My research sits at the intersection of cognitive neuroscience, auditory perception, and social cognition, with a central focus on how humans extract meaning, identity, and social information from voices. I investigate how paralinguistic cues (such as speaker identity, emotion, and accent) are represented across hierarchical stages of processing, why these representations vary across individuals, and how they shape behaviour. Methodologically, I combine behavioural experiments and neuroimaging (EEG/ERPs, fMRI) with sound morphing and adaptation designs.

One current line of work examines regional accents as powerful social signals that bias behaviour. Using implicit measures and neuroimaging, I show that subtle accent variation is rapidly mapped onto social categories, producing robust in‑group preferences and engaging networks sensitive to social relevance. This work links accent‑based group membership to judgement and decision‑making even between mutually intelligible speakers.

More broadly, I’m interested in the malleability of auditory perception, i.e. how what we hear is reshaped by exposure, context, and social expectations. To this end, I have branched out into studying speech perception in adverse listening conditions, foregrounding context as a cue for comprehension when signals are noisy. I am interested in how minimal context boosts recognition of ambiguous targets, how these benefits interact with low‑level auditory abilities (e.g., pitch/rhythm perception) and cognitive resources (e.g., working memory), and why individuals differ in their efficiency of using context.

I am a member of the Bangor Imaging Unit (http://biu.bangor.ac.uk/index.php.en).

Dr Bestelmeyer welcomes informal enquiries from prospective PhD students interested in projects related to the cognitive and affective neuroscience of voice and face perception, music perception, and auditory object perception more generally. After reviewing relevant information on her staff web page please get in touch via email.

2026

• E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffuContext effects on the processing hierarchy of vocal expressions
  Bestelmeyer, P. & Evans, D., 13 Ion 2026, (E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffu) Yn: Cerebral Cortex. 36, 1, bhaf343.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2024

• E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffuRegional Accents: Spontaneous Biases Toward Speakers Who Sound Like Us
  Bestelmeyer, P., 13 Hyd 2024, (E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffu) Yn: Journal of Language and Social Psychology. 43, 5-6, t. 651-669 19 t.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydThe dissociating effects of fear and disgust on Multisensory Integration in Autism: Evidence from evoked potentials
  Stefanou, M.-E., Dundon, N. M., Bestelmeyer, P., Biscaldi, M., Smyrnis, N. & Klein, C., 5 Awst 2024, Yn: Frontiers in Neuroscience. 18, 1390696.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2022

• CyhoeddwydNeural dissociation of the acoustic and cognitive representation of voice identity
  Bestelmeyer, P. & Mühl, C., Tach 2022, Yn: Neuroimage. 263, 119647.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2021

• CyhoeddwydIndividual differences in voice adaptability are specifically linked to voice perception skill
  Bestelmeyer, P. & Mühl, C., Mai 2021, Yn: Cognition. 210, 104582.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2020

• CyhoeddwydLate attentional processes potentially compensate for early perceptual multisensory integration deficits in children with autism: Evidence from evoked potentials
  Stefanou, M.-E., Dundon, N. M., Bestelmeyer, P., Ioannou, C., Bender, S., Biscaldi, M., Smyrnis, N. & Klein, C., 30 Medi 2020, Yn: Scientific Reports. 10, 1, 16157.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2019

• CyhoeddwydAssessing susceptibility to distraction along the vocal processing hierarchy
  Muhl, C. & Bestelmeyer, P., 1 Gorff 2019, Yn: Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 72, 7, t. 1657-1666
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydElectro-cortical correlates of multisensory integration using ecologically valid emotional stimuli: Differential effects for fear and disgust
  Stefanou, M. E., Dundon, N., Bestelmeyer, P., Koldewyn, K., Saville, C., Fleischhaker, C., Feige, B., Biscaldi, M., Smyrnis, N. & Klein, C., Maw 2019, Yn: Biological Psychology. 142, t. 132-139
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2018

