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). 

Location: Room G302.1, George Building, School of Sport Health & Exercise Sciences

Email: a.m.cooke@bangor.ac.uk

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

  • PGCert (Distinction) - Higher Education
  • PhD - Psychophysiology
    University of Birmingham,
  • BSc (Hons) First Class - Sport Science
    University of Wales, Bangor,

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.

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.

I am interested in supervising PhD projects related to skill acquisition, performance psychology and/or psychophysiology.

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2025

  • Project Launch Event – North West Air Ambulance and Bangor University (IPEP): Developing and Embedding a Performance Psychology Package for Air Ambulance Doctors and Paramedics

    Organisations: North West Air Ambulance (NWAA) Charity, Bangor University

    Attendees: Heather Arrowsmith (CEO-NWAA), David Briggs (Operations Director-NWAA), Dr Marley Willegers, Dr Andy Cooke, Prof Tim Woodman (Bangor University), Steve Bell (CI & NWAA Paramedic), NWAA Clinical Team (Doctors and Critical Care Paramedics)

    Output:

    Formal launch of the NWAA Performance Psychology Project held on April 3rd at Barton Air Base. The event introduced the aims, methodology, and participation process to NWAA clinicians, and featured a recorded presentation for wider accessibility. Presentations covered the research context, study design, and participation requirements.

    Key outcomes included:

    Recruitment of 11 participants (25% of clinical cohort to date)

    Launch of social media communications showcasing the IPEP–NWAA collaboration (including a group photo of attendees)

    Distribution of Participant Information Sheets and digital/paper consent forms

    Recorded video made available for ongoing participant engagement (Part 1:

    Project Context; Part 2: Study Aims and Participation Details)

    The event marked the beginning of participant enrolment and data collection, and laid the groundwork for continued engagement with NWAA’s critical care clinical team.

    3 Apr 2025

    Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
  • NWAA Funding Support for Dissemination and Future Grant Capture Activities

    Organisations: North West Air Ambulance (NWAA) Charity, Bangor University

    Attendees: Heather Arrowsmith (CEO-NWAA), David Briggs (Operations Director-NWAA), Dr Marley Willegers, Dr Andy Cooke (Bangor University)

    Output:

    Due to a delay in project launch resulting from HRA ethical review timelines, NWAA agreed to fund a 3-month extension to enable continuity in research delivery. This includes salary support (1.0 FTE) for Chief Investigator Dr Marley Willegers to complete data analysis, disseminate findings to academic and operational audiences, and lead future grant capture activity aimed at sustaining and scaling the performance psychology package for critical care teams.

    13 Mar 2025 – 30 Mar 2025

    Activity: Other (Contributor)

2024

2023

2022

  • BUIIA Training and Networking conference

    BU-IIA training and networking conference Bangor University

    19 Oct 2022

    Activity: Participation in Academic conference (Participant)
  • Healthwise Wales research meeting

    BU-IIA project meeting with Healthwise Wales

    13 Oct 2022

    Activity: Participation in Academic workshop, seminar, course (Speaker)
  • Who, What, Why not:applying BeSci to population health

    Public Health Wales Behavioral Science Unit Presentation

    12 Oct 2022

    Activity: Participation in Academic conference (Participant)
  • BU-IIA Funded Project: Agency and Communion in Wales: A Framework to Understand Behaviour, Health and Well-Being During the Wales COVID-19 Response and Recovery

    In this project we will increase understanding of variability in human behaviour during the various phases of Wales’ COVID-19 response and post COVID recovery. We will also shed light on how individual differences influence psychological well-being over time, as the Welsh population continues to adapt to new ways of life in this post-COVID recovery phase. The project will allow us to provide recommendations to the Welsh Government with a view to optimizing their messaging to maximise positive behavioural outcomes (e.g., prosocial behaviours, rule adherence) and minimise costs to health and well-being (e.g., problems associated with high stress) in the population.

    Funding awarded through the Bangor University Innovation and Impact Award (Research Wales Innovation Funding). Value = £47,535

    4 May 2022 – 30 Apr 2023

    Activity: Other (Contributor)

2018

2015

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

Outside of work, Andy enjoys watching and participating in sport, where he tries to employ the performance-optimization techniques that he researches.