DSEC Lab
@dseclab.bsky.social
Development of Social & Emotional Communication Lab at Queen's University.
Mia Popelas (She/Her) - QU’27 in Psychology. Mia is a fourth-year psychology student volunteering as a Research Assistant in the DSEC Lab. She is interested in exploring the interplay between sensory processing, interoception, and the development of emotion regulation.
September 15, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Mia Popelas (She/Her) - QU’27 in Psychology. Mia is a fourth-year psychology student volunteering as a Research Assistant in the DSEC Lab. She is interested in exploring the interplay between sensory processing, interoception, and the development of emotion regulation.
The DSEC Lab’s summer newsletter is now available 📚! Click the link in our bio to learn more about our ongoing studies, read up on recent study findings from the lab, and check out fun activities to do with the family! We can’t wait for you all to read it 😊
September 3, 2026 at 8:00 PM
The DSEC Lab’s summer newsletter is now available 📚! Click the link in our bio to learn more about our ongoing studies, read up on recent study findings from the lab, and check out fun activities to do with the family! We can’t wait for you all to read it 😊
Shira Klein (She/Her) - QU’27 in Psychology. Shira is a volunteer research assistant and a SWEP summer research fellow in the DSEC Lab. She is excited to be exploring the development of nonverbal communication and how it shapes our social interactions. 🍪
August 18, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Shira Klein (She/Her) - QU’27 in Psychology. Shira is a volunteer research assistant and a SWEP summer research fellow in the DSEC Lab. She is excited to be exploring the development of nonverbal communication and how it shapes our social interactions. 🍪
Do adolescents recognize emotions better in people their own age? 🧐
An own-age bias refers to the tendency to recognize faces from your own age group more easily than faces from other age groups. Vetter and colleagues (2018) wanted to figure out whether this bias appears during adolescence.
An own-age bias refers to the tendency to recognize faces from your own age group more easily than faces from other age groups. Vetter and colleagues (2018) wanted to figure out whether this bias appears during adolescence.
August 13, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Do adolescents recognize emotions better in people their own age? 🧐
An own-age bias refers to the tendency to recognize faces from your own age group more easily than faces from other age groups. Vetter and colleagues (2018) wanted to figure out whether this bias appears during adolescence.
An own-age bias refers to the tendency to recognize faces from your own age group more easily than faces from other age groups. Vetter and colleagues (2018) wanted to figure out whether this bias appears during adolescence.
Have you seen the viral "wow, okay" trend? 🤔
It's the one where you say the same sentence in 4 different tones, changing only your nonverbal expressions.
Well, it turns out that's exactly the kind of thing we study here in the DSEC Lab. 🥳
We asked members of our lab to give the trend a try!
It's the one where you say the same sentence in 4 different tones, changing only your nonverbal expressions.
Well, it turns out that's exactly the kind of thing we study here in the DSEC Lab. 🥳
We asked members of our lab to give the trend a try!
August 4, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Have you seen the viral "wow, okay" trend? 🤔
It's the one where you say the same sentence in 4 different tones, changing only your nonverbal expressions.
Well, it turns out that's exactly the kind of thing we study here in the DSEC Lab. 🥳
We asked members of our lab to give the trend a try!
It's the one where you say the same sentence in 4 different tones, changing only your nonverbal expressions.
Well, it turns out that's exactly the kind of thing we study here in the DSEC Lab. 🥳
We asked members of our lab to give the trend a try!
We spend a lot of time talking about communication. Listening is a key component of good communication! 👂️
Research has found that people who experience active listening feel more understood and more satisfied with their conversations. 😀
Research has found that people who experience active listening feel more understood and more satisfied with their conversations. 😀
July 30, 2026 at 8:01 PM
We spend a lot of time talking about communication. Listening is a key component of good communication! 👂️
Research has found that people who experience active listening feel more understood and more satisfied with their conversations. 😀
Research has found that people who experience active listening feel more understood and more satisfied with their conversations. 😀
Juliana Ricciuti (She/Her) - QU’27 in Psychology. Juliana is a third-year psychology student joining the DSEC Lab as a volunteer RA! She is interested in the biological mechanisms underlying the development of emotional communication and how emotional communication affects our quality of life.
