Dr Yael Benn
Senior Lecturer, and ED&I co-lead
My profile
Biography
I graduated from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow with a 1st class BSc Honours in Computer Science & Software Engineering. After a few years in industry both in Glasgow and in Brussels, I returned to university (this time in Sheffield) to complete a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience.
Since then, my research has incorporated all aspects of my training. My work focuses on numerical cognition. I am particularly interested in how people process numerical information (the cognitive and neural substrates of numerical processing), the impact this information has on goal directed behaviour (e.g., how numeracy skills/ numerical information impacts (health) behaviours such as nutrition or weight monitoring), and how we can recover numerical deficits that occur after a stroke or brain injury (Acalculia). In addition, I am interested in information processing more generally- how language impacts our thinking, reasoning and actions, and how we can more generally use information effectively to promote positive behaviour change and wellbeing. As part of this work, I have been working on developing smart algorithms that use smartphone’s sensors data to help people monitor and change their behaviour.
Aside from research and teaching, I am passionate about Equality, Diversity and Inclusion issues, and passionately believe that education can make a difference.
In my spare time, I love spending time with my family and friends, reading, cold-water swimming, walking, cooking and enjoying good food (and wine).
Words of wisdom
Inspired by my collaborator Colin Jenkinson:
‘The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we MISS it, but that it is too low and we REACH it’.
- Michelangelo.
Academic and professional qualifications
2003: BSc Hons. Computer Science and Software Engineering
2010: PhD Cognitive Neuroscience (Title: The neural substrates of mathematical calculations in healthy adults and patients with severe aphasia.)
Other academic services (leadership and citizenship)
2018- Current: Equality, Diversity & Inclusion co-lead, Psychology @ Man Met
2018- Current: Athena SWAN Psychology champion, Man Met
2018-2020: Co-chair of the Faculty of HPSC staff voice forum
Expert reviewer
Manuscript reviewer for: Brain, Brain and Language, Brain and Cognition, Nature Human Behaviour, Appetite, Neuroimage, Frontier in Human Neuroscience, Frontiers in Psychology, International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, Public Health Nutrition, Brain Structure & Function, JASIST, International Journal of Behavioural Medicine, British Journal of Social Psychology, British Journal of Health Psychology, Food Policy
Grant reviewing: I am a member of the ESRC Peer Review College. In addition, I have been invited to review for the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and Executive Government Agency of National Science Centre (Narodowe Centrum Nauki – NCN), Poland. Funding scheme OPUS.
Editorial Board membership
I am on the editorial board of the Nature publication Scientific Reports, and the Editorial Board of Brain Imaging Methods (specialty section of Frontiers in Neuroscience and Frontiers in Neurology)
Membership of professional associations
I am a member of the Mathematical Cognition and Learning Society, British Association of Cognitive Neuroscience, and the American Society of Cognitive Neuroscience.
Impact
I am very enthusiastic about engagement with the public:
I am a STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) Ambassador. This involves regular public engagement activities, including offering a session titled ‘All about learning’ during the National Science Week. The session is popular with both primary and secondary schools, and received excellent feedback. In addition, I am involved in mentoring 16-19 years old who are interested in STEM careers.
I have also organised sessions for the Manchester ESRC festival of science week.
In addition, I am involed in Policy and Future Direction in Research. For example, I have been invited to take part in the Frontiers Innovator for the Wellcome Trust Frontiers meeting ‘Digital Phenotypes-Health research in the digital age”, and i have been invited to speak at the Leeds Sadler Seminars series of ‘Flow: Supermarkets and the Movements of Food and People’
Lastly, I occassionaly give invited talks and advice to non-academic organisations.
Teaching
Why do I teach?
I teach at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Postgraduate teaching
Cognitive and Biological Psychology
Undergraduate teaching:
Brain and cognition across the lifespan
Education Psychology
Supervision
I have supervised several successful MSc and PhD students to completion.
Ex-PhD students:
Dr. Sofia Persson, Manchester Metropolitan University (with Prof Sarah Grogan and Dr. Katie Dhingra). Currently, a Senior Lecturer at Leeds Becket University.
Ahmad Assinari, University of Sheefield (with Dr. Thomas Webb and Dr. Tom Farrow).
Maryam Abdulmunem Salih Abo Tabik (with Dr. Nicholas Costen), currently a lecturer at UClan
I will be happy to hear from you if you are interested in pesrsuing a PhD in my area of research.
Research outputs
My work focuses on numerical cognition. I am particularly interested in how people process numerical information (the cognitive and neural substrates of numerical processing), the impact this information has on goal directed behaviour (e.g., how numeracy skills impact nutritional food choices or other health monitoring, etc), and how we can recover numerical deficits that occur after a stroke or brain injury (Acalculia).
