My research uses computational cognitive models to understand human cognition. I focus on quantitative approaches including cognitive process modelling, joint modelling, and advanced Bayesian data-analytic methods. I have extensive expertise in R for experiment programming, modelling, and statistical analysis. My work has been published in high-impact journals across cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology, quantitative methods, and applied (Human Factors) psychology.
Research fellow, Human Factors & Applied Cognition Lab
Research fellow, Cognitive Psychology Laboratory, School of Psychological Sciences
Research fellow, Integrative Model-based Cognitive
Neuroscience Research Unit
Guest lecturer, Introduction to Neuroscientific Methods
and Anatomy
Research fellow, Human Factors & Applied Cognition Lab
Research fellow, Integrative Model-based Cognitive
Neuroscience Research Unit
Guest lecturer, Quantitative Methods
Coordinating tutor / Tutor, multiple courses including:
University of Western Australia Human Factors Lab (2017) Developed on-screen geometry and simulation software for air-traffic control studies.
University of Western Australia CARE-LAB (2015) Participant recruitment, data collection, eye-tracking operations.
Monash University Accident Research Centre (2013 – 2015) Data management, psychophysiological piloting, statistical analysis, device installation.
Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Applied Cognition Lab, Aerospace Division (2013 – 2014) Participant recruitment and data analysis.
University of Western Australia (2015 – 2018)
PhD in Computational Cognitive Modelling, School of Psychological
Science
Major sequence in Applied Mathematics
University of Melbourne (2014)
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology
Monash University (2010 – 2013)
Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science
Boag, R. J., Strickland, L., Heathcote, A., Neal, A., Palada, H., & Loft, S. (2023). Evidence accumulation modelling in the wild: Understanding safety-critical decisions. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 27(2), 175–188.
Boag, R. J., Innes, R. J., Stevenson, N., Bahg, G., Busemeyer, J. R., Cox, G. E., … Forstmann, B. U. (2025). An expert guide to planning experimental tasks for evidence-accumulation modeling. Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science, 8(2).
Boag, R. J., Strickland, L., Heathcote, A., & Loft, S. (2025). The dynamics of stability and flexibility: How attentional and cognitive control support multitasking under time pressure. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
Strickland, L., Heathcote, A., Bowden, V. K., Boag, R. J., Wilson, M. D., Khan, S., & Loft, S. (2021). Inhibitory cognitive control allows automated advice to improve accuracy while minimizing misuse. Psychological Science, 32(11), 1768–1781.
Trutti, A. C., Verschooren, S., Forstmann, B. U., & Boag, R. J. (2021). Understanding subprocesses of working memory through model-based cognitive neuroscience. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 38, 57–65.
Miletić, S., Boag, R. J., Trutti, A. C., Stevenson, N., Forstmann, B. U., & Heathcote, A. (2021). A new model of decision processing in instrumental learning tasks. eLife, 10, e63055.
Miletić, S., Boag, R. J., & Forstmann, B. U. (2020). Mutual benefits: Combining reinforcement learning with sequential sampling models. Neuropsychologia, 136, 107261.
Boag, R. J., Strickland, L., Heathcote, A., Neal, A., & Loft, S. (2019). Cognitive control and capacity for prospective memory in complex environments. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 148(12), 2181.
Sewell, D. K., Jach, H. K., Boag, R. J., & Van Heer, C. A. (2019). Combining error-driven associative learning models with evidence-accumulation decision models. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 26(3), 868–893.
Boag, R. J., Strickland, L., Loft, S., & Heathcote, A. (2019). Strategic attention and decision control support prospective memory in dual-task environments. Cognition, 191, 103974.
Boag, R. J., Yanguez, M., Weigard, A., Seitz, A., Jaeggi, S. M., & Heathcote, A. (2026). A diffusion-decision account of how n-back training changes cognition. Australasian Mathematical Psychology Conference, Singapore.
Boag, R. J., Gheza, D., Kool, W., Braver, T., Heathcote, A., Forstmann, B., & Hawkins, G. (2025). Converging evidence for mind wandering from EEG, behavior, and self-report. Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting, Denver.
Yanguez, M., Boag, R. J., Weigard, A., Seitz, A., Jaeggi, S. M., & Heathcote, A. (2025). A diffusion-decision model to capture individual differences in mechanisms of n-back training. Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting.
Boag, R. J., Strickland, L., Heathcote, A., & Loft, S. (2025). Automation use and capacity competition in multitasking. Society for Mathematical Psychology, Columbus, Ohio.
