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Prof Adam Tierney

Positions held:
  • Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychological Sciences
Email
  • Overview

    Overview

    ORCID

  • Research

    Research

    Research interests

    • Attention (temporal, selective, dimensional, bottom-up)
    • Individual differences in language learning
    • Perceptual categorization strategies

    Research overview

    I an interested in the ways in which perceptual abilities lay the groundwork for language acquisition, as well as the interaction between perception and cognition. 聽My laboratory makes use of behavioural techniques, as well as EEG. Current research projects include:

    • Auditory processing as a foundation聽of individual differences in second language learning
    • Distortions in time perception can act as a measure of the salience of sounds
    • Effects of language experience on perceptual strategies and the salience of acoustic dimensions
    • Neural mechanisms of temporally-selective attention to sound

    Research Centres and Institutes

    • Faculty member,

    Research projects

    Individual differences in dimensional weighting in speech perception.

    Abstract

    Speech is a redundant signal that conveys information via multiple acoustic dimensions. In principle, therefore, speech perception could be carried out via multiple strategies. However, prior research has emphasized the optimal processing of the 鈥渋deal listener鈥, so little is known about what leads listeners to select different聽strategies and how they are carried out. We聽hypothesize that individuals who can more precisely encode an auditory dimension direct attention towards it, making that dimension more influential during perceptual categorization. In this project we are聽testing this hypothesis using measures of auditory processing to predict how listeners will perceive ambiguous stimuli.

    Lab information

    Post doctoral staff

    • Dr. Ashley Symons
  • Supervision and teaching

    Supervision and teaching

    Supervision

    Supervisions external to 糖心logo入口:
    2
    Supervisions within 糖心logo入口:
    3

    lab is open to applications for Masters and PhD Candidates as well as undergraduate volunteers; we particularly encourage people whose background is underrepresented in academia.

    Current doctoral researchers

    • AMIR GHOOCH KANLOO
      Nature of supervision:
      PRINCIPAL SUPERVISOR,

    Doctoral alumni since 2013-14

    • MAGDALENA KACHLICKA
      Nature of supervision:
      Principal Supervisor,
      Title of thesis:
      Perceptual strategies underlying second language acquisition
      Awarded:
      2023
    • EGOR LEVCHENKO
      Nature of supervision:
      Principal Supervisor,
      Title of thesis:
      Multimodal Naturalistic fMRI for Hypothesis-Driven Cognitive Neuroscience
      Awarded:
      2025

    Teaching

    Teaching modules

    • Neuropsychology
    • Cognitive, Affective, and Social Neuroscience
    • Behavioural Neuroscience
    • Project BSc Psychology
  • Publications

