Metadata
Title
Derek Arnold
Category
general
UUID
74f517fb3bb1472883f237c2dafebcbb
Source URL
https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/1630
Parent URL
https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/601
Crawl Time
2026-03-23T12:02:03+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown 
# Derek Arnold

**Source**: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/1630
**Parent**: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/601

Professor

# Derek Arnold

Email:
:   [d.arnold@psy.uq.edu.au](mailto:d.arnold@psy.uq.edu.au)

Phone:
:   [\*](tel:*)

## Positions

Professor
:   School of Psychology
:   Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences

### Background

Prof. Derek Arnold

Prof. Arnold studied at Macquarie University before taking up research positions at the University of Sydney and University College London. He took up a continuing position at the University of Queensland in April, 2006.

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### Availability

Professor Derek Arnold is:
:   Available for supervision
:   Media expert

### Fields of research

[Cognitive and computational psychology](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=4985)
[Neurosciences](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=4960)
[Psychology](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=4754)

### Qualifications

- Doctor of Philosophy, Macquarie University

### Research interests

- #### Sensory Processing

  I am interested in how brain activity generates conscious perceptual experiences.
  Some of my specific interests are...
  1) Imagined Sensory Experiences: People have different levels of ability to have imagined sensory experiences. Some people cannot evoke imagined experiences at all (aphantasics) while others have unusually intense imagined experiences (hyperphantasics / synaesthetes). What features of brain activity are responsible for these differences?
  2) The human brain has been described as a predictive machine. How does it generate and implement the predictions that allow us to interact with our dynamic environment - so we can catch or avoid flying objects?
  3) The human brain generates feelings of confidence whenever we make a perceptual decision. What features of sensory brain activity govern these feelings of confidence?
  4) Humans can judge the relative timing of different events, and the extent of time that passes during an event. How do our brains encode time and timing?
  5) In the human brain, different sensory analyses are often independent of one another, taking place in different brain regions and completed at different rates. How do these analyses combine to create subjectively unified experiences?

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### Research impacts

Prof. Arnold's research is focussed on understanding the computational processes and brain activity that underlie perceptual experience, decisions and feelings of confidence. This basic science can inform the development of advanced technologies, such as brain-computer interfaces and artifical visual systems. For these reasons, Prof. Arnold's research is cited in patent applications.

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[Search Professor Derek Arnold’s works on UQ eSpace](http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/list/author_id/4576)

[All
(162)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/1630/all)
[Journal Article
(115)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/1630/4748)
[Other Outputs
(21)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/1630/4749)
[Conference Publication
(24)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/1630/4751)
[Book Chapter
(2)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/1630/4752)

2026

Other Outputs

##### People report having idiosyncratic ‘diets’ of different types of imagined sensation when they re-experience the past, and pre-experience the future.

Derek H. Arnold, Loren Bouyer, Blake W. Saurels and D. Samuel Schwarzkopf (2026). People report having idiosyncratic ‘diets’ of different types of imagined sensation when they re-experience the past, and pre-experience the future.. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/d65d744

[People report having idiosyncratic ‘diets’ of different types of imagined sensation when they re-experience the past, and pre-experience the future.](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:d65d744)

2026

Other Outputs

##### Intrusive thoughts better predict the strengths of people’s imagined experiences than semantic priming from imagery.

Derek H. Arnold and Loren N. Bouyer (2026). Intrusive thoughts better predict the strengths of people’s imagined experiences than semantic priming from imagery.. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/27cf21a

[Intrusive thoughts better predict the strengths of people’s imagined experiences than semantic priming from imagery.](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:27cf21a)

2026

Journal Article

##### The Twinkle-Goes illusion impacts motor planning, and is likely perceptual in origin

Saurels, Blake W., Jilek, Benjamin R. and Arnold, Derek H. (2026). The Twinkle-Goes illusion impacts motor planning, and is likely perceptual in origin. Vision Research, 238 108714, 108714. doi: 10.1016/j.visres.2025.108714

[The Twinkle-Goes illusion impacts motor planning, and is likely perceptual in origin](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:d7c26f7)

