Beaty Lab at Penn State

Roger Beaty, PHD

My research seeks to understand how people think creatively. In our lab, we use brain imaging and behavioral experiments to examine neural and cognitive systems that support creative thinking. One line of research uses fMRI to characterize brain network dynamics during creative task performance. A goal of this work is to link brain activity during creative performance to specific cognitive processes (such as memory, attention, and cognitive control), using network analysis and multivariate modeling of fMRI data. We also combine brain imaging with neuromodulation (e.g., tES-fNIRS) to test causal questions regarding neurocognitive mechanisms of creativity, with the longer-term goal of understanding whether and how creativity can be enhanced. We study creativity in a variety of contexts and domains, including musical improvisation and scientific problem solving. We also develop open access resources to measure creativity for educators and researchers, using natural language processing and other computational tools.

After completing a Bachelor of Arts in psychology at Temple University, I earned my PhD in psychology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), working with Paul Silvia. I completed my postdoctoral training in cognitive neuroscience at Harvard University, working with Daniel Schacter. I joined the Department of Psychology at Penn State University as an assistant professor in the Fall of 2018.

Giwon Bahg, PhD

I study how learning of concepts and categories interacts with other cognitive mechanisms (e.g., attention, information search, and higher-order thought processes) and how learning can be hindered within such interactions. I use experimentation, computational cognitive modeling, Bayesian methods, and machine learning approaches to bridge behavioral and neural data and seek for theoretical implications. I earned my M.A. in Psychology at Seoul National University and my Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. I later served as a postdoctoral fellow at Vanderbilt University. In the CNCL, I focus on automated creativity assessment using large language models and process-based accounts of creative thinking.

Simone Luchini

I initially received my B.Sc. in Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Westminster, where I conducted research on episodic memories and music psychology. I later pursued my M.Sc. in Applied Experimental Psychological Sciences at the University of Milano-Bicocca, studying the neural and cognitive underpinnings of linguistic phenomena. I spent time working in both the educational and clinical sector, with research duties across SNE schools and the Infancy & Adolescence Neuropsychiatry Unit ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia. My primary research goal is to elucidate how creativity relates to linguistic networks and brain activity. I will then apply this knowledge to develop new strategies for the optimization of creative abilities. 

Clin Lai

I received a B.A. in Psychology from Yale-NUS College in 2018. My research interest is in understanding how individuals with varying expertise learn in challenging and suboptimal environments, including exploring how one can learn to be creative. Using this knowledge, I hope to inform educational practices and improve learning outcomes.

Paul DiStefano

I earned a B.S. in Integrative Neuroscience from Binghamton University and obtained my M.S. in Psychology at Penn State. My research is centered on understanding how humans represent and use information to be creative, employing behavioral, neuroimaging, and computational methods. I am particularly focused on the study of individual differences in cognition and creativity, as well as automated creativity assessments using large language models. My long-term goal is to bridge the gap between cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence to develop new ways to assess and enhance creative thinking.

Zeynep Sülün

I received my B.A. in Linguistics from Boğaziçi University and my M.A. in Cognitive Psychology from Koç University, where I focused on spontaneous thought processes, including mind-wandering and involuntary memory. I am interested in the neurocognitive mechanisms behind creative ideation, specifically episodic memory and executive functions. By understanding the distinct stages leading to creative ideas, I aim to develop methods to enhance creativity in adults.