Biography
I obtained a first class honours degree in Psychology at the 91¸£ÀûÍø in 2000. The following year I completed a Postgraduate Diploma in research methods before embarking upon PhD research. My doctoral research was funded by the E.S.R.C and focused on the Central and Peripheral Physiology of Attention and Cognitive Demand, where multiple physiological responses were examined within the context of varying cognitive demand. Since completing my PhD I have received grants from the E.S.R.C. and UK / US governments to work with Aldert Vrij’s research team.
Research interests
My current research focuses on the behavioural and physiological effects of cognitive load during deception. This research is very relevant for detecting how people engaged in ‘high stake’ deception respond verbally, non-verbally and physiologically. My work involves cooperation with national and international governments and police. I am a member of the European consortium of Psychological Research on Deception Detection (). The consortium utilises cutting edge research from laboratories across Europe to optimise the detection of deception in serious crime.
Research outputs
2025
Burkhardt, J., Vrij, A., Leal, S., Deeb, H., Vernham, Z.
1 Jan 2025, In: Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition. 14, 1, p. 74–84
Research output: Article
Vrij, A., Leal, S., Deeb, H., Fisher, R. P.
1 Jan 2025, In: The European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context. 17, 1, p. 25-37
Research output: Article
2024
Leal, S., Vrij, A., Deeb, H., Fisher, R. P.
2 Dec 2024, In: Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition
Research output: Article
Deeb, H., Vrij, A., Palena, N., Hypšová, P., Dib, G., Leal, S., Mann, S.
21 Oct 2024, In: Applied Psycholinguistics. 45, 5, p. 934-962, 29p.
Research output: Article
Deeb, H., Vrij, A., Burkhardt, J., Leal, S., Mann, S.
19 Sep 2024, In: Behavioral Sciences. 14, 9, 15p., 839
Research output: Article
Leal, S., Vrij, A., Ashkenazi, T., Vernham, Z., Fisher, R., Palena, N.
1 Sep 2024, In: Acta Psychologica. 249, 20p., 104440
Research output: Article
Mann, S., Vrij, A., Deeb, H., Leal, S.
1 Sep 2024, In: Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. 31, 5, p. 909-931
Research output: Article
Leal, S., Vrij, A., Deeb, H., Fisher, R. P.
1 Aug 2024, In: Applied Cognitive Psychology. 38, 4, 12p., e4232
Research output: Article
Ashkenazi, T., Goldzweig, G., Vrij, A., Leal, S.
7 Jun 2024, In: Frontiers in Psychology . 15, 9p., 1399985
Research output: Article
Deeb, H., Leal, S., Vrij, A., Mann, S., Dabrowna, O.
1 Mar 2024, In: Journal of Nonverbal Behavior. 48
Research output: Article