2025

Journal Article

##### Mental rotation is a weak measure of people’s propensity to visualise

Arnold, Derek H., Bouyer, Loren N., Saurels, Blake W., Pellicano, Elizabeth and Schwarzkopf, D. Samuel (2025). Mental rotation is a weak measure of people’s propensity to visualise. Consciousness and Cognition, 133 103907, 103907. doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2025.103907

[Mental rotation is a weak measure of people’s propensity to visualise](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:bf930d7)

2025

Conference Publication

##### Imagery priming of binocular rivalry is not a reliable metric of individual differences in the subjective vividness of visualisations

Bouyer, Loren N., Schwarzkopf, Dietrich S., Saurels, Blake W. and Arnold, Derek H. (2025). Imagery priming of binocular rivalry is not a reliable metric of individual differences in the subjective vividness of visualisations. Vision Sciences Society Annual Meeting 2025, St. Pete Beach, FL United States, 16-20 May 2025. Rockville, MD United States: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. doi: 10.1167/jov.25.9.2007

[Imagery priming of binocular rivalry is not a reliable metric of individual differences in the subjective vividness of visualisations](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:8185b08)

2025

Journal Article

##### Repetition violating events do not enhance sensitivity to embedded content, but repeated events can reduce sensitivity

Saurels, Blake W., Ma, Qingyu and Arnold, Derek H. (2025). Repetition violating events do not enhance sensitivity to embedded content, but repeated events can reduce sensitivity. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 51 (7), 837-849. doi: 10.1037/xhp0001324

[Repetition violating events do not enhance sensitivity to embedded content, but repeated events can reduce sensitivity](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:4772748)

2025

Other Outputs

##### Mental Rotation Strategies

Derek H. Arnold (2025). Mental Rotation Strategies. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/08c31c8

[Mental Rotation Strategies](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:08c31c8)

2025

Other Outputs

##### Pink Elephants: Intrusive Thoughts Project

Derek H. Arnold, Blake W. Saurels and Loren N. Bouyer (2025). Pink Elephants: Intrusive Thoughts Project. The University of Queensland. (Dataset)

[Pink Elephants: Intrusive Thoughts Project](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:28edece)

2025

Journal Article

##### What makes a theory of consciousness unscientific?

IIT-Concerned, Arnold, Derek H., Baxter, Mark G., Bekinschtein, Tristan A., Bengio, Yoshua, Bisley, James W., Browning, Jacob, Buonomano, Dean, Carmel, David, Carrasco, Marisa, Carruthers, Peter, Carter, Olivia, Chang, Dorita H. F., Charest, Ian, Cherkaoui, Mouslim, Cleeremans, Axel, Cohen, Michael A., Corlett, Philip R., Christoff, Kalina, Cumming, Sam, Cushing, Cody A., de Gelder, Beatrice, De Brigard, Felipe, Dennett, Daniel C., Dijkstra, Nadine, Doerig, Adrien, Dux, Paul E., Fleming, Stephen M., Frankish, Keith ... Snyder, Joel S. (2025). What makes a theory of consciousness unscientific?. Nature Neuroscience, 28 (4), 1-5. doi: 10.1038/s41593-025-01881-x

[What makes a theory of consciousness unscientific?](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:92087c0)

2025

Journal Article

##### The vividness of visualisations and autistic trait expression are not strongly associated

Bouyer, Loren N., Pellicano, Elizabeth, Saurels, Blake W., Schwarzkopf, D. Samuel and Arnold, Derek H. (2025). The vividness of visualisations and autistic trait expression are not strongly associated. Consciousness and Cognition, 129 103821, 103821. doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2025.103821

[The vividness of visualisations and autistic trait expression are not strongly associated](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:19ba6ed)

2025

Journal Article

##### Objective priming from pre-imagining inputs before binocular rivalry presentations does not predict individual differences in the subjective intensity of imagined experiences

Bouyer, Loren N., Schwarzkopf, Dietrich S., Saurels, Blake W. and Arnold, Derek H. (2025). Objective priming from pre-imagining inputs before binocular rivalry presentations does not predict individual differences in the subjective intensity of imagined experiences. Cognition, 256 106048, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.cognition.2024.106048

[Objective priming from pre-imagining inputs before binocular rivalry presentations does not predict individual differences in the subjective intensity of imagined experiences](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:ade2180)