In addition, I am interested in information processing more generally- how language impacts our thinking, reasoning and actions, and how we can more generally, use information effectively to promote positive behaviour change and wellbeing.
I use multiple methods (fMRI, behavioural studies, observational studies, qualitative interviews) to address the questions in the best way possible. I also like to bridge my expertise (computer science and cognitive neuroscience) to develop novel and interesting approaches to research and interventions.
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Chapters in books
Moore, S., Benn, Y. (2022) 'Nutrition Labelling on Food Products and Menus.' In Evans, C.E.L. (ed.) Transforming Food Environments. CRC Press,
Bergman, O., Benn, Y. (2018) 'A neuro-cognitive explanation for the prevalence of folder navigation and web browsing.' Information Systems and Neuroscience. Springer,
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Reports
Benn, Y., Martin, J., Millings, A., Norman, P., Webb, T.L. (2015) Behaviour change techniques for telephone-delivered and supported health coaching interventions. Sax Institute for Healthdirect Australia, 2015..
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Journal articles
Hussain, M., Davis, N.J., Benn, Y. (2024) 'A single tDCS session can enhance numerical competence.' Neuropsychologia, 193
Benn, Y., Ivanova, A.A., Clark, O., Mineroff, Z., Seikus, C., Silva, J.S., Varley, R., Fedorenko, E. (2023) 'The language network is not engaged in object categorization.' Cerebral Cortex,
Benn, Y., Jayes, M., Casassus, M., Williams, M., Jenkinson, C., McGowan, E., Conroy, P. (2023) 'A qualitative study into the experience of living with acalculia after stroke and other forms of acquired brain injury.' Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, pp. 1-25.
Abu-Tabik, M., Benn, Y., Costen, N. (2021) 'Are Machine Learning Methods the Future for Smoking Cessation Apps?.' Sensors, 21(4254)
Bergman, O., Israeli, T., Benn, Y. (2021) 'Why do some people search for their files much more than others? A preliminary study.' Aslib Journal of Information Management, 73(3) pp. 406-418.
Webb, T.L., Benn, Y., Chang, B.P.I., Reynolds, J.P., Sirois, F.M., Assinnari, A., Harris, P.R. (2020) 'The relationship between individual differences in spontaneous self-affirmation and affect associated with self-weighing.' Journal of Research in Personality, 89
Abo-Tabik, M., Costen, N., Darby, J., Benn, Y. (2020) 'Towards a smart smoking cessation app: a 1D-CNN model predicting smoking events.' Sensors, 20(4)
Persson, S., Grogan, S., Dhingra, K., Benn, Y. (2019) '“I don’t mind being ugly but I don’t wanna have skin cancer”: a qualitative study of men over 35’s attitudes to UV exposure and a facial morphing intervention.' Psychology and Health, 34(12) pp. 1486-1503.
Persson, S., Grogan, S., Dhingra, K., Benn, Y. (2018) ''It's bit of an eye opener' - A qualitative study of women's attitudes towards tanning, sun protection and a facial morphing intervention..' Psychology & health, 33(3) pp. 381-397.
Persson, S., Benn, Y., Dhingra, K., Owen, A., Clark-Carter, D., Grogan, S. (2018) 'Appearance-based interventions to reduce UV exposure: A systematic review.' British Journal of Health Psychology, 23(2) pp. 334-351.
Chang, B.P.I., Webb, T.L., Benn, Y., Reynolds, J.P. (2017) 'Monitoring personal finances: Evidence that goal progress and regulatory focus influence when people check their balance.' Journal of Economic Psychology, 62pp. 33-49.
Reynolds, J.P., Webb, T.L., Benn, Y., Chang, B.P.I., Sheeran, P. (2017) 'Feeling bad about progress does not lead people want to change their health behaviour.' Psychology and Health, 33(2) pp. 275-291.
Chang, B.P.I., Webb, T.L., Benn, Y., Stride, C.B. (2017) 'Which factors are associated with monitoring goal progress?.' Frontiers in Psychology, 8
Chang, B.P.I., Webb, T.L., Benn, Y. (2017) 'Why Do People Act Like the Proverbial Ostrich? Investigating the Reasons That People Provide for Not Monitoring Their Goal Progress.' Frontiers in Psychology, 8
Benn, Y., Webb, T.L., Chang, B.P.I., Harkin, B. (2016) 'What is the psychological impact of self-weighing? A meta-analysis.' Health Psychology Review, 10(2) pp. 187-203.
Harkin, B., Webb, T.L., Chang, B.P.I., Prestwich, A., Conner, M., Kellar, I., Benn, Y., Sheeran, P. (2016) 'Does monitoring goal progress promote goal attainment? A meta-analysis of the experimental evidence.' Psychological Bulletin, 142(2) pp. 198-229.
