The Team
Understanding the underlying mechanisms of behavior and discovering how the mind works have always been a priority in my research. I am particularly interested in innate and acquired aspects of number-space associations. In the same vein, I also find it quite exciting to work through how learning and memory processes are involved in forming these associations.
The significant effort here is to explore the mechanisms underlying behavior and mind and try a shed light on their evolutionary bases. I find it quite exciting to witness the tremendous implications of the number-space relation in the adventure of discovering how our minds work. Also, it is gratifying to study the effects of neurobiological agents and their adaptive importance that have been ignored widely by grand developed by mainstream psychology and to provide alternative accounts for them.
I am a PhD in Experimental Psychology. My main focus is the transfer paradigm of stimulus-response compatibility in SNARC and SNARC-like effects. Currently, I am also working on cross-cultural influences in spatial-numerical associations.
I am interested in how the brain processes time, space, and numbers. How do these core elements shape our perception of reality, influencing not only how we experience the world but also how we learn, form memories, and make decisions? Understanding the interplay between these factors can unlock new insights into the cognition and behavior of human and nonhuman animals.
I am a Ph.D. student in Experimental Psychology. I have a huge enthusiasm for evolutionary bases and questions. I am willing to admit ignorance and try to investigate for solid evidence. In the future, I want to explore more about the mechanisms of the mind and improve further in statistics. Currently, I am contributing to research on space-number associations, with a particular focus on magnitude comparison tasks.
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I am a first-year Ph.D. student in Experimental Psychology at Izmir University of Economics, with a strong interest in numerical cognition and the development of spatial numerical associations (SNA). Since July 2025, I have been volunteering as a research assistant in the SMART Lab to develop my methodological skills, gain experience, and learn new competencies in the field. I am particularly interested in how the number-space mappings emerge in children and how cultural and educational contexts shape these mappings.
Melike Şefikoğlu, B.Sc.
Ph.D. Student in Experimental Psychology
I am currently a first-year integrated Ph.D. student in Psychology at Izmir University of Economics. I have been volunteering as a research assistant in Experimental Psychology since August 2023, gaining valuable experience in the field. My current research focuses on spatial–magnitude associations and the mental representation of objects’ physical and real-world sizes.
I am pursuing my master’s with the firm intent to make meaningful contributions to our understanding of behavior and the mind while maintaining the excitement and curiosity that marked my initial steps. My research interest lies in numerical cognition, and currently, in alignment with this goal, I am immersed in exploring and examining the processing of magnitudes.
I am a Psychology graduate who’s currently pursuing a master’s degree in experimental psychology. I have always been curious about exploring complexities of human mind and its evolutionary bases. Therefore, to gain more experience in this field, while doing my M.Sc. at Izmir University of Economics, I have been volunteering as a research assistant in SMART Lab since 2024 September
Zeynep Tuncalı, B.Sc.
M.Sc. Student in Experimental Psychology
I am a M. Sc. Student in Experimental Psychology. I have been volunteering as a research assistant in the SMART Lab since 2022,specifically focusing on numerical cognition. I am passionate about learning and always strive to improve my skills. My goal is to deepen my knowledge in these areas while making meaningful contributions to the field of psychology through research.
I am a Master’s student in Experimental Psychology at Izmir University of Economics, with a strong interest in numerical cognition and cognitive research methodologies. Since July 2023, I have been actively involved in research as a volunteer assistant at SMART Lab, where I continue to gain hands-on experience in experimental design, data collection, and statistical analysis. My current work focuses on spatial-numerical associations and reaction time paradigms.
Samet Kahraman B.Sc.
M.Sc. Student in Experimental Psychology
I am a fourth-year psychology student at Izmir University of Economics, and I volunteer as a research assistant at the SMART Lab. In this dynamic role, I have been involved in a variety of research projects, acquiring practical expertise in experimental design and data analysis. The opportunity to collaborate with experienced researchers has been invaluable, offering me insights that go beyond academic settings. I am excited about the opportunities for ongoing
learning and growth provided by this experience, which will prepare me for an excellent profession in experimental psychology.
I am a second year psychology student at Izmir University of Economics. I’ve been volunteering as a research assistant in the Smartlab since April 2025. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with this incredible group of researchers and eager to learn everything I can along them. Currently I am gaining priceless experience in experimental psychology, and I am motivated to pursue a higher degree in the following years
I am a second year psychology student in Izmir University of Economics, with a big passion for learning and improvement. I’ve been volunteering as a research assistant in SMART Lab since December, 2024; which provides me with an incredible opportunity to work with determined, likeminded researchers who assist me in my pursuit of extensive knowledge. My current research interest is mainly on numerical cognition and spatial-numerical associations. I am highly motivated to enhance my skills in a group environment and continue my studies in higher education.
Former Team Members
Özgür Vurgun
Elvin Naz Tunç
Duru Kaya
Beria Haugen
Ceren Kaya
Bengi Kamar
Ilgım Hepdarcan
Eylül Direnç Acar
Ezgi Palaz
SMART LAB 