I am a Chartered Cognitive Psychologist and Lecturer in Psychology. My primary research interests focus on face recognition and deception. More broadly, my work spans applied memory research across forensic and clinical settings.
In 2015, I earned a PhD in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Portsmouth with a thesis on ‘The Effect of Deception on Fixation-Based Measures of Memory.’
In 2016, I joined the University of Stirling as a Research and Teaching Fellow during which time I secured a grant on ‘Identifying Novel Markers of Concealed Face Recognition' (PI, ESRC, £389k). From 2018 to 2022, I led this grant, developing innovative approaches to detecting concealed face recognition. In this work, I employed a multi-method approach to identify objective evidence of face recognition in individuals who denied recognising someone they knew, advancing our understanding of how the brain processes and recognises faces.
In 2021, I was appointed as a Lecturer in Psychology. I am currently working on the following projects: 'Public Perceptions on the Use of Technology in the Criminal Justice System' (PI, £4k), 'Neurodiverse Markers of Concealed Face Recognition', and 'Cultural and Cognitive Factors for Optimal Human-Avatar Interactions' (PI, 40k).
I am an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) and have been repeatedly nominated for Research and Teaching Awards including leadership, EDI and most inspiring woman.
2017. Recognising and Advancing Teaching Excellence (RATE) Awards - Most Inspiring Tutor
2020. Research Culture Awards - Best Early Career Researcher
2022. Research Culture Awards - Outstanding Early Career Researcher ‘Highly Commended’
2022. Research Culture Awards - Outstanding Research Leadership
2023. Inspirational Women Awards
2023. Research Culture Awards - Outstanding Activity dedicated to Enhancing Research Culture for leadership of the 'Cognition in Complex Environments' Research Group
2023. Research Culture Awards - Outstanding Mentor ‘Highly Commended’
2023. Research Culture Awards - Outstanding Research Leadership
2024. Recognising and Advancing Teaching Excellence (RATE) Awards - Outstanding Academic Mentorship
2024. Recognising and Advancing Teaching Excellence (RATE) Awards - Teacher of the Year (Natural Sciences)
2024. Research Culture Awards - Outstanding Mentor
2024. Research Culture Awards - Outstanding Research Activity dedicated to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
2024. Research Culture Awards - Outstanding Research Leadership "Highly Commended"
2024. Research Culture Awards - Wall of Fame Award for multiple nominations over multiple years
Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2017). Identifying novel markers of concealed face recognition. Invited talk at The National Research Institute of Police Science (NRIPS). Chiba, Japan, September 4. International Stakeholder Engagement.
Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2017). Identifying novel markers of concealed face recognition. Invited talk at The National Research Institute of Police Science (NRIPS). Chiba, Japan, September 4.
Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2017). Tracking the truth: Using eye tracking to expose recognition of familiar faces during lies. Invited talk at the International CIT Meeting in Fukuyama: Verification of New Indices on CIT. Fukuyama, Japan, August 26-27.
Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2017). Tracking the truth: Using eye tracking to expose recognition of familiar faces during lies. Invited talk at the International CIT Meeting in Fukuyama: Verification of New Indices on CIT. Fukuyama, Japan, August 26-27.
Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2018). Detecting concealed face recognition with blurred faces. Invited symposium paper at the European Association of Psychology and Law. Turku, June, August 26-29.
Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2018). Detecting concealed face recognition with blurred faces. Invited symposium paper at the European Association of Psychology and Law. Turku, June, August 26-29.
Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2019). Identifying novel markers of concealed face recognition. Invited research talk at Huddersfield University, UK, December 11.
Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2019). Identifying novel markers of concealed face recognition. Invited research talk at Huddersfield University, UK, December 11.
Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2023). Remote detection of concealed information. Invited Symposium at The Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition (SARMAC XIV). Nagoya, August 9-12.
Millen, A.E. & Hancock, P.J.B. (2023). Remote detection of concealed information. Invited Symposium at The Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition (SARMAC XIV). Nagoya, August 9-12.