2025

Journal Article

##### Don't think of a pink elephant: individual differences in visualisation predict involuntary imagery and its neural correlates

Arnold, Derek H., Hutchinson, Mary, Bouyer, Loren N., Schwarzkopf, D. Samuel, Pellicano, Elizabeth and Saurels, Blake W. (2025). Don't think of a pink elephant: individual differences in visualisation predict involuntary imagery and its neural correlates. Cortex, 183, 53-65. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2024.10.020

[Don't think of a pink elephant: individual differences in visualisation predict involuntary imagery and its neural correlates](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:e22604a)

2025

Other Outputs

##### Twinkle-Goes Illusion Data - The extrapolation data (ms) for Experiment 1

Saurels, Blake W. and Arnold, Derek H. (2025). Twinkle-Goes Illusion Data - The extrapolation data (ms) for Experiment 1. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/553b99c

[Twinkle-Goes Illusion Data - The extrapolation data (ms) for Experiment 1](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:553b99c)

2025

Other Outputs

##### DATA FOR: Repetition violating events do not enhance sensitivity to embedded content, but repeated events can reduce sensitivity - Updated

Saurels, Blake and Arnold, Derek (2025). DATA FOR: Repetition violating events do not enhance sensitivity to embedded content, but repeated events can reduce sensitivity - Updated. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/0747161

[DATA FOR: Repetition violating events do not enhance sensitivity to embedded content, but repeated events can reduce sensitivity - Updated](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:0747161)

2024

Other Outputs

##### Ear worms: priming from earworms is predicted by individual differences in the salience of imagined sounds

Arnold, Derek H. (2024). Ear worms: priming from earworms is predicted by individual differences in the salience of imagined sounds. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/43cad66

[Ear worms: priming from earworms is predicted by individual differences in the salience of imagined sounds](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:43cad66)

2024

Conference Publication

##### The effects of spatiotemporal uncertainty on metacognition in orientation ensemble perception

Lee, Alan L. F., Tam, Gabriel and Arnold, Derek H. (2024). The effects of spatiotemporal uncertainty on metacognition in orientation ensemble perception. Vision Sciences Society Annual Meeting 2024, St. Pete Beach, FL United States, 17-22 May 2024. Rockville, MD United States: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. doi: 10.1167/jov.24.10.1426

[The effects of spatiotemporal uncertainty on metacognition in orientation ensemble perception](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:e215c48)

2024

Other Outputs

##### Binocular rivalry and imagery

Bouyer, Loren N., Schwarzkopf, Dietrich S., Saurels, Blake W. and Arnold, Derek H. (2024). Binocular rivalry and imagery. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/00effb3

[Binocular rivalry and imagery](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:00effb3)

2024

Journal Article

##### The precision test of metacognitive sensitivity and confidence criteria

Arnold, Derek H., Clendinen, Mitchell, Johnston, Alan, Lee, Alan L.F. and Yarrow, Kielan (2024). The precision test of metacognitive sensitivity and confidence criteria. Consciousness and Cognition, 123 103728, 103728. doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2024.103728

[The precision test of metacognitive sensitivity and confidence criteria](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:7ca12ad)

2024

Other Outputs

##### Pink Elephants Project

Arnold, Derek H., Bouyer, Loren N. and Saurels, Blake W. (2024). Pink Elephants Project. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/8c236f2

[Pink Elephants Project](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:8c236f2)

2024

Journal Article

##### Deep Aphantasia: a visual brain with minimal influence from priors or inhibitory feedback?

Bouyer, Loren N. and Arnold, Derek H. (2024). Deep Aphantasia: a visual brain with minimal influence from priors or inhibitory feedback?. Frontiers in Psychology, 15 1374349, 1374349. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1374349

[Deep Aphantasia: a visual brain with minimal influence from priors or inhibitory feedback?](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:7a3abf1)

### Current funding

- 2025 - 2028

  Aphantasia, imagined experiences and the interconnectivity of human brains

  ARC Discovery Projects

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/66869)

### Past funding

- 2020 - 2024

  Novel psychophysical paradigms for examining predictive coding in vision

  ARC Discovery Projects

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/38812)
- 2018 - 2021

  Why does time seem to drag and fly?