    Publications

    Article

    • Symons, Ashley and Jasmin, Kyle and Tierney, Adam (2026) . Cognition 266, ISSN 0010-0277.
    • Ghooch Kanloo, Amir and Kachlicka, Magdalena and Saito, Kazuya and Tierney, Adam (2026) . Brain and Language 273, ISSN 0093-934X.
    • Tierney, Adam (2026) . Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics ISSN 1943-3921. (In Press)
    • Saito, Kazuya and Petrova, Katya and Zheng, C. and Tierney, Adam (2026) . Cognition 273 (106506), ISSN 0010-0277.
    • Chen, Y. and Tierney, Adam and Pfordresher, P. (2025) . Cognition 254, ISSN 0010-0277.
    • Saito, Kazuya and Tierney, Adam (2025) . Language Learning 75 (S1), pp. 97-138. ISSN 0023-8333.
    • Luthra, S. and Luor, A. and Tierney, Adam and Dick, Fred and Holt, L. (2025) . NPJ Science of Learning 10 (41), ISSN 2056-7936.
    • Kathios, N. and Kubit, B. and Grout, N. and Everard, J. and Zachary, E. and Sankhe, A. and Tierney, Adam and Patel, A. and Loui, P. (2025) . Scientific Reports ISSN 2045-2322.
    • Kachlicka, Magdalena and Symons, Ashley and Ruan, Y. and Saito, Kazuya and Dick, Fred and Tierney, Adam (2025) . Bilingualism: Language and Cognition ISSN 1366-7289. (In Press)
    • Kachlicka, Magdalena and Symons, Ashley and Dick, Fred and Saito, Kazuya and Tierney, Adam (2025) . Imaging Neuroscience ISSN 2837-6056.
    • Guerra, Giada and Tijms, J. and Tierney, Adam and Vaessen, A. and Dick, Fred and Bonte, M. (2024) . Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 237, ISSN 0022-0965.
    • Kachlicka, Magdalena and Symons, Ashley and Saito, Kazuya and Dick, Fred and Tierney, Adam (2024) . Imaging Neuroscience 2, pp. 1-19. ISSN 2837-6056.
    • Kachlicka, Magdalena and Tierney, Adam (2024) . Cortex 178, pp. 213-222. ISSN 0010-9452.
    • Kachlicka, Magdalena and Patel, A. and Liu, F. and Tierney, Adam (2024) . Cognition 246 (105757), ISSN 0010-0277.
    • Ozaki, Y. and Tierney, Adam and Pfordresher, P. and McBride, J. and Benetos, E. and Proutskova, P. and Chiba, G. and Liu, F. and Jacoby, N. and Purdy, S. and Opondo, P. and Fitch, T. and Hegde, S. and Rocamora, M. and Thorne, R. and Nweke, F. and Sadaphal, D. and Sadaphal, P. and Hadavi, S. and Fujii, S. and Choo, S. and Naruse, M. and Ehara, U. and Sy, L. and Parselelo, M. and Angala-Tort, M. and Hansen, N. and Haiduk, F. and Faerovik, U. and Magalhaes, V. and Krzyzanowski, W. and Shcherbakova, O. and Hereld, D. and Barbosa, B. and Varella, M. and Tongeren, M. and Dessiatnitchenko, P. and Zar, S. and Kahla, I. and Muslu, O. and Troy, J. and Lomsadze, T. and Kurdova, D. and Tsope, C. and Fredriksson, D. and Arabadjiev, A. and Sarbah, J. and Arhine, A. and Meachair, T. and Silva-Zurita, J. and Soto-Silva, I. and Millalonco, N. and Ambrazevicius, R. and Loui, P. and Ravignani, A. and Jadoul, Y. and Larrouy-Maestri, P. and Bruder, C. and Teyxokawa, T. and Kuikuro, U. and Natsitsabui, R. and Sagarzazu, N. and Raviv, L. and Zeng, M. and Varnosfaderani, D. and Gomez-Canon, J. and Kolff, K. and Vanden Bosch der Nederlanden, C. and Chhatwal, M. and David, R. and Setiawan, I P. and Lekakul, G. and Borsan, V. and Nguqu, N. and Savage, P. (2024) . Science Advances 10 (20), ISSN 2375-2548.
    • Saito, Kazuya and Kachlicka, Magdalena and Suzukida, Y. and Mora-Plaza, I. and Ruan, Y. and Tierney, Adam (2024) . Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance 50 (1), pp. 119-138. ISSN 0096-1523.
    • Caprini, Francesco and Zhao, Sijia and Chait, M. and Agus, T. and Pomper, U. and Tierney, Adam and Dick, Fred (2024) . Cognition 244 (105696), ISSN 0010-0277.
    • Symons, Ashley and Tierney, Adam (2024) . Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition 50 (2), pp. 189-203. ISSN 0278-7393.
    • Shao, Y. and Saito, Kazuya and Tierney, Adam (2023) . TESOL Quarterly 57 (1), pp. 33-63. ISSN 0039-8322.
    • Jasmin, Kyle and Tierney, Adam and Obasih, C. and Holt, L. (2023) . Psychonomic Bulletin & Review 30, pp. 373-382. ISSN 1069-9384.
    • Symons, Ashley and Tierney, Adam (2023) . Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition ISSN 0278-7393.
    • Symons, Ashley and Dick, Fred and Tierney, Adam (2023) . Psychonomic Bulletin & Review ISSN 1069-9384.
