Professor Silke Paulmann
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Email
paulmann@essex.ac.uk -
Telephone
+44 (0) 1206 873422
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Location
2.724, Colchester Campus
Profile
Biography
Silke Paulmann studied English Linguistics, American Literature and Media at the Universities of Paderborn, Germany, and Groningen, The Netherlands. Her PhD work on brain processes underlying emotional tone of voice processing was conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, Germany. She obtained her PhD in Cognitive Sciences from the University of Potsdam in 2006. Silke then held a position at the Max Planck Institute as a postdoctoral research fellow and, in 2007, received a postdoctoral research fellowship award from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), allowing her to join the Neuropgragmatics and Emotion Lab at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. She joined our Department in September 2009. Her current research focuses on how emotional, motivational, and attitudinal voice signals shape emotions and reactions. To explore this, she frequently works with external partners in applied settings, including teaching, health care, and parenting contexts. Silke also provides voice awareness training for diverse audiences. For example, for more information on how "teacher voices shape classroom atmosphere", please visit: https://www.tone4you.co.uk/.
Qualifications
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PhD University of Potsdam/Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, (2006)
Appointments
糖心Vlog
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Head of Department, Psychology, 糖心Vlog (1/8/2021 - present)
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Acting Deputy Dean (Research), Science and Health Faculty, 糖心Vlog (1/2/2020 - 1/9/2020)
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Director of Research, Psychology, 糖心Vlog (1/1/2018 - 31/7/2021)
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Director of Marketing, Psychology, 糖心Vlog (1/9/2009 - 31/12/2017)
Research and professional activities
Research interests
Social language processing in normal and special populations (e.g., bilinguals, brain damaged, aging)
Emotional and attitudinal language processing across different cultures
Motivational prosody processing
Event-related brain potentials
How teachers' tone of voice can influence students' wellbeing and behaviour
Current research
How vocal signals can affect others
Broadly speaking, Silke is exploring the way we communicate emotions, motivations, and attitudes via speech. This includes both the perception and production side. Currently, she is running different studies to investigate the cognitive architecture underlying emotional, motivational and attitudinal language processing in different populations (e.g., different age groups from toddlers to seniors; neurodiverse populations; cross-cultural groups). She likes to apply her lab work into different contexts (e.g., teaching; coaching; business; health care).
Teaching and supervision
Current teaching responsibilities
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Neurocognition of Human Interaction (PS935)
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Criminal Mind (PS518)
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MSc Psychology Research Project (PS900)
Current supervision
Previous supervision
Degree subject: Psychology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 4/3/2020
Degree subject: Psychology
Degree type: Master of Science (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 5/11/2018
Degree subject: Psychology
Degree type: Master of Science (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 27/6/2016
Degree subject: Psychology
Degree type: Master of Science (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 18/5/2016
Degree subject: Psychology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 9/9/2015
Degree subject: Psychology
Degree type: Master of Science (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 20/1/2015
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 26/6/2013
Publications
Journal articles (52)
