John P. Spencer

John P. Spencer is a Professor of Psychology at the University of East Anglia, UK, and a member of its School of Psychology. He previously served as a Professor of Psychology and founding Director of the Delta Center at the University of Iowa. His research focuses on the development of executive function, working memory, attention, and word learning, with a pioneering emphasis on dynamical systems theory and dynamic neural field models of cognition and action.

• Sc.B. with Honors, Brown University (1991)
• Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, Indiana University (1998)

His work utilizes fMRI, fNIRS, and eye-tracking to explore neural-cognitive dynamics in infancy and childhood, particularly in low-resource settings. Recent articles highlight cross-situational word learning, air quality impacts on cognition, and brain network myelination studies.

Scientific awards include:

• 2003 Early Research Contributions Award (Society for Research in Child Development)
• 2006 Robert L. Fantz Memorial Award (American Psychological Foundation)
• APA Fellow since 2007

Current projects include brain imaging centers, infant cognition in India, and theoretical advancements in dynamic systems. He leads the Developmental Dynamics Lab and collaborates with institutions worldwide.