Room 1005c, N21, University of Macau
(853) 8822-4930
(853) 8822 2456
juhasilvanto@um.edu.mo
- PhD in Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, UK
- BSc in Psychology, Cardiff University, UK
- 2025-present: Professor in Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Center for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Institute of Collaborative Innovations, University of Macau, Macau China
- 2019-2024: Associate Professor in Neuroscience, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, UK
- 2016-2019: Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, UK
- 2013-2016: Reader in Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, UK
- 2011-2013: Senior Scientist and Group Leader of the Visual Cognition and Awareness group, OV Lounasmaa Laboratory, Aalto University, Finland
- 2011-2012: Professor of Psychology and Co-Director of the Cognitive Brain Research Unit, Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Helsinki University, Finland (11 month, 50% fixed-term appointment)
- 2009-2011: Postdoctoral researcher at Brain Research Unit (laboratory of Dr. Simo Vanni), OV Lounasmaa Laboratory, Aalto University, Finland
- 2009: Postdoctoral research fellow, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London
- 2006-2008: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (laboratory of Prof Alvaro Pascual-Leone), Boston, MA
- Keynote lecture at BrainBox Initiative conference, London, UK (2021)
My research focuses on the neural basis of cognitive and perceptual functions such as working memory and visual awareness which I study using a range of techniques such as TMS, EEG and fMRI. I’m currently particularly interested in aphantasia and the interplay between interoception and mental imagery. From a methodological perspective, my work focuses on enhancing the specificity of noninvasive brain stimulation and understanding of its mechanisms (e.g. state-dependent brain stimulation).
- Economic and Social Studies Research Council project grant (2019-2024)
- European Research Council Starting Grant (2014-2019)
- Section Editor, Brain Topography
- Editorial board, NeuroImage
- Hartwigsen G, Silvanto J (2023). Noninvasive Brain Stimulation: Multiple Effects on Cognition. Neuroscientist 29(5):639-653. doi: 10.1177/10738584221113806.
- Romei V, Thut G, Silvanto J (2016). Information-Based Approaches of Noninvasive Transcranial Brain Stimulation. Trends in Neurosciences 39(11):782-795. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2016.09.001.
- Soto D, Silvanto J (2014). Reappraising the relationship between working memory and conscious awareness. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 18(10):520-5. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2014.06.005.
- Silvanto J, Muggleton N, Walsh V (2008). State-dependency in brain stimulation studies of perception and cognition. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 12(12):447-54. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2008.09.004.
- Pounder Z, Jacob J, Evans S, Loveday C, Eardley AF, Silvanto J (2022). Only minimal differences between individuals with congenital aphantasia and those with typical imagery on neuropsychological tasks that involve imagery. Cortex 148:180-192. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2021.12.010.
- Guzmán López J, Hernandez-Pavon JC, Lioumis P, Mäkelä JP, Silvanto J (2022). State-dependent TMS effects in the visual cortex after visual adaptation: A combined TMS-EEG study. Clinical Neurophysiology 134:129-136. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.08.020.
- Jacobs C, Schwarzkopf DS, Silvanto J (2018). Visual working memory performance in aphantasia. Cortex 105:61-73. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2017.10.014
- Silvanto J, Cowey A, Lavie N, Walsh V (2005). Striate cortex (V1) activity gates awareness of motion. Nature Neuroscience 8(2):143-4. doi: 10.1038/nn1379.