  ARC Discovery Projects

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/33175)
- 2014

  The emotional face (ARC Discovery Project administered by Curtin University of Technology)

  Curtin University of Technology

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/23443)
- 2014 - 2016

  Distorted Time Perceptions: Altered neural coding or decisional criteria?

  ARC Discovery Projects

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/21129)
- 2014 - 2018

  Human Vision: Predicting the present? Suppressing the past?

  ARC Future Fellowships

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/21104)
- 2012 - 2014

  ResTeach Funding 2012 0.2 FTE School of Psychology

  UQ ResTeach

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/46432)
- 2011

  An eye-tracking and neuro-stimulation laboratory for cognitive neuroscience research

  UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/12996)
- 2011 - 2014

  The emotional face

  ARC Discovery Projects

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/12447)
- 2010

  A computer laboratory and data storage for behavioural research

  UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/12014)
- 2010

  UQ Travel Awards Category 1, Kielan Yarrow

  UQ Travel Grants Scheme

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/46125)
- 2009 - 2013

  Human Time Perception

  ARC Discovery Projects

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/10184)
- 2008 - 2010

  Determinants and consequences of conscious visual awareness

  ARC Discovery Projects

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/9440)
- 2008

  User-friendly equipment for central nervous and cardiovascular psychopshysiology

  UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/10004)
- 2007 - 2009

  When and for how long? Identifying the neural mechanisms for time perception.

  UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards - DVC(R) Funding

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/9266)
- 2006 - 2007

  Integration of Visual and Auditory Timing Cues

  UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/43944)
- 2006 - 2008

  Motion and Spatial Coding in Vision

  ARC Discovery Projects

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/20285)

### Availability

Professor Derek Arnold is:
:   Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on [how to choose a supervisor](https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/phd-mphil-professional-doctorate/how-to-choose-a-supervisor).

### Supervision history

#### Current supervision

- Doctor Philosophy

  ##### Aphantasia: Predicting the intensity of imagined sensory experiences from measures of brain activity

  Principal Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Associate Professor Jess Taubert](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/32114)
- Doctor Philosophy

  ##### Investigating the Relationship Between Prediction and Attention in Response to Emotional Stimuli in the Human Brain

  Principal Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Associate Professor Jess Taubert](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/32114), [Dr Margaret Moore](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/38694)

#### Completed supervision

- 2022

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### [The perceptual and neural consequences of different types of prediction](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:f42bfbd)

  Principal Advisor
- 2022

  Master Philosophy

  ##### [Eyes Closed Oscillatory Alpha Dynamics in Vision](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:07b763a)

  Principal Advisor
- 2022

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### [Perceptual filling-in across the physiological blind-spot](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:ddf499e)

  Principal Advisor
- 2020

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### [Measuring perception with confidence](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:dc09776)

  Principal Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Professor Thomas Suddendorf](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/809)
- 2020

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### [Malleability in vision: Investigations into the temporal integration of motion and functional blindness around the physiological blind spot](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:673e9bb)

  Principal Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Professor Guy Wallis](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/601)
- 2016

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### [Norms are not the norm: Testing theories of sensory encoding using visual aftereffects](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:395215)

  Principal Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Professor Guy Wallis](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/601)
- 2012

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### [Staying in Sync: Strategies to determine audiovisual synchrony in temporally cluttered environments](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:275760)

  Principal Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Professor Jason Mattingley](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/1193)
- 2010

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### [Pencils & erasers: Interactions between motion and spatial coding in human vision](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:211656)

  Principal Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Professor Jason Mattingley](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/1193)
- 2013

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### [The perception of invariant and variant facial cues: Race, Age, Gender and Emotional features are processed interdependently](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:300518)

  Associate Advisor

### Enquiries

Contact Professor Derek Arnold directly for media enquiries about:

- Brain and perception
- Neuroscience and perception
- Perception
- Psychology and perception
- Visual perception

#### Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

[communications@uq.edu.au](mailto:communications@uq.edu.au)

## External profiles

- [ORCID](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1027-6222)
- [Scopus](https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=35582557200)
- [Google Scholar](https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=3RiBmMMAAAAJ)

## Personal links

- [Personal profile](https://www2.psy.uq.edu.au/~uqdarnol/index.htm)
- [Perception Lab](https://www2.psy.uq.edu.au/~uqdarnol/index.htm)

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