Projects per year
Personal profile
Overview
Andy is a member of the Institute for the Psychology of Elite Performance at Bangor University. He has a BSc in Sport Science (Bangor University, 2004-2007) and a PhD in Psychophysiology (University of Birmingham, 2007-2010). Andy worked as an ESRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham (2010-2012), before returning to Bangor University as a Lecturer in the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (2013-Present). His research employs a multi-measure approach (e.g., brain, eyes, heart and muscles) to investigate: a) the psychophysiological mechanisms underpinning human performance; and b) psychophysiological interventions to enhance performance (e.g., neurofeedback training). It covers a range of performance domains including sport (e.g., preparatory cortical activity distinguishes successful from unsuccessful golf putts), health (e.g., effects of neurofeedback on the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease), and transportation (e.g., effects of gaze-training on driving), and has been supported by a variety of funders (e.g., ESRC, NHS, AXA insurance, England and Wales Cricket Board).
Grant Awards and Projects
01/2019: Economic & Social Research Council Impact Acceleration Fund (£9,984). The psychology of hazard perception. Role = Principal Investigator.
02/2017: England and Wales Cricket Board (£40,000). Profiling and enhancing performance under pressure in elite cricketers. Role = Co-Investigator
01/2017: AXA (€130,000). How to reduce the risk of accidents in driving: The effect of gaze-contingent perceptual training on driving safety. Role = Academic Mentor
10/2015: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (£57,060). EEG Neurofeedback to improve motor function in Parkinson’s. Role = Principal Investigator
10/2014: European Social Fund (£6,480). All in the head: Neural underpinnings of Plane-Easy learning in golf. Role = Co-Principal Investigator
09/2014: NEURODEM Cymru (£5,964). Neurofeedback in Parkinson’s disease. Role = Co-Investigator
07/2014: English Institute of Sport (£58,700). Psychophysiological profiling of elite coaches. Role = Co-Investigator
04/2013: National Institute for Social Care & Health Research (£22,637). Research equipment award. Role = Co-Principal Investigator
11/2011: Economic & Social Research Council (£79,301). The social and cognitive neuroscience of performance under pressure. Role = Named Researcher
10/2010: Economic & Social Research Council (£82,154). The winner takes it all versus all for one and one for all: The social neuroscience of individual and intergroup competition. Role = Principal Investigator
Research
My primary research interests are in:
a) the psychophysiological mechanisms underpinning human performance.
b) psychophysiological interventions to enhance performance (e.g., neurofeedback training).
I apply these interests to a range of performance domains including sport, health/rehabilitation, business and transportation.
Personal
Outside of work, Andy enjoys watching and participating in sport, where he tries to employ the performance-optimization techniques that he researches.
Contact Info
Location: Room G302.1, George Building, School of Sport Health & Exercise Sciences
Email: [email protected]
Bio: I am a lecturer conducting research in Psychophysiology, Sport Psychology and Skill Acquisition. I am particularly interested in understanding the mechanisms that underpin human performance, and psychophysiological interventions to enhance performance (e.g., brain training). I work with a number of high-profile organisations in sport, business and health. I am a member of the Institute for the Psychology of Elite Performance (IPEP) and lead the Psychophysiology of Performance Laboratory (POP-Lab).
IPEP webpage: http://ipep.bangor.ac.uk/
POP-Lab webpage: https://sites.google.com/view/pop-lab/home
Teaching and Supervision
Andy teaches on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate modules including:
JXH-1055 Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology
JXH-2054 Psychophysiology of Sport and Exercise
JXH-3031 & JXC-3031 Stress and Performance
JXH-4101 Performing under Pressure
He also supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research projects and dissertations in performance psychology, psychophysiology and skill aquisition.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Related documents
Education/Academic qualification
PGCert (Distinction) - Higher Education, Bangor University
PhD - Psychophysiology, University of Birmingham
BSc (Hons) First Class - Sport Science, University of Wales, Bangor
Fingerprint
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Developing and embedding a performance psychology support structure for air ambulance doctors and critical care paramedics
Cooke, A. (PI)
1/07/25 → 15/10/25
Project: Research
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Sêr Cymru STEMM Research Equipment - Trigno Research System Package
Cooke, A. (PI)
1/11/22 → 19/08/23
Project: Research
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Maximizing performance under pressure: A comprehensive and multidisciplinary procedure for individualizing pressure training in elite sport
Woodman, T., Barlow, M., Hardy, L., Young, D., Cooke, A., Roberts, R., Beattie, S., Hardy, J. & Varga, J., 20 May 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Effects of Home-Based EEG Neurofeedback Training as a Non-Pharmacological Intervention for Parkinson’s Disease
Cooke, A., Hindle, J., Lawrence, C., Bellomo, E., Pritchard, A. W., MacLeod, C., Martin-Forbes, P., Jones, S., Bracewell, M., Linden, D. & Mehler, D., Sept 2024, In: Neurophysiologie Clinique/Clinical Neurophysiology. 54, 5, 102997.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile33 Downloads (Pure) -
Some pressures are more equal than others: Effects of isolated pressure on performance
Henderson, J., Kavussanu, M., Cooke, A. & Ring, C., May 2024, In: Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 72, 102592.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile67 Downloads (Pure) -
Why elite athletes are harnessing their own brain waves for sporting success
Cooke, A., 7 Aug 2024, The Conversation.Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article
Open Access -
Can attentional focus and physical exertion affect interoception?
Forster, K., Maister, L., Wimpory, D., Cooke, A. & Gallicchio, G., 28 Jun 2023.Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster
Activities
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Project Launch Event – North West Air Ambulance and Bangor University (IPEP): Developing and Embedding a Performance Psychology Package for Air Ambulance Doctors and Paramedics
Willegers, M. (Speaker), Cooke, A. (Speaker) & Woodman, T. (Speaker)
3 Apr 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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NWAA Funding Support for Dissemination and Future Grant Capture Activities
Willegers, M. (Contributor) & Cooke, A. (Contributor)
13 Mar 2025 → 30 Mar 2025Activity: Other
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Coach Noah Talks Podcast Episode #46 - Psychophysiology w/ Dr. Andrew Cooke
Cooke, A. (Contributor)
20 May 2024Activity: Other › Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation
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Ryder Cup 2023: How putting can be improved by controlling brainwaves
Cooke, A. (Contributor)
26 Sept 2023Activity: Other › Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation
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BBC Mental Muscle Podcast - How can brain waves improve your golf putt?
Cooke, A. (Contributor)
17 Sept 2023Activity: Other › Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation
Press/Media
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Ryder Cup 2023: How putting can be improved by controlling brainwaves
26/09/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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BBC Mental Muscle Podcast - How can brain waves improve your golf putt?
17/09/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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BBC Mental Muscle Podcast - How do you win the egg and spoon race?
20/07/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
Datasets
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Assessing ocular activity during performance of motor skills using electrooculography
Gallicchio, G. (Creator), Cooke, A. (Creator) & Ring, C. (Creator), ReShare, 2019
Dataset