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James Danckert is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Waterloo, where he also serves as the Cognitive Neuroscience Area Head. He is cross-appointed to the Research Institute in Aging and leads the Danckert Attention and Action Group (Danckert Lab). His research spans cognitive neuroscience with particular focus on understanding the mechanisms and brain states that give rise to boredom and mental model updating.
Dr. Danckert earned his BA from Melbourne University (Australia), followed by his MA and PhD from La Trobe University (Australia). His academic journey has positioned him as a leading expert in cognitive neuroscience with a specific emphasis on boredom psychology and attention mechanisms.
His primary research interests include the cognitive and neural mechanisms of boredom, particularly in individuals with traumatic brain injuries, and mental model updating in relation to neglect syndrome. Danckert's work explores boredom through behavioral tasks like foraging, sustained attention tasks, and executive control tasks, utilizing neuroimaging techniques such as fMRI and tDCS. His mental model updating research involves working with stroke patients (with access to a database of over 800 patients), fMRI, and computational modeling.
Analysis of Dr. Danckert's most recent publications reveals a continued focus on boredom and mental model updating, with increasing interdisciplinary approaches incorporating computational modeling, AI, and genetic perspectives. His work bridges cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and clinical applications, with particular emphasis on how boredom relates to attention, agency, and decision-making processes.
Dr. Danckert has received significant recognition for his work, including:
- Former Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Cognitive Neuroscience
- Recipient of the 40 Under 40 Award from the Region of Waterloo
As a mentor, Dr. Danckert supervises graduate students in the Psychology Department at Waterloo, teaching advanced courses such as Psych 783: Neuroimaging and Cognition. His research is supported by prestigious funding sources including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).
The Danckert Lab maintains a comprehensive research program with two main streams: boredom research and mental model updating. The lab utilizes diverse methodologies including behavioral testing, neuroimaging, computational modeling, and collaborations with experts in evolutionary genetics. The lab's work has significant implications for understanding cognitive processes in both healthy individuals and those with neurological conditions.