Strickland, L., Heathcote, A., Boag, R. J., Stevenson, N., & Loft, S. (2025). An adaptive evidence accumulation model of conflict detection decisions. Society for Mathematical Psychology Annual Meeting, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Boag, R. J., Strickland, L., Heathcote, A., & Loft, S. (2025). Stability and flexibility in the red zone. Australasian Mathematical Psychology Conference, Coogee Beach, Australia.
Heathcote, A., Yanguez, M., Weigard, A., & Boag, R. J. (2025). A model of the go/no-go n-back task. Australasian Mathematical Psychology Conference, Coogee Beach, Australia.
Strickland, L., Heathcote, A., Boag, R. J., Stevenson, N., & Loft, S. (2025). An adaptive evidence-accumulation model of conflict detection decisions. Australasian Mathematical Psychology Conference, Coogee Beach, Australia.
Boag, R. J., Strickland, L., & Loft, S. (2023). Automation, attention, and cognitive control in multitasking. Australasian Mathematical Psychology Conference, Melbourne, Australia.
Boag, R. J., Strickland, L., Heathcote, A., Neal, A., Palada, H., & Loft, S. (2023). The application of evidence accumulation modelling to understand how humans adapt to task demands in the modern workplace. Australasian Mathematical Psychology Conference, Melbourne, Australia.
Strickland, L., Boag, R. J., Heathcote, A., Bowden, V., Farrell, S., Wilson, M., Hutchinson, J., & Loft, S. (2023). Understanding how humans adapt to the reliability of automated advice using cognitive models of learning and decision making. Australasian Mathematical Psychology Conference, Melbourne, Australia.
Strickland, L., Bowden, V., Boag, R. J., Heathcote, A., & Loft, S. (2020). Modelling how humans use decision aids in simulated air traffic control. Australasian Mathematical Psychology Conference, Sydney, Australia.
Boag, R. J., & Miletic, S. (2019). Accumulate-to-threshold models of decision making for human and animal research. Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Boag, R. J., Miletic, S., Mathiopoulou, V., & Forstmann, B. U. (2019). Speed and accuracy in learning: A combined Q-learning diffusion decision model analysis. Conference on Cognitive Computational Neuroscience, Berlin, Germany.
Boag, R. J., Strickland, L., Heathcote, A., & Loft, S. (2018). Modelling cognitive control mechanisms in simulated air traffic control. Australasian Mathematical Psychology Conference, Perth, Australia.
Boag, R. J., Strickland, L., Heathcote, A., & Loft, S. (2018). Modelling prospective memory and decision making in simulated air traffic control. 5th International Conference on Prospective Memory, Melbourne, Australia.
Boag, R. J., Strickland, L., Neal, A., Heathcote, A., & Loft, S. (2017). Adaptive decision making in simulated air traffic control. Australasian Mathematical Psychology Conference, Brisbane, Australia.
Vuckovic, A., Boag, R. J., & Martin, R. (2014). Using cognitive models in applied settings: A sequential sampling model of the unmanned aerial vehicle operator. Australasian Mathematical Psychology Conference, Canberra, Australia.
Boag, R. J., Miletić, S., Trutti, A. C., & Forstmann, B. U. (2024). Toward a model-based cognitive neuroscience of working memory subprocesses. In An Introduction to Model-Based Cognitive Neuroscience (pp. 265–302). Springer.
Strickland, L. & Boag, R. J. (2022). Tradeoffs in uncertain decision making. In The Oxford Handbook of Uncertainty Management in Work Organizations. Oxford University Press.
Boag, R. J. (2019). A computational theory of cognitive control and attentional capacity in complex multiple-task environments. University of Western Australia.
Commendation for Teaching Excellence (2018),
University of Western Australia
APS Prize in Psychology (2014), Australian
Psychological Society
Model-based Cognitive Neuroscience Summer School
(2024), €4000
University of Amsterdam
Prof. Shayne Loft
School of Psychological Sciences, University of Western Australia
Email: shayne.loft@uwa.edu.au
Prof. Birte Forstmann
Integrative Model-based Cognitive Neuroscience Research Unit, University
of Amsterdam
Email: buforstmann@gmail.com
Prof. Andrew Heathcote
Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam / University of
Newcastle
Email: ajheathcote@gmail.com
Dr. Guy Hawkins
School of Psychological Sciences, University of Newcastle
Email: guy.hawkins@newcastle.edu.au