Dr Hiran Shanake Perera Weerasinghe Arachchige

Dr Hiran Shanake Perera Weerasinghe Arachchige

  • Senior Lecturer
  • School of Psychology
Faculty of Medical and Life Sciences
SDGs Focus

Biography

Dr Hiran Shanake Perera is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher in Psychology with expertise in cognitive neuroscience. His work centers on understanding the neural correlates of psychological disorders and human behaviours. He examines how brain structures and neural pathways contribute to emotion processing, attentional processes, and behavioural responses. His methodological expertise includes electroencephalography (EEG), event-related potentials (ERP), MATLAB analysis, and Psychopy-based experimental design. Dr. Perera currently accepts post-graduate research students who has similar research interests.

Beyond research, Dr Perera is actively involved in public science communication. He frequently contributes to media interviews, articles, and public discussions to address misconceptions, reduce stigma, and promote understanding of brain health and psychological well-being.

Academic & Professional Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in Psychology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, (UKM), Malaysia (2023)
  • M.Sc. in Cognitive Neuroscience, Durham University, UK (2017)
  • B.Sc. in Psychology (Magna Cum Laude), Upper Iowa University, USA (2015)

Research Interests

  • Electroencephalography
  • Event-related potentials
  • Psychological Disorders
  • Emotional Dynamics
  • Attention
  • Functional Assymmetry

Teaching Areas

  • Data Analysis in Psychology
  • Research Methods in Psychology
  • Cognition

Courses Taught

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Introduction to Data Analytics
  • Research Methods

Notable Publications

  1. Perera-W.A. H, Salehuddin K, Khairudin R and Schaefer A (2021) The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status and Scalp Event-Related Potentials: A Systematic Review. Front. Hum. Neurosci. 15:601489. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.601489

  2. Perera, H.S. (2025). Questioning The Predator of The Predatory Journals: How Fair Are Global Publishing Standards? Learned Publishing. 10.1002/leap.1662

  3. Perera-W.A., H., Salehuddin, K., Schaefer, A., & Khairudin, R. (2021). EEG sebagai Kaedah Berkesan untuk Memahami Aktiviti Neural Berkaitan Keupayan Golongan Miskin Membuat Keputusan. Akademika, 91(1), 165-179.

  4. Perera-W.A., H. (2022, February 15). A Brief Guide for Using Cognionics HD-72 Wireless EEG System: Noninvasive Method of Measuring the Brain’s Electric Fields in Psychophysiological Research. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/vcyfb

  5. Perera, H. S. (September, 2025). Chapter 2 - The Unseen Society and Mental Health: A Case Report from the Orang Asli Community Project on the Value of Purposeful Learning. In Purpose-led Education. Taylor’s University Press

  6. Hiran Shanake Perera (June, 2025) Money dysmorphia: Thin dough, thick slices? The Star. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com.my/news/focus/2025/06/08/money-dysmorphia--thin-dough-thick-slices

  7. Hiran Shanake Perera. (April, 2025) Are Movies Getting Mental Health Right. The Iskandarian. Retrieved from https://theiskandarian.com/are-movies-getting-mental-health-right/

  8. Perera, H. (2024). The Brain in Depression, BFM: The Business Station, Health & Living. https://www.bfm.my/content/podcast/the-brain-in-depression