Adam Barnas joins the Ball State Department of Psychological Science as an Assistant Teaching Professor of Psychological Science.

What is your preferred name? Preferred pronouns?

Adam Barnas

Please introduce yourself—I’d love a snapshot version of who you are and where you call home.

I completed my PhD in 2019 at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee under the mentorship of Adam Greenberg. My dissertation examined how the visual midlines affect the efficiency of attention shifts within and between objects, examining both behavioral measures (like response time and accuracy) as well as neural activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Prior to joining Ball State, I spent the last 4 years completing postdoctoral training in the Florida swamps working with Steven Weisberg and Natalie Ebner. While at the University of Florida, I studied how visual attention influences spatial navigation and how both processes decline in normal and clinical aging. I am originally from the Chicago suburbs and am happy to be back in the good ol’ Midwest!

What is your educational and professional background?

I obtained my BA in Psychology and Molecular & Cellular Biology from the University of Illinois and my MA in Psychology from the University of Dayton. I then completed my PhD in Experimental Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, followed by one year of postdoctoral training at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and four years of postdoctoral training from the University of Florida.

What initially drew you to your field of study/piqued your interest?

I am interested in how human behavior is guided by the world we perceive, and understanding real-world behavior requires understanding attentional mechanisms. However, there is a disconnect between attention as we study it in the lab – simple shapes or objects presented briefly on a computer monitor under carefully controlled, precisely manipulated conditions – and the dazzling array of complexity of the real world. Therefore, I am interested in understanding how the physical limits of visual attention are connected to the demands of daily life. In other words, how do simple lab-based observations translate to variability in complex real-world behavior?

What is your research focus in your department/area of study?

The goal of my research is to determine the mechanisms of visual attention and to learn how these mechanisms guide ecologically relevant behavior. To achieve this goal, I have adopted a multimodal approach (integrating neuroimaging and virtual reality with behavioral methods in healthy and clinical populations) and multidisciplinary perspective (spanning cognitive and developmental psychology, neuroscience, and experimental aging). In two research themes, I investigate the behavioral and neural mechanisms of visual attention (Theme 1) and examine how visual attention supports spatial cognition and navigation in aging (Theme 2). My research lab is equipped with behavioral testing equipment, desktop and remote eye-tracking systems, immersive virtual reality, and an omnidirectional treadmill.

What drew you to Ball State? What are some of your goals for your first year here?

I was drawn to Ball State because of its size, research and teaching missions, and proximity to family. More importantly, Ball State offers the opportunity to work closely with both undergraduate and graduate students in the classroom and research lab to extend our knowledge about human behavior and to discover new ways to enhance people’s safety, independence, and quality of life.

In my first year, I would like to settle into the groove of being a professor – getting to know my colleagues, establishing some new collaborations, setting up my research lab, and developing a solid teaching rhythm in the classroom. I am excited to begin my faculty career at Ball State and look forward to having a productive and successful year of teaching, research, and service.

What are some of your hobbies/non-academic interests?

I really enjoy spending time with my dog, Larry. Outside of work, you can find us on the beach or on a long walk in the woods. Some of my other non-academic interests include trying new coffeeshops and restaurants, cooking, and watching/streaming movies and TV shows. I am always looking for a recommendation!

For more information about the Department of Psychological Science and other faculty, visit our website, blog, or contact our office.