• CyhoeddwydAdaptation to vocal expressions and phonemes is intact in autism spectrum disorder
  Bestelmeyer, P., Williams, B., Lawton, J., Stefanou, M.-E., Koldewyn, K., Klein, C. & Biscaldi, M., Mai 2018, Yn: Clinical Psychological Science. 6, 3, t. 372-381
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydLinguistic “first impressions”: Accents as cue to person perception
  Bestelmeyer, P., 6 Rhag 2018, The Oxford Handbook of Voice Perception. Frühholz , S. & Belin, P. (gol.). Oxford University Press
  Allbwn ymchwil: Pennod mewn Llyfr/Adroddiad/Trafodion Cynhadledd › Pennod › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydNeuromodulation of right auditory cortex selectively increases activation in speech-related brain areas in brainstem auditory agnosia
  Bestelmeyer, P. E. G., Davis, N. J., Poliva, O. & Rafal, R. D., 1 Medi 2018, Yn: Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology. 31, 3, t. 151-155
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2017

• CyhoeddwydEffects of emotional valence and arousal on the voice perception network
  Bestelmeyer, P., Kotz, S. A. & Belin, P., 25 Ebr 2017, Yn: Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydEffects of sexually dimorphic shape cues on neurophysiological correlates of women’s face processing
  Welling, L., Bestelmeyer, P., Jones, B., DeBruine, L. & Allan, K., Rhag 2017, Yn: Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology. 3, 4, t. 337-350
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydThe Bangor Voice Matching Test: A standardized test for the assessment of voice perception ability
  Muhl, C., Sheil, O., Jarutytė, L. & Bestelmeyer, P., Tach 2017, Yn: Behavior Research Methods. 2017, t. 1-9
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2015

• CyhoeddwydDorsal and ventral pathways for prosody
  Sammler, D., Grosbras, M. H., Anwander, A., Bestelmeyer, P. E. & Belin, P., 5 Tach 2015, Yn: Current Biology. 25, 23, t. 3079-3085
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydEvidence for a supra-modal representation of emotion from cross-modal adaptation
  Pye, A. & Bestelmeyer, P. E., 12 Ion 2015, Yn: Cognition. 134, t. 245–251
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydFunctional mapping of the human auditory cortex: fMRI investigation of a patient with auditory agnosia from trauma to the inferior colliculus
  Poliva, O., Bestelmeyer, P. E., Hall, M., Bultitude, J., Koller, K. & Rafal, R. D., 1 Gorff 2015, Yn: Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology. 28, 3, t. 160-180
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydThe human voice areas: Spatial organisation and inter-individual variability in temporal and extra-temporal cortices
  Pernet, C. R., McAleer, P., Latinus, M., Gorgolewski, K. J., Charest, I., Bestelmeyer, P. E., Watson, R. H., Fleming, D., Crabbe, F., Valdes-Sosa, M. & Belin, P., 18 Meh 2015, Yn: Neuroimage. 119, 1, t. 164–174
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2014

• CyhoeddwydAdaptation to vocal expressions reveals multistep perception of auditory emotion
  Bestelmeyer, P. E., Maurage, P., Rouger, J., Latinus, M. & Belin, P., 11 Meh 2014, Yn: Journal of Neuroscience. 34, 24, t. 8098-105
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydA neural marker for social bias towards in-group accents
  Bestelmeyer, P. E., Belin, P. & Ladd, D. R., 1 Rhag 2014, Yn: Cerebral Cortex.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydSingle-subject analyses of magnetoencephalographic evoked responses to the acoustic properties of affective non-verbal vocalizations.
  Salvia, E., Bestelmeyer, P. E., Kotz, S. A., Rousselet, G. A., Pernet, C. R., Gross, J. & Belin, P., 22 Rhag 2014, Yn: Frontiers in Neuroscience. 8
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2013

• CyhoeddwydBinge drinking influences the cerebral processing of vocal affective bursts in young adults
  Maurage, P., Bestelmeyer, P. E., Rouger, J., Charest, I. & Belin, P., 29 Awst 2013, Yn: NeuroImage: Clinical. 3, t. 218-225
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydNorm-based coding of voice identity in human auditory cortex
  Latinus, M., McAleer, P., Bestelmeyer, P. E. & Belin, P., 23 Mai 2013, Yn: Current Biology. 23, t. 1075-80
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2012

• CyhoeddwydImplicitly perceived vocal attractiveness modulates prefrontal cortex activity
  Bestelmeyer, P. E., Latinus, M., Bruckert, L., Rouger, J., Crabbe, F. & Belin, P., 1 Meh 2012, Yn: Cerebral Cortex. 22, 6, t. 1263-1270
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydSound-induced activity in voice-sensitive cortex predicts voice memory ability.
  Watson, R., Latinus, M., Bestelmeyer, P. E., Crabbe, F. & Belin, P., 2 Ebr 2012, Yn: Frontiers in Psychology. 3, 89
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydThe visual P3a in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: Effects of target and distractor stimuli on the P300
  Bestelmeyer, P. E., 15 Mai 2012, Yn: Psychiatry Research. 197, 1-2, t. 140-144
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2011

