdam
• PhD, Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London

Haiko's research focuses on developmental cognitive neuroscience, particularly infant perception, attention, and language development. He uses eye-tracking, behavioral measures, and neuroimaging to explore how early sensory and motor experiences shape cognitive and social abilities. His work investigates the impact of socio-economic status, bilingualism, and mindfulness on cognitive development. He also studies cerebral lateralisation and human evolutionary cognition through public science initiatives.

His recent publications reveal strong trends in infant cognition, bilingualism, sensorimotor development, and mindfulness interventions. Articles span journals such as Scientific Reports, Symmetry, and British Journal of Health Psychology, often involving interdisciplinary collaboration. Key themes include early predictors of language development, manual dexterity and evolution, and cognitive effects of hydration and sound.

• Marie Curie PhD Fellowship
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Haiko supervises PhD students working on the Resilience Quotient Inventory for higher education students and the cognitive effects of online listening. He has been involved in externally funded projects, including a Nuffield Foundation grant for infant eye-tracking in community settings. He has also led public engagement initiatives with festival-based research and science communication.

He is a core member of the Comparative Cognition Group and contributes to the 'Me, Human' project at the London Science Museum and major UK festivals, where the public participates in tasks measuring lateralisation and cognition. He also leads science-based meditation sessions and public talks on brain function and therapy.