    • Guerra, Giada and Tierney, Adam and Tijm, J. and Vaessen, A. and Bonte, M. and Dick, Fred (2023) . Developmental Science ISSN 1363-755x.
    • Symons, Ashley and Tierney, Adam (2023) . Psychonomic Bulletin and Review ISSN 1069-9384.
    • Petrova, Katya and Jasmin, Kyle and Saito, Kazuya and Tierney, Adam (2023) . Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition 49 (12), pp. 1943-1955. ISSN 0278-7393.
    • Saito, Kazuya and Sun, H. and Kachlicka, M. and Alayo, J. and Nakata, T. and Tierney, Adam (2022) . Studies in Second Language Acquisition 44 (1), pp. 57-86. ISSN 0272-2631.
    • Zheng, C. and Saito, Kazuya and Tierney, Adam (2022) . Second Language Research 38 (3), pp. 477-497. ISSN 0267-6583.
    • Kachlicka, Magdalena and Laffere, Aeron and Dick, Fred and Tierney, Adam (2022) . NeuroImage 252 (119024), ISSN 1053-8119.
    • Saito, Kazuya and Kachlicka, Magdalena and Suzukida, Yui and Petrova, Katya and Lee, B. and Tierney, Adam (2022) . Cognition 229, ISSN 0010-0277.
    • Tierney, Adam and Cardona Gomez, J. and Fedele, O. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2021) . Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 210 (105196), ISSN 0022-0965.
    • Laffere, Aeron and Dick, Frederic and Holt, L. and Tierney, Adam (2021) . NeuroImage 224, pp. 117396. ISSN 1053-8119.
    • Saito, Kazuya and Train, M. and Suzukida, Yui and Tierney, Adam (2021) . Language Learning 71 (3), pp. 669-715. ISSN 0023-8333.
    • Jasmin, Kyle and Sun, Hui and Tierney, Adam (2021) . Cognition 206 (104481), ISSN 0010-0277.
    • Sun, Hui and Saito, Kazuya and Tierney, Adam (2021) . Studies in Second Language Acquisition 43 (3), pp. 551-573. ISSN 0272-2631.
    • Symons, Ashley and Dick, Fred and Tierney, Adam (2021) . NeuroImage 244 (118544), ISSN 1053-8119.
    • Tierney, Adam and Patel, A. and Jasmin, Kyle and Breen, M. (2021) . Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance 47 (12), pp. 1681-1697. ISSN 0096-1523.
    • Krizman, J. and Tierney, Adam and Nicol, T. and Kraus, N. (2021) . Frontiers in Neuroscience ISSN 1662-453X.
    • Jasmin, Kyle and Dick, Fred and Tierney, Adam (2021) . Wellcome Open Research 5 (4), ISSN 2398-502X.
    • Jasmin, Kyle and Dick, Frederic and Holt, Lori and Tierney, Adam (2020) . Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 149 (5), pp. 914-934. ISSN 0096-3445.
    • Tierney, Adam and Rosen, S. and Dick, Frederic (2020) . Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition 46 (5), pp. 968-979. ISSN 0278-7393.
    • Laffere, A. and Dick, Frederic and Tierney, Adam (2020) . NeuroImage 213 (116717), ISSN 1053-8119.
    • Saito, Kazuya and Kachlicka, M. and Sun, Hui and Tierney, Adam (2020) . Journal of Memory and Language 115 (104168), ISSN 0749-596X.
    • Saito, Kazuya and Sun, Hui and Tierney, Adam (2020) . Applied Psycholinguistics 41 (5), pp. 1083-1112. ISSN 0142-7164.
    • Jasmin, Kyle and Dick, Frederic and Stewart, Lauren and Tierney, Adam (2020) . eLife ISSN 2050-084X.
    • Guerra, Giada and Tijms, J. and Vaessen, A. and Tierney, Adam and Dick, Fred and Bonte, M. (2020) . Mind, Brain, and Education ISSN 1751-228X.
    • Saito, Kazuya and Sun, Hui and Tierney, Adam (2019) . Bilingualism: Language and Cognition 22 (5), pp. 1123-1140. ISSN 1366-7289.
    • Kachlicka, M. and Saito, Kazuya and Tierney, Adam (2019) . Brain and Language 192, pp. 15-24. ISSN 0093-934X.
    • Slater, J. and Ashley, R. and Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2018) . Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 30 (1), pp. 14-24. ISSN 0898-929X.
    • Tierney, Adam and Patel, A. and Breen, M. (2018) . Music Perception 35 (5), pp. 573-578. ISSN 0730-7829.
    • Tierney, Adam and Aniruddh, P. and Breen, M. (2018) . Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 147 (6), pp. 888-904. ISSN 0096-3445.
    • Holt, L.L. and Tierney, Adam and Guerra, G. and Laffere, A. and Dick, Frederic (2018) . Hearing Research 366, pp. 50-64. ISSN 0378-5955.
    • Tierney, Adam (2018) . Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 144 (3), pp. 1761. ISSN 0001-4966.
    • Savage, P. and Tierney, Adam and Patel, A. (2017) . Music Perception 34 (3), pp. 327-334. ISSN 0730-7829.
    • Woodruff Carr, K. and Fitzroy, A. and Tierney, Adam and White-Schwoch, T. and Kraus, N. (2017) . Brain and Language 164, pp. 43-52. ISSN 0093-934X.