July 14, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Juliana Ricciuti (She/Her) - QU’27 in Psychology. Juliana is a third-year psychology student joining the DSEC Lab as a volunteer RA! She is interested in the biological mechanisms underlying the development of emotional communication and how emotional communication affects our quality of life.
Welcome back to Part 2 of our mini-mic series with research assistants Alessia Cataudella and Madhureema Balasubramani Rupa as they ask PSYC 100 students some psychology trivia 🧠
Question of the day: Are teenagers better or worse at reading emotions than adults? 🙂😠🙁
Question of the day: Are teenagers better or worse at reading emotions than adults? 🙂😠🙁
July 7, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Welcome back to Part 2 of our mini-mic series with research assistants Alessia Cataudella and Madhureema Balasubramani Rupa as they ask PSYC 100 students some psychology trivia 🧠
Question of the day: Are teenagers better or worse at reading emotions than adults? 🙂😠🙁
Question of the day: Are teenagers better or worse at reading emotions than adults? 🙂😠🙁
Question of the day: When do babies first learn to recognize emotions on faces? 👶👀
Check out Part 1 of our two-part mini-mic series with research assistants Alessia Cataudella and Madhureema Balasubramani Rupa as they interview PSYC 100 students ✨
Check out Part 1 of our two-part mini-mic series with research assistants Alessia Cataudella and Madhureema Balasubramani Rupa as they interview PSYC 100 students ✨
July 2, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Question of the day: When do babies first learn to recognize emotions on faces? 👶👀
Check out Part 1 of our two-part mini-mic series with research assistants Alessia Cataudella and Madhureema Balasubramani Rupa as they interview PSYC 100 students ✨
Check out Part 1 of our two-part mini-mic series with research assistants Alessia Cataudella and Madhureema Balasubramani Rupa as they interview PSYC 100 students ✨
Olivia Murray (she/her) - QU '27 in Psychology and Sociology. Olivia is a third-year psychology student and a volunteer research assistant in the DSEC Lab this year! Olivia takes an interest in young adult clinical and social psychology, as well as forensic psychology and how these fields intersect.
June 23, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Olivia Murray (she/her) - QU '27 in Psychology and Sociology. Olivia is a third-year psychology student and a volunteer research assistant in the DSEC Lab this year! Olivia takes an interest in young adult clinical and social psychology, as well as forensic psychology and how these fields intersect.
People often believe that smiling might make you feel happier! 😀 The facial feedback hypothesis is the theory that our emotions can be influenced by our facial expressions.
Coles and colleagues (2019) conducted a meta-analysis of the facial feedback literature to explore this hypothesis!
Coles and colleagues (2019) conducted a meta-analysis of the facial feedback literature to explore this hypothesis!
June 18, 2026 at 8:02 PM
People often believe that smiling might make you feel happier! 😀 The facial feedback hypothesis is the theory that our emotions can be influenced by our facial expressions.
Coles and colleagues (2019) conducted a meta-analysis of the facial feedback literature to explore this hypothesis!
Coles and colleagues (2019) conducted a meta-analysis of the facial feedback literature to explore this hypothesis!
Research is a team effort, and we're lucky to have such an incredible one ✨ We work hard and we have fun while doing it.
A big thank you to all of our students, past and present, for your hard work and contributions to the DSEC Lab. 😄 Your impact is felt every day!
A big thank you to all of our students, past and present, for your hard work and contributions to the DSEC Lab. 😄 Your impact is felt every day!
June 9, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Research is a team effort, and we're lucky to have such an incredible one ✨ We work hard and we have fun while doing it.
A big thank you to all of our students, past and present, for your hard work and contributions to the DSEC Lab. 😄 Your impact is felt every day!
A big thank you to all of our students, past and present, for your hard work and contributions to the DSEC Lab. 😄 Your impact is felt every day!
