Part of Jagiellonian University in Kraków
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Part of Jagiellonian University in Kraków
Ph.D., Assistant Lecturer

Piotr Szymanek

Contact
piotr.szymanek@uj.edu.pl

Piotr holds a Ph.D. in psychology (2025) and master’s degrees in religious studies (2021) and cognitive science (2020) — all from Jagiellonian University. He is the author of papers published in Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, Consciousness and Cognition, Religion, Brain & Behavior, Journal for the Cognitive Science of Religion, Method & Theory in the Study of Religion, Psychology of Religion & Spirituality, and Scientific Reports. He received the Perzanowski Prize for the best master’s dissertation (2021) and the JU Rector’s Award for outstanding scientific achievements in 2024. Piotr’s doctoral thesis (supervisors: Mateusz Hohol & Michiel van Elk) focused on a predictive processing model of agency detection as a cognitive basis for supernatural encounters. He is now an assistant lecturer in the Institute of Religious Studies at JU and remains a member of MCLL.

Co-investigator in Projects:

Selected publications:

I see moving people: Expectations drive detection of biological motion in noisy point-light displays
Szymanek, P., Senderecka, M., & Hohol, M. (2026). I see moving people: Expectations drive detection of biological motion in noisy point-light displays. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 33(1), 51. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-025-02839-7
Cognitive artifacts in the evolution of cultural systems of beliefs and practices
Szymanek, P., Grodniewicz, J. P., Hohol, M. (2025). Cognitive artifacts in the evolution of cultural systems of beliefs and practices. Method and Theory in the Study of Religion, 1–32. https://doi.org/10.1163/15700682-bja10145
Analogue magnitude representation of angles and its relation to geometric expertise
Hohol, M., Szymanek, P., Cipora, K. (2024). Analogue magnitude representation of angles and its relation to geometric expertise. Scientific Reports, 14(8997). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-59521-6
Effects of expectations and sensory unreliability on voice detection – A preregistered study
Szymanek, P., Homan, M., van Elk, M., & Hohol, M. (2024). Effects of expectations and sensory unreliability on voice detection – A preregistered study. Consciousness and Cognition, 123, 103718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2024.103718
Testing the enactive model of agency detection—a commentary on Teehan
Szymanek, P., & van Elk, M. (2024). Testing the enactive model of agency detection—A commentary on Teehan. Religion, Brain & Behavior, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1080/2153599X.2024.2378151
Revisiting Feeling of Threat and Agency Detection: A Preregistered Virtual Reality Study
Szymanek, P., Nenadalová, J., & Van Leeuwen, N. (2024). Revisiting feeling of threat and agency detection: A preregistered virtual reality study.Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000538
I did not expect to be dreaming: Explaining realization in lucid dreams with a Bayesian framework
Szymanek, P. (2021). I did not expect to be dreaming: Explaining realization in lucid dreams with a Bayesian framework. Consciousness and Cognition, 93(103163). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2021.103163
MCLL is funded by the Excellence Initiative – Jagiellonian University within the Priority Research Area Society of the Future
Funders
Contact
Main Market Square 34,
31-010 Krakow, Poland
mcll@uj.edu.pl
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