    • Tierney, Adam and White-Schwoch, T. and MacLean, J. and Kraus, N. (2017) . Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 29 (5), pp. 855-868. ISSN 0898-929X.
    • Omote, Akihiro and Jasmin, Kyle and Tierney, Adam (2017) . Cortex 93, pp. 146-154. ISSN 0010-9452.
    • Slater, J. and Kraus, N. and Woodruff Carr, K. and Tierney, Adam and Azem, A. and Ashley, R. (2017) . Language, Cognition and Neuroscience 33 (6), pp. 710-717. ISSN 2327-3798.
    • Woodruff Carr, K. and Tierney, Adam and White-Schwoch, T. and Kraus, N. (2016) . Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience 17, pp. 76-82. ISSN 1878-9293.
    • Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2016) . European Journal of Neuroscience 43 (6), pp. 782-791. ISSN 0953-816X.
    • Thompson, E. and Woodruff Carr, K. and White-Schwoch, T. and Tierney, Adam and Nicol, T. and Kraus, N. (2016) . Scientific Reports 6, pp. 19737. ISSN 2045-2322.
    • Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2015) . Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 27 (2), pp. 400-408. ISSN 0898-929X.
    • Tierney, Adam and Krizman, J. and Kraus, N. (2015) . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 112 (32), pp. 10062-10067. ISSN 0027-8424.
    • Thompson, E.C. and White-Schwoch, T. and Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2015) . PLoS One 10 (6), pp. e0128839. ISSN 1932-6203.
    • Krizman, J. and Tierney, Adam and Fitzroy, A.B. and Skoe, E. and Amar, J. and Kraus, N. (2015) . Clinical Neurophysiology 126 (12), pp. 2348-2355. ISSN 1388-2457.
    • Fitzroy, A. and Krizman, J. and Tierney, Adam and Agouridou, M. and Kraus, N. (2015) . Frontiers in Human Neuroscience ISSN 1662-5161.
    • Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2015) . PLoS One ISSN 1932-6203.
    • Woodruff Carr, K. and White-Schwoch, T. and Tierney, Adam and Strait, D.L. and Kraus, N. (2014) . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 111 (40), pp. 14559-14564. ISSN 0027-8424.
    • Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2014) . Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 8 (949), ISSN 1662-5161.
    • Tierney, Adam and Dick, Frederic and Deutsch, D. and Sereno, Martin I. (2013) . Cerebral Cortex 23 (2), pp. 249-254. ISSN 1047-3211.
    • Tierney, Adam and Strait, D.L. and Kraus, N. (2013) . Developmental Science 17 (1), pp. 86-93. ISSN 1363-755x.
    • Slater, J. and Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2013) . PLoS One 9 (1), ISSN 1932-6203.
    • Tierney, Adam and Krizman, J. and Skoe, E. and Johnston, K. and Kraus, N. (2013) . Frontiers In Educational Psychology 4 (855), ISSN 1664-1078.
    • Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2013) . Journal of Neuroscience 33 (38), pp. 14981-14988. ISSN 0270-6474.
    • Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2013) . Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience 7 (14), ISSN 1662-5137.
    • Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2013) . Brain and Language 124 (3), pp. 225-231. ISSN 0093-934X.
    • Tierney, Adam and Strait, D.L. and O'Connell, S. and Kraus, N. (2013) . Clinical Neurophysiology 124 (5), pp. 1040-1042. ISSN 1388-2457.
    • Parbery-Clark, A. and Tierney, Adam and Strait, D. and Kraus, N. (2012) . Neuroscience 219 (6), pp. 111-119. ISSN 0306-4522.
    • Tierney, Adam and Russo, F. and Patel, A. (2011) . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 108 (4), pp. 15510-15515. ISSN 0027-8424.
    • Tierney, Adam and Parbery-Clark, A. and Skoe, E. and Kraus, N. (2011) . Hearing Research 282 (1-2), pp. 145-150. ISSN 0378-5955.
    • Tierney, Adam and Bergeson, T. and Pisoni, D. (2008) . Empirical Musicology Review 3 (4), pp. 178-186. ISSN 1559-5749.
    • Clopper, C. and Pisoni, D. and Tierney, Adam (2006) . Journal of the American Academy of Audiology 17, pp. 331-349. ISSN 1050-0545.

    Book section

    • Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2013) . In: Merzenich, M. and Nahum, M. and van Vleet, T. (eds.) Changing Brains Applying Brain Plasticity to Advance and Recover Human Ability. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. ISBN 9780444633279.