We recognize people using a combination of facial, vocal, & contextual cues. What happens when you’re left with just one? Watch Dr. Morningstar try to map the acoustics of our team’s voices to their identity—a tricky task that highlights how multiple sources of information help us recognize others!
June 4, 2026 at 8:01 PM
We recognize people using a combination of facial, vocal, & contextual cues. What happens when you’re left with just one? Watch Dr. Morningstar try to map the acoustics of our team’s voices to their identity—a tricky task that highlights how multiple sources of information help us recognize others!
Reyna Okumura (she/her) — QU’27 in Psychology and Sociology
Reyna is a third-year psychology/sociology joint Honours student volunteering as a research assistant in the DSEC Lab. She is interested in how people communicate, on individual and societal scales.
Reyna is a third-year psychology/sociology joint Honours student volunteering as a research assistant in the DSEC Lab. She is interested in how people communicate, on individual and societal scales.
May 26, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Reyna Okumura (she/her) — QU’27 in Psychology and Sociology
Reyna is a third-year psychology/sociology joint Honours student volunteering as a research assistant in the DSEC Lab. She is interested in how people communicate, on individual and societal scales.
Reyna is a third-year psychology/sociology joint Honours student volunteering as a research assistant in the DSEC Lab. She is interested in how people communicate, on individual and societal scales.
Congratulations to Alessia Cataudella, who has been named a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Storytellers Challenge finalist! 🎉 Watch to learn more about our lab’s ongoing projects. We are so proud to celebrate Alessia’s achievement and the dedication it reflects!
May 19, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Congratulations to Alessia Cataudella, who has been named a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Storytellers Challenge finalist! 🎉 Watch to learn more about our lab’s ongoing projects. We are so proud to celebrate Alessia’s achievement and the dedication it reflects!
The DSEC Lab’s spring newsletter is now available! ☀️ Click the link in our bio to learn more about our ongoing studies, read up on recent study findings, and check out fun activities to do with the family! This newsletter has something fun for everyone. We can’t wait for you all to read it. 😀
May 14, 2026 at 8:01 PM
The DSEC Lab’s spring newsletter is now available! ☀️ Click the link in our bio to learn more about our ongoing studies, read up on recent study findings, and check out fun activities to do with the family! This newsletter has something fun for everyone. We can’t wait for you all to read it. 😀
Welcome to our two summer research fellows, Juliana Ricciuti (NSERC USRA) and Shira Klein (SWEP)! We're excited to have the two of them on board to help move many of our NSERC- and SSHRC-funded projects forward this term. Can't wait to dive into our summer projects! 🧠☀️
May 6, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Welcome to our two summer research fellows, Juliana Ricciuti (NSERC USRA) and Shira Klein (SWEP)! We're excited to have the two of them on board to help move many of our NSERC- and SSHRC-funded projects forward this term. Can't wait to dive into our summer projects! 🧠☀️
Congratulations to Honours thesis students Victoria Cassel & Katrina Mascherin, and directed lab students Léa Francoeur, Mackenzie Romijn, & Navid Shabani Barzegar on presenting at Queen’s Psychology & Health Sciences Research Days! And, bravo to Tessa Patton for her outstanding directed lab work!
April 30, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Congratulations to Honours thesis students Victoria Cassel & Katrina Mascherin, and directed lab students Léa Francoeur, Mackenzie Romijn, & Navid Shabani Barzegar on presenting at Queen’s Psychology & Health Sciences Research Days! And, bravo to Tessa Patton for her outstanding directed lab work!
The @dseclab.bsky.social is headed to #SRA2026 in Toronto! We're excited to share our latest work at the Society for Research on Adolescence. Our team will be presenting on Thursday, so stay tuned for some updates!
April 13, 2026 at 8:00 PM
The @dseclab.bsky.social is headed to #SRA2026 in Toronto! We're excited to share our latest work at the Society for Research on Adolescence. Our team will be presenting on Thursday, so stay tuned for some updates!