Benn, Y., Bergman, O., Glazer, L., Arent, P., Wilkinson, I.D., Varley, R., Whittaker, S. (2015) 'Navigating through digital folders uses the same brain structures as real world navigation.' Scientific Reports, 5
Benn, Y., Webb, T.L., Chang, B.P.I., Reidy, J. (2015) 'What information do consumers consider, and how do they look for it, when shopping for groceries online?.' Appetite, 89pp. 265-273.
Benn, Y., Webb, T.L., Chang, B.P.I., Sun, Y.H., Wilkinson, I.D., Farrow, T.F.D. (2014) 'The neural basis of monitoring goal progress.' Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8
Chang, B., Webb, T.L., Benn, Y. (2014) 'Teaching & learning guide for 'the ostrich problem': Motivated avoidance or rejection of information about goal progress.' Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 8(1) pp. 41-44.
Webb, T.L., Benn, Y., Chang, B.P.I. (2014) 'Antecedents and consequences of monitoring domestic electricity consumption.' Journal of Environmental Psychology, 40pp. 228-238.
Webb, T.L., Chang, B.P.I., Benn, Y. (2013) ''The Ostrich Problem': Motivated avoidance or rejection of information about goal progress.' Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 7(11) pp. 794-807.
Benn, Y., Wilkinson, I.D., Zheng, Y., Kadosh, K.C., Romanowski, C.A.J., Siegal, M., Varley, R. (2013) 'Differentiating core and co-opted mechanisms in calculation: The neuroimaging of calculation in aphasia.' Brain and Cognition, 82(3) pp. 254-264.
Benn, Y., Zheng, Y., Wilkinson, I.D., Siegal, M., Varley, R. (2012) 'Language in calculation: A core mechanism?.' Neuropsychologia, 50(1) pp. 1-10.
Willems, R.M., Benn, Y., Hagoort, P., Toni, I., Varley, R. (2011) 'Communicating without a functioning language system: Implications for the role of language in mentalizing.' Neuropsychologia, 49(11) pp. 3130-3135.
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Conference papers
Benn, Y., Jayes, M., Casassus, M., Williams, M., Jenkinson, C., McGowan, E., Conroy, P. (2022) 'Living with acalculia after stroke or acquired brain injury: patient experience and the lack of clinical care for the condition.' In American Congress of Rehabilitative Medicine Annual Conference. Chicago, Il, USA, 6/11/2022 - 11/11/2022.
Benn, Y., Jayes, M., Conroy, P., Cassius, M., Williams, M., Jenkinson, C. (2021) 'A qualitative exploration of the lived experience of, and quality of professional support for, number processing deficits after brain injury or stroke.' 5/10/2021 - 7/10/2021. Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists,
Benn, Y., Jayes, M., Conroy, P., Cassius, M., Williams, M., Jenkinson, C. (2020) '"I feel dumb, embarrassed, and frustrated”: A qualitative exploration of the lived experience of acalculia..' In 15th UK Stroke Forum. Online, 7/12/2020 - 9/12/2020.
Abo-Tabik, M., Costen, N., Darby, J., Benn, Y. (2020) 'Decision Tree Model of Smoking Behaviour.' In 5th IEEE Internet of People and Smart City Innovation 2019. Leicester, UK, 19/8/2019 - 23/8/2019. IEEE,
Benouis, M., Abo-Tabik, M., Benn, Y., Salmon, O., Barret-Chapman, A., Costen, N. (2019) 'Behavioural Smoking Identification via Hand-Movement Dynamics.' In 2019 IEEE SmartWorld, Ubiquitous Intelligence & Computing, Advanced & Trusted Computing, Scalable Computing & Communications, Cloud & Big Data Computing, Internet of People and Smart City Innovation (SmartWorld/SCALCOM/UIC/ATC/CBDCom/IOP/SCI). Leicester, UK, 19/8/2019 - 23/8/2019. IEEE, pp. 1734-1739.
Press and media
Media appearances or involvement
My research has been covered in several places in the general media, for example:
The informed SLP: https://www.theinformedslp.com/review/i-didn-t-become-an-slp-to-do-math
The Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3263763/Most-humans-use-brain-dog-looking-bone-retrieving-computer-files.html
The Wall Street Journal: http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-magic-of-tidying-updigitally-1437338785
The Reader’s Digest: https://www.rd.com/advice/relationships/how-to-accept-criticism/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYfpTITKABE&feature=youtu.be
Occassioanly, I also write in the general press:
Benn Y., & Grainger C., (2013). Do you think before you speak? Chic Magazine, issue 54, p. 30