Paulmann, S. and Weinstein, N., (2025). . British Journal of Educational Psychology
Maltezou-Papastylianou, C., Scherer, R. and Paulmann, S., (2025). . Frontiers in Psychology. 16, 1495456-
Guti茅rrez-Seraf铆n, B., Andreu-Perez, J., P茅rez-Espinosa, H., Paulmann, S. and Ding, W., (2024). . Biomedical Signal Processing and Control. 87B, 105457-105457
Holmes, L., Rieger, G. and Paulmann, S., (2024). . Frontiers in Psychology. 15, 1412372-
Vrijders, B., Weinstein, N., Paulmann, S., Soenens, B., Waterschoot, J. and Vansteenkiste, M., (2024). . Motivation Science. 11 (1), 49-66
Schmidt-Kassow, M., G眉nther, A-N., Salim-Latzel, M., Kaiser, J. and Paulmann, S., (2024). . Emotion. 25 (1), 259-270
Paulmann, S. and Weinstein, N., (2023). . British Journal of Educational Psychology. 93 (2), 437-452
Gibson, MT., Schmidt-Kassow, M. and Paulmann, S., (2023). . PLoS One. 18 (10), e0293233-e0293233
Maltezou-Papastylianou, C., Russo, R., Wallace, D., Harmsworth, C. and Paulmann, S., (2022). . PLoS One. 17 (7), e0270934-e0270934
Weinstein, N., Vansteenkiste, M. and Paulmann, S., (2020). . Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 88, 103949-103949
Furnes, D., Berg, H., Mitchell, RM. and Paulmann, S., (2019). . Frontiers in Psychology. 10 (FEB), 184-
Gerson, S., Weinstein, N., Gattis, M. and Paulmann, S., (2019). . Journal of Experimental Child Psychology. 187, 104654-104654
Weinstein, N., Vansteenkiste, M. and Paulmann, S., (2019). . Developmental Psychology. 55 (12), 2534-2546
Paulmann, S., Weinstein, N. and Zougkou, K., (2019). . Neuropsychologia. 124, 192-201
Weinstein, N., Zougkou, K. and Paulmann, S., (2018). . Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance. 44 (6), 898-913
Garrido-V谩squez, P., Pell, MD., Paulmann, S. and Kotz, SA., (2018). . Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 12, 244-
Clahsen, H., Paulmann, S., Budd, MJ. and Barry, C., (2018). . PLoS ONE. 13 (7), e0199897-e0199897
Harmsworth, C. and Paulmann, S., (2018). . Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 42 (9), 1715-1724
Paulmann, S. and Uskul, AK., (2017). . Psychophysiology. 54 (4), 555-565
Zougkou, K., Weinstein, N. and Paulmann, S., (2017). . Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. 12 (10), 1687-1700
Wallace, D., Cooper, NR., Paulmann, S., Fitzgerald, PB. and Russo, R., (2016). . PLoS One. 11 (2), e0149703-e0149703
Paulmann, S., Furnes, D., B酶kenes, AM. and Cozzolino, PJ., (2016). . PLoS ONE. 11 (11), e0165022-e0165022
Garrido-V谩squez, P., Pell, MD., Paulmann, S., Sehm, B. and Kotz, SA., (2016). . Neuropsychologia. 82, 123-133
Uskul, AK., Paulmann, S. and Weick, M., (2016). . Emotion. 16 (1), 11-15
Jiang, X., Paulmann, S., Robin, J. and Pell, MD., (2015). . Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance. 41 (3), 597-612
Pell, MD., Rothermich, K., Liu, P., Paulmann, S., Sethi, S. and Rigoulot, S., (2015). . Biological Psychology. 111, 14-25
Budd, M-J., Paulmann, S., Barry, C. and Clahsen, H., (2015). . Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience. 12 (1), 51-60
Paulmann, S. and Uskul, AK., (2014). . Cognition and Emotion. 28 (2), 230-244
Budd, M., Paulmann, S., Barry, C. and Clahsen, H., (2013). . Brain and Language. 127 (3), 345-355
Paulmann, S., Bleichner, M. and Kotz, SA., (2013). . Frontiers in Psychology. 4, 345-
Garrido-V谩squez, P., Pell, MD., Paulmann, S., Strecker, K., Schwarz, J. and Kotz, SA., (2013). . Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. 8 (8), 918-927
Paulmann, S., Jessen, S. and Kotz, SA., (2012). . Neuropsychologia. 50 (7), 1609-1620
Paulmann, S., Titone, D. and Pell, MD., (2012). . Speech Communication. 54 (1), 92-107
Paulmann, S., Ott, DVM. and Kotz, SA., (2011). . PLoS ONE. 6 (3), e17694-e17694
Paulmann, S. and Pell, MD., (2011). . Motivation and Emotion. 35 (2), 192-201
Kotz, SA. and Paulmann, S., (2011). . Language and Linguistics Compass. 5 (3), 108-125
Paulmann, S. and Pell, MD., (2010). . Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience. 10 (2), 230-242
Paulmann, S., Seifert, S. and Kotz, SA., (2010). . Social Neuroscience. 5 (1), 59-75
Paulmann, S. and Pell, MD., (2010). . Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology. 32 (8), 822-835
Paulmann, S., Pell, MD. and Kotz, SA., (2009). . Brain Research. 1295, 159-169