Maya Joseph (She/Her) - QU’28 in Con-Ed and Psychology. Maya is a third-year student, volunteering as an RA in the DSEC Lab. Her interests include clinical and developmental psychology. She is currently working towards a career in psychotherapy, with an interest in working with adolescents.
April 7, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Maya Joseph (She/Her) - QU’28 in Con-Ed and Psychology. Maya is a third-year student, volunteering as an RA in the DSEC Lab. Her interests include clinical and developmental psychology. She is currently working towards a career in psychotherapy, with an interest in working with adolescents.
In this episode of Brain in Progress, listen to hosts Victoria Cassel (Honours student) and Navid Shabani Barzegar (Directed Lab student) discuss the potential ways in which social experience and brain development might be shaping adolescents’ facial expressions!
April 2, 2026 at 8:02 PM
In this episode of Brain in Progress, listen to hosts Victoria Cassel (Honours student) and Navid Shabani Barzegar (Directed Lab student) discuss the potential ways in which social experience and brain development might be shaping adolescents’ facial expressions!
LAST CALL! We are wrapping up the DETECT-AF study in April, but still need a few more 10- to 15-year-olds to participate! 📢
We’re looking for teens, their parent, and a friend to come to our lab at Queen’s University (Kingston, ON). Contact [email protected] for more information!
We’re looking for teens, their parent, and a friend to come to our lab at Queen’s University (Kingston, ON). Contact [email protected] for more information!
March 26, 2026 at 8:00 PM
LAST CALL! We are wrapping up the DETECT-AF study in April, but still need a few more 10- to 15-year-olds to participate! 📢
We’re looking for teens, their parent, and a friend to come to our lab at Queen’s University (Kingston, ON). Contact [email protected] for more information!
We’re looking for teens, their parent, and a friend to come to our lab at Queen’s University (Kingston, ON). Contact [email protected] for more information!
Kate Bridge (she/her) – QU’26 Biology and Psychology. Kate is a fourth-year biology-psychology student and is volunteering as an RA in the DSEC Lab. She is particularly interested in early childhood development and its influence on communication.
March 17, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Kate Bridge (she/her) – QU’26 Biology and Psychology. Kate is a fourth-year biology-psychology student and is volunteering as an RA in the DSEC Lab. She is particularly interested in early childhood development and its influence on communication.
The DSEC Lab is in Pittsburgh for #SAS2026! 🎉
We’re excited to present some of the latest findings from the lab and to learn from the incredible work being shared by others at the conference! Our team will be presenting on Friday and Saturday, so stay tuned for some conference highlights!
We’re excited to present some of the latest findings from the lab and to learn from the incredible work being shared by others at the conference! Our team will be presenting on Friday and Saturday, so stay tuned for some conference highlights!
March 12, 2026 at 8:00 PM
The DSEC Lab is in Pittsburgh for #SAS2026! 🎉
We’re excited to present some of the latest findings from the lab and to learn from the incredible work being shared by others at the conference! Our team will be presenting on Friday and Saturday, so stay tuned for some conference highlights!
We’re excited to present some of the latest findings from the lab and to learn from the incredible work being shared by others at the conference! Our team will be presenting on Friday and Saturday, so stay tuned for some conference highlights!
How well do first-year students know the basics of emotional development? 🤔
From the emergence of emotions early in life to understanding others’ thoughts and perspectives, watch as we invite first-year students to test their knowledge with emotional development trivia 🧠
From the emergence of emotions early in life to understanding others’ thoughts and perspectives, watch as we invite first-year students to test their knowledge with emotional development trivia 🧠
March 5, 2026 at 9:13 PM
How well do first-year students know the basics of emotional development? 🤔
From the emergence of emotions early in life to understanding others’ thoughts and perspectives, watch as we invite first-year students to test their knowledge with emotional development trivia 🧠
From the emergence of emotions early in life to understanding others’ thoughts and perspectives, watch as we invite first-year students to test their knowledge with emotional development trivia 🧠