• CyhoeddwydRight temporal TMS impairs voice detection
  Bestelmeyer, P. E., Belin, P. & Grosbras, M. H., 25 Hyd 2011, Yn: Current Biology. 21, 20, t. R838-R839
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydUnderstanding Voice Perception
  Belin, P., Bestelmeyer, P. E., Latinus, M. & Watson, R., 1 Tach 2011, Yn: British Journal of Psychology. 102, 4, t. 711-725
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2010

• CyhoeddwydAdaptation to different mouth shapes influences visual perception of ambiguous lip speech
  Jones, B. C., Feinberg, D. R., Bestelmeyer, P. E., DeBruine, L. M. & Little, A. C., 1 Awst 2010, Yn: Psychonomic Bulletin and Review. 17, 4, t. 522-528
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydAuditory adaptation in vocal affect perception
  Bestelmeyer, P. E., Rouger, J., DeBruine, L. M. & Belin, P., 1 Tach 2010, Yn: Cognition. 117, 2, t. 217-223
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydEvidence for a workspace model of working memory from semantic implicit processing in neglect
  Della Sala, S., van der Meulen, M., Bestelmeyer, P. E. & Logie, L. H., 1 Medi 2010, Yn: Journal of Neuropsychology. 4, 2, t. 147-166
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydVocal attractiveness increases by averaging
  Bruckert, L., Bestelmeyer, P. E., Latinus, M., Rouger, J., Charest, I., Rousselet, G. A., Kawahara, H. & Belin, P., 26 Ion 2010, Yn: Current Biology. 20, 2, t. 116-120
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2009

• CyhoeddwydFace aftereffects suggest interdependent processing of expression and sex and of expression and race
  Bestelmeyer, P. E., Jones, B. C., DeBruine, L. M., Little, A. C., Schneider, A. W. & Conway, C. A., 19 Maw 2009, Yn: Visual Cognition. 18, 2, t. 255-274
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydThe P300 as a possible endophenotype for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: Evidence from twin and patient studies
  Bestelmeyer, P. E., Phillips, L. H., Crombie, C., Benson, P. J. & St.Clair, D., 30 Hyd 2009, Yn: Psychiatry Research. 169, 3, t. 212-219
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydView-contingent aftereffects suggest joint coding of face shape and view
  Welling, L. L., Jones, B. C., Bestelmeyer, P. E., DeBruine, L. M., Conway, C. A. & Little, A. C., 1 Ion 2009, Yn: Perception. 38, 1, t. 133-141
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydVisual scanning abnormalities as biomarker for schizophrenia
  Bestelmeyer, P. E. & Ritsner, M. S. (Golygydd), 1 Ion 2009, The Handbook of Neuropsychiatric Biomarkers: Endophenotypes and Genes: Volume I: Neuropsychological Endophenotypes and Biomarkers. 2009 gol. Springer, t. 221-226
  Allbwn ymchwil: Pennod mewn Llyfr/Adroddiad/Trafodion Cynhadledd › Pennod

2007

• CyhoeddwydSex-contingent face aftereffects depend on perceptual category rather than structural encoding
  Bestelmeyer, P. E., Jones, B. C., DeBruine, L. M., Little, A. C., Perrett, D. I., Schneider, A., Welling, L. L. & Conway, C. A., 17 Medi 2007, Yn: Cognition. 107, 1, t. 353-365
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2006

• CyhoeddwydGlobal visual scanning abnormalities in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
  Bestelmeyer, P. E., Tatler, B. W., Phillips, L. H., Fraser, G., Benson, P. J. & St.Clair, D., 1 Hyd 2006, Yn: Schizophrenia Research. 87, 1-3, t. 212-222
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2004

• CyhoeddwydProcessing biases towards the preferred hand: valid and invalid cueing of left- versus right-hand movements
  Carey, D. P. & Bestelmeyer, P. E., 12 Ebr 2004, Yn: Neuropsychologia. 42, 9, t. 1162-1167
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid