Paul Dux

Professor Paul Dux is a leading cognitive neuroscientist and Professor in the School of Psychology at The University of Queensland, where he also serves as Deputy Head of School (Research). He leads the Queensland Attention & Control Lab (QACL), focusing on the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying human information processing, attention, executive function, and the impact of brain stimulation and cognitive training. His research integrates advanced neuroimaging, neurostimulation (e.g., tDCS), and behavioral paradigms to explore performance enhancement and rehabilitation in both healthy individuals and those with brain injury.

• PhD, Macquarie University
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Vanderbilt University
• Faculty Member, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland (since 2009)

His research interests center on cognitive limitations, attentional bottlenecks, metacognition, decision-making, and neuroplasticity. He investigates how brain stimulation (particularly tDCS) and cognitive training can alter neural circuits to improve cognitive performance, with applications in education, rehabilitation, and military settings. His work often explores neurochemical predictors (e.g., GABA, glutamate) of learning and the causal role of brain regions using stimulation techniques.

His recent publications (2024–2025) reveal a strong focus on mind wandering, decision-making, adolescent metacognition, and the safety and efficacy of at-home tDCS in pediatric populations. Key themes include the neural substrates of cognitive control, the role of dopamine in learning, and the use of neurofeedback and brain stimulation to enhance attention and transfer of training. His work frequently employs multimodal methods, including fMRI, EEG, MRS, and behavioral testing.

Professor Dux has secured substantial funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), supporting projects such as real-time neurofeedback for attention enhancement and cognitive augmentation via training and brain stimulation. He is actively involved in supervision, mentoring numerous PhD and honors students.

He has supervised and collaborated with a wide range of students and researchers, including Drs. Hannah Filmer, Jason Mattingley, Li-Ann Leow, and Shane Ehrhardt. His lab fosters interdisciplinary research in cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, and clinical applications.

Professor Dux leads the Queensland Attention & Control Lab (QACL), a dynamic research group investigating the limits of human cognition. The lab combines behavioral experiments, neuroimaging, and non-invasive brain stimulation to understand and enhance cognitive performance across the lifespan.