Paulmann, S. and Pell, MD., (2009). . NeuroReport. 20 (18), 1603-1608
Kotz, SA., Jessen, S. and Paulmann, S., (2009). . Journal of Psychophysiology. 23 (2), 63-76
Pell, MD., Paulmann, S., Dara, C., Alasseri, A. and Kotz, SA., (2009). . Journal of Phonetics. 37 (4), 417-435
Pell, MD., Monetta, L., Paulmann, S. and Kotz, SA., (2009). . Journal of Nonverbal Behavior. 33 (2), 107-120
Paulmann, S. and Kotz, SA., (2008). . Brain and Language. 105 (1), 59-69
Paulmann, S. and Kotz, SA., (2008). . NeuroReport. 19 (2), 209-213
Paulmann, S., Pell, MD. and Kotz, SA., (2008). . Brain Research. 1217, 171-178
Paulmann, S., Pell, MD. and Kotz, SA., (2008). . Brain and Language. 104 (3), 262-269
Kotz, SA. and Paulmann, S., (2007). . Brain Research. 1151 (1), 107-118
Paulmann, S., Elston-G眉ttler, KE., Gunter, TC. and Kotz, SA., (2006). . NeuroReport. 17 (7), 727-731
Elston-G眉ttler, KE., Paulmann, S. and Kotz, SA., (2005). . Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. 17 (10), 1593-1610
Paulmann, S., Pell, MD. and Kotz, SA., (2005). Emotional prosody recognition in BG-patients: Disgust recognition revisited. Brain and Language. 95 (1), 143-144
Book chapters (6)
Paulmann, S., (2023). Neurophysiological Underpinnings of Prosody. In: Neuromethods. Springer US. 669- 685. 9781071632628
Paulmann, S., Ghareeb-Ali, Z. and Felser, C., (2015). . In: Bilingual Figurative Language Processing. Editors: Heredia, RR. and Cie艣licka, AB., . Cambridge University Press. 245- 267. 9781107609501
Paulmann, S., (2015). . In: Neurobiology of Language. Editors: Hickok, G. and Small, SL., . Elsevier (Academic Press). 1109- 1120. 9780124077942
Paulmann, S., Ghareeb-Ali, Z. and Felser, C., (2015). . In: Bilingual Figurative Language Processing. Editors: Heredia, RR. and Cie艣licka, AB., . Cambridge University Press. 9781107609501
Kotz, SA., Hasting, AS. and Paulmann, S., (2013). . In: Evolution of emotional communication: from sounds in non-human mammals to speech and music in man. Editors: Altenm眉ller, E., Schmidt, S. and Zimmermann, E., . Oxford University Press. 229- 240. 0199583560. 9780199583560
Kotz, SA., Meyer, M. and Paulmann, S., (2006). . In: Understanding Emotions. Editors: Anders, S., Ende, G., Junghofer, M., Kissler, J. and Wildgruber, D., . Elsevier. 285- 294. 978-0-444-52182-8
Conferences (8)
Paulmann, S., Vrijders, B., Weinstein, N. and Vansteenkiste, M., (2018). How parents motivate their children through prosody
Brognaux, S. and Drugman, T., (2014). Phonetic variations : Impact of the communicative situation
Pell, MD., Robin, J. and Paulmann, S., (2012). How quickly do listeners recognize emotional prosody in their native versus a foreign language?
Paulmann, S., Schmidt, P., Pell, M. and Kotz, SA., (2008). Rapid processing of emotional and voice information as evidenced by ERPs
Paulmann, S. and Kotz, SA., (2006). Temporal interaction of emotional prosody and emotional semantics: Evidence from ERPs
Kotz, SA., Paulmann, S. and Raettig, T., (2006). EfMRI evidence for implicit emotional prosodic processing
Paulmann, S. and Kotz, SA., (2005). When emotional prosody and semantics interact in time: ERP evidence
Kotz, SA., Paulmann, S. and Raettig, T., (2005). Varying task demands during the perception of emotional content: EFMRI evidence
Thesis dissertation (1)
Paulmann, S., (2006).
Grants and funding
2025
Improving Training of Educators - Impact Leave
糖心Vlog (QR Impact Fund)
The Role of Voice in 1:1 Coaching Conversations
糖心Vlog (QR Impact Fund)
Vocal Profile Feedback
糖心Vlog (QR Impact Fund)
2024
Ed-Heads Motivational Assessment and Messaging
Ed-Heads Ltd
Ed-Heads Motivational Assessment and Messaging - Phase 2
Ed-Heads Ltd
2023
Semantic brain to computer communication
Leverhulme Trust
The concept of marvellous voices in marketing campaigns
Speed Communications Agency Limited
Personal Relative Deprivation and Health and Wellbeing: A Multi-Method Approach
Leverhulme Trust
The impact of teachers锟� voices on pupils锟� wellbeing
糖心Vlog (QR Impact Fund)
2020
Educational effects of teacher锟絪 voice training
糖心Vlog (ESRC IAA)
2013
Motivational prosody: A new approach to understanding motivational communications
Leverhulme Trust
2010
Exploring Implicit Emotional Prosody Perception
The British Academy
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