Millen, A.E. (2017). Using eye tracking to expose recognition of familiar faces. Invited talk at Kyoto University, August 18.
Millen, A.E. (2017). Using eye tracking to expose recognition of familiar faces. Invited talk at Kyoto University, August 18. International Academic Knoledge Exchange Engagement.
Millen, A.E. (2022). Challenges of detecting concealed face recognition. Invited research talk at Deception Research Society, Lies and Allies Meeting, online, March 1.
Millen, A.E. (2022). Challenges of detecting concealed face recognition. Invited research talk at Deception Research Society, Lies and Allies Meeting, online, March 1.
Millen, A.E. (2022). Detecting concealed face recognition: a remote multimodal approach. Invited research talk at 16th Neuroinformatics Seminar, NK-UK, online, May 17.
Millen, A.E. (2022). Detecting concealed face recognition: a remote multimodal approach. Invited research talk at 16th Neuroinformatics Seminar, NK-UK, online, May 17.
Millen, A.E. (2022). Eye tracking as an implicit research method for understanding cognition during face processing, face recognition and concealed recognition. Invited research talk at Human Ethology Seminar, Charles University, Prague, online, June 8.
Charles University in Prague
Millen, A.E. (2022). Eye tracking as an implicit research method for understanding cognition during face processing, face recognition and concealed recognition. Invited research talk at Human Ethology Seminar, Charles University, Prague, online, June 8.
Millen, A.E. (2023). Detecting concealed face recognition: A review of CIT methods. Paper presented at Behavioural and Social Sciences in Security (BASS23). Bath, July 11-13.
Millen, A.E. (2023). Detecting concealed face recognition: A review of CIT methods. Paper presented at Behavioural and Social Sciences in Security (BASS23). Bath, July 11-13.
Millen, A.E. (2023). Detecting concealed recognition. Invited talk at Legal Psychology – cross cultural collaborations ( with international experts and the National Research Institute of Police Science (NRIPS). Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo, August 4.
Millen, A.E. (2023). Detecting concealed recognition. Invited talk at Legal Psychology – cross cultural collaborations ( with international experts and the National Research Institute of Police Science (NRIPS). Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo, August 4.
Millen, A.E. (2024). A community philosophy (CP) approach to understanding public perceptions on the use of technology in the criminal justice system. The UK Cross-Government Biometrics Working Group. National Stakeholder engagement.
Millen, A.E. (2024). A community philosophy (CP) approach to understanding public perceptions on the use of technology in the criminal justice system. The UK Cross-Government Biometrics Working Group.
Millen, A.E. (2024). Best procedures and practice for detecting concealed face recognition. Invited research presentation at The UK Cross-Government Biometrics Working Group. National Stakeholder engagement.
Millen, A.E. (2024). Best procedures and practice for detecting concealed face recognition. The UK Cross-Government Biometrics Working Group.
Millen, A.E. (2024). EPS Workshop: Perspectives on human and computer face identification. University of Stirling, 25-26th July 2024. International Academic engagement.
Millen, A.E. (2024). EPS Workshop: Perspectives on human and computer face identification. University of Stirling, 25-26th July 2024
Millen, A.E. (2024). Neurodivergence and credibility assessment. Invited paper presented at The UK Cross-Government Biometrics Working Group. National stakeholder engagement.
Millen, A.E. (2024). Neurodivergence and credibility assessment. The UK Cross-Government Biometrics Working Group (attendees as above).
Millen, A.E. (2024). Public perceptions of technology in the criminal justice system. Behavioural and Social Sciences in Security (BASS24). St Andrews, July 16-18. International Academic-Stakeholder engagement.
Millen, A.E. (2024). Public perceptions of technology in the criminal justice system. Behavioural and Social Sciences in Security (BASS24). St Andrews, July 16-18.
Millen, A.E., Brock, S., & Hancock, P.J.B. (2019). Shining a spotlight on face recognition: mouse-path dynamics detect recognition of familiar faces. Invited symposium paper at the European Association of Psychology and Law (EAPL19). Santiago de Compostela, July 17-20.
Millen, A.E., Brock, S., & Hancock, P.J.B. (2019). Shining a spotlight on face recognition: mouse-path dynamics detect recognition of familiar faces. Invited symposium paper at the European Association of Psychology and Law (EAPL19). Santiago de Compostela, July 17-20.
British Psychological Society Study Visits Scheme Award £1200
University of Stirling
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Concelaed Information Test Meeting in Japan at Fukuyama University (Invited Visiting Researcher and Speaker) and National Research Institute of Police Science (Invited Keynote).
Brain Travel Grant Award £1000
University of Stirling
BRAIN travel grant for research.
Crucible Interdisciplinary Seed Grant (PI) £3647 - Public Perceptions of Technology in the Criminal Justice System
University of Stirling
A community philosophy approach to understanding social, ethical, and legal issues around the use of technology in the criminal justice system. Funded value. £3647. Collaborators: Kay Sidebottom, Vanicka Arora, Ben Matthews.
Human-Avatar Project (PI) 40k DSTL 50% PhD stipend + Research Costs (Project 2089507, Worktribe pending)
University of Stirling and Dstl Accounts Payable (MoD)
Aim: The aim of the research is to explore and advance the use of Human-Avatar Interactions for interviewing and training to address future challenges in UK defence.
Problem/Innovation: Generic avatars are based on average preferences and are more likely to be optimised for positive human-avatar relationships for neurotypical individuals and for specific cultures. This research will progress the development of intelligent avatars that will be adapted to account for cognitive and cultural diversity. These avatars will be used for direct interaction and/or as a training tool for those undertaking information elicitation in defence and security contexts.
Objectives: The key objectives are to (1) identify cognitive and cultural factors influencing human-avatar interactions (2) test and refine avatars in defence-relevant scenarios (3) develop best practice guidelines for using avatars in interviewing and training contexts.
Crucible Interdisciplinary Seed Grant (PI) £3947 - Surveillance, period. Reproductive Health Data.
Surveillance, period: Exploring knowledge, attitudes and beliefs around the use of reproductive health data. Funded value. £3946.35. Collaborators: Hannah Durand (PI), Vanicka Arora, Diana Miranda, Ashley Rogers, Kay Sidebottom.
I am a chartered cognitive psychologist that specialises in face recognition and deception. I investigate attentional orienting effects and their potential for detecting memory in the absence of accurate recognition (i.e., concealed recognition, prosopagnosia, amnesia). I have a special interest in face recognition, and I pioneer novel approaches for the detection of concealed recognition (e.g., lying about recognising someone or something you know). I’m also exploring the potential for novel neurocomputing technologies to model interactions between brain signals relating to memory and deception.
My research interests span: visual attention, visual perception, recognition memory (faces, objects, scenes), associative memory, episodic memory, deception, memory confidence, metacognition, metacognitive strategies, cognitive neuroscience, neurocomputing, human learning and developmental psychology.
I Co-Lead the Cognition in Complex Environments Research Group in Stirling (CORGiS). I am also a member of the Stirling Vision and Image Processing Group (SVIP). I am a chartered member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) where I am registered with the cognitive psychology, defense and security psychology and psycholobiology sections.
Identifying novel markers of concealed face recognition
PI: Dr Ailsa Millen
Funded by: Economic and Social Research Council
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Article
A novel blurred-face test for detecting concealed face recognition
Millen A, Mayer L, Newman S, Olszenka L, Zimmerman C & Hancock P A novel blurred-face test for detecting concealed face recognition [A NOVEL BLURRED-FACE CIT]. Psychological Science.
Article
Millen AE, Hope L & Hillstrom AP (2020) Eye spy a liar: Assessing the utility of eye fixations and confidence judgments for detecting concealed recognition of people, places and objects. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 5, Art. No.: 38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-020-00227-4
Article
Many Labs 5: Registered Replication Report of Crosby, Monin & Richardson (2008)
Rabagliati H, Corley M, Dering B, Hancock PJB, King J, Levitan CA, Loy J & Millen AE (2020) Many Labs 5: Registered Replication Report of Crosby, Monin & Richardson (2008). Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science, 3 (3), pp. 353-365. https://doi.org/10.1177/2515245919870737
Article
Many Labs 5: Testing Pre-Data-Collection Peer Review as an Intervention to Increase Replicability
Ebersole CR, Mathur MB, Baranski E, Bart-Plange D, Buttrick NR, Chartier CR, Corker KS, Corley M, Hartshorne JK, IJzerman H, Lazarevic LB, Rabagliati H, Dering B, Hancock PJB & Millen A (2020) Many Labs 5: Testing Pre-Data-Collection Peer Review as an Intervention to Increase Replicability. Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science, 3 (3), pp. 309-331. https://doi.org/10.1177/2515245920958687
Article
A multilab registered replication of the attentional SNARC effect.
Colling LJ, Szűcs D, De Marco D, Cipora K, Ulrich R, Nuerk H, Soltanlou M, Bryce D, Chen S, Schroeder PA, Henare DT, Chrystall CK, Hancock PJB, Millen AE & Langton SR (2020) A multilab registered replication of the attentional SNARC effect. [Registered Replication Report on Fischer, Castel, Dodd, and Pratt (2003).]. Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science, 3 (2), pp. 143-162. https://doi.org/10.1177/2515245920903079
Article
Eye see through you! Eye tracking unmasks concealed face recognition despite countermeasures
Millen A & Hancock P (2019) Eye see through you! Eye tracking unmasks concealed face recognition despite countermeasures. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 4, Art. No.: 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-019-0169-0
Article
Tracking the truth: the effect of face familiarity on eye fixations during deception
Millen AE, Hope L, Hillstrom AP & Vrij A (2017) Tracking the truth: the effect of face familiarity on eye fixations during deception. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 70 (5), pp. 930-943. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2016.1172093
Article
Are Two Interviews Better Than One? Eyewitness Memory across Repeated Cognitive Interviews
Odinot G, Memon A, La Rooy D & Millen A (2013) Are Two Interviews Better Than One? Eyewitness Memory across Repeated Cognitive Interviews. PLoS ONE, 8 (10), Art. No.: e76305. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0076305
Article
Neither infants nor toddlers catch yawns from their mothers
Millen AE & Anderson J (2011) Neither infants nor toddlers catch yawns from their mothers. Biology Letters, 7 (3), pp. 440-442. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2010.0966
Article
Human Cumulative Culture in the Laboratory: Effects of (Micro) Population Size
Caldwell CA & Millen AE (2010) Human Cumulative Culture in the Laboratory: Effects of (Micro) Population Size. Learning and Behavior, 38 (3), pp. 310-318. https://doi.org/10.3758/LB.38.3.310
Article
Caldwell CA & Millen AE (2010) Conservatism in Laboratory Microsocieties: Unpredictable Payoffs Accentuate Group-Specific Traditions. Evolution and Human Behavior, 31 (2), pp. 123-130. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/10905138; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2009.08.002
Article
Social learning mechanisms and cumulative cultural evolution: is imitation necessary?
Caldwell CA & Millen AE (2009) Social learning mechanisms and cumulative cultural evolution: is imitation necessary?. Psychological Science, 20 (12), pp. 1478-1483. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02469.x
Article
Studying cumulative cultural evolution in the laboratory
Caldwell CA & Millen AE (2008) Studying cumulative cultural evolution in the laboratory. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 363 (1509), pp. 3529-3539. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2008.0133
Article
Experimental models for testing hypotheses about cumulative cultural evolution
Caldwell CA & Millen AE (2008) Experimental models for testing hypotheses about cumulative cultural evolution. Evolution and Human Behavior, 29 (3), pp. 165-171. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/10905138; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2007.12.001
Cognitive Psychology Statistics for Individual Differences in Psychology Individual Differences Online Teaching Student-led electives (module creator and facilitator) Undergraduate project supervision (Single and Joint Honours) Masters project supervision Masters research placement supervision MSc Research Methods
