Why Iowa?
Iowa has been at the forefront of psychological research and training for a century, and we still lead today. Our students learn about the field in the classroom and laboratory, and out in the community, developing skills that help them stand out among their peers.
DeLTA* Center
*Development and Learning from Theory to Application
Profiles and research
The department's commitment to research excellence is matched by a commitment to providing outstanding research and professional training for undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs.
The close link between artificial intelligence and reinforcement learning in pigeons is no flight of fancy
This article about the history of AI highlights Ed Wasserman's research on pigeon cognition.
PBS researchers receive NSF funding to understand how speech perception relates to reading and language skills
Bob McMurray, professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences receives funding to further understand how children and adults hear and distinguish speech sounds.
Exploring a novel approach for treating Parkinson's disease
Cheol Soh is driven to improve the lives of people living with Parkinson’s disease. As a postdoctoral researcher, Soh’s research focuses on the brain regions related to movement stopping.
Paras Bassuk named UI’s 23rd Rhodes Scholar
The University of Iowa is uniquely known for being a place where art meets science, where students are encouraged to explore and innovate across these disciplines. Paras Bassuk, UI’s newest Rhodes Scholar, personifies exactly what that means — and more.
Self Driving Cars & Crosswalks
With an estimated 3.5 million self-driving vehicles expected on America’s roads by next year, University of Iowa researchers are investigating how to make crossing the road safe, especially for children.
CLAS PBS professor receives NIH grant to research how to improve lifeguard training using virtual reality
Cathleen Moore, professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, will use the funds from the National Institutes of Health to develop techniques to make pools safer.
News and announcements
Big questions, complex brains: how one psychological and brain sciences faculty member seeks to understand what makes us human
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences Professor Jan Wessel has always been fascinated by the brain and how humans think. Now, he conducts his research in a collaborative approach unlike any other.
Muzzio discusses how memories are altered on Iowa Public Radio
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Isabel Muzzio, faculty member in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences grew up during a violent time in Argentina, but found that years later, some from her community viewed those events much differently. Today, she studies how memories are altered and joins the show to talk about how our politics impact our memories.
PBS professor Michelle Voss leads research on how exercise supports brain health across the lifespan
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Voss, a faculty member in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, studies how lifestyle choices shape brain health through collaborative research across the University of Iowa.
