Our research focuses on visual perception and its computational modeling, investigating the fundamental mechanisms of human visual information processing, attention, and perceptual organization. To capture these complex processes efficiently, I specialize in developing advanced Bayesian adaptive procedures — such as the quick contrast sensitivity function and partial-report methods — for psychometric function estimation. Furthermore, my recent work extends to exploring the interplay between visual attention, ensemble perception, and cognitive-emotional processing, including memory trade-offs for emotional faces and statistical representations of emotion in social anxiety.

Publications

  • Baek, J., Son, H., Shin, D., & Yang, J.-W. (2026). A compensatory relationship between working and long-term memory for emotional faces. Frontiers in Psychology, 16 (January), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1716951
  • Baek, J., & Park, H.-J. (2024). Bayesian adaptive method for estimating speed–accuracy tradeoff functions of multiple task conditions. Behavior Research Methods. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-023-02192-4
  • Yang, J., & Baek, J.* (2022). Bias and sensitivity in numerosity perception of negative emotions among individuals with high social anxiety. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 11261. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-15601-z
  • Baek, J., & Park, H.-J. (2021). Bayesian adaptive model estimation to solve the speed accuracy tradeoff problem in psychophysical