Publications

Publications, preprints, and paper summaries.

Selected Publications

Newest work appears first.

Exploring facial expression processing with fast periodic visual stimulation and diverse stimuli

David Vandenheever, Haleigh Davidson, Jennifer Kemp, Zack Murphy, Autumn Kujawa, Jingyi Shi, Michael R. Nadorff, Kayla Bates-Brantley, and MacKenzie Sidwell. Brain and Cognition, 189, 106338, 2025.
DOI | ScienceDirect

This study used FPVS and EEG to examine facial expression processing with diverse, naturalistic stimuli. Robust expression-related neural responses were observed with brief recordings and limited preprocessing, supporting FPVS as a sensitive framework for studying emotional face processing in both typical and clinical populations.

Preliminary evidence for anxiety-linked neural sensitivity to emotional faces using fast periodic visual stimulation

David Vandenheever, Haleigh Davidson, Jennifer Kemp, Zack Murphy, Autumn Kujawa, Jingyi Shi, Michael R. Nadorff, Kayla Bates-Brantley, and MacKenzie Sidwell. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 2025.
DOI | ScienceDirect | OSF data and analysis scripts

This study used Fast Periodic Visual Stimulation (FPVS) and EEG to test whether anxiety-linked characteristics are associated with differences in neural responses to emotional facial expressions. Participants with anxiety-related characteristics showed stronger occipital responses to angry and sad faces, providing preliminary evidence that FPVS may capture trait-level differences in emotional face processing with short, high signal-to-noise recordings.

Preprints

Investigating facial expression processing during fast periodic visual stimulation using highly variable stimuli

David Vandenheever, Haleigh Davidson, Jennifer Kemp, Zack Murphy, Autumn Kujawa, Catherine Shi, Michael Nadorff, Kayla Bates-Brantley, and MacKenzie Sidwell. bioRxiv, 2025.
Preprint | DOI

This preprint tested whether FPVS could measure facial expression processing with more variable, naturalistic stimuli. The work showed robust oddball responses across participants, supporting FPVS as a sensitive method for studying emotional face processing with brief EEG recordings.

Preliminary evidence for anxiety-linked neural sensitivity to emotional faces using fast periodic visual stimulation

David Vandenheever, Haleigh Davidson, Jennifer Kemp, Zack Murphy, Autumn Kujawa, Jingyi Shi, Michael R. Nadorff, Kayla Bates-Brantley, and MacKenzie Sidwell. bioRxiv, 2025.
Preprint | DOI

This preprint examined whether anxiety-related characteristics are associated with altered neural responses to emotional facial expressions during FPVS. The study used EEG responses to neutral faces interspersed with emotional oddballs to evaluate FPVS as an implicit measure of emotion processing in anxiety.

Manuscripts under review

Exploring Brain Activity in Novice Athletes During Closed and Open Skills in Table Tennis

Zack Murphy, Jennifer Kemp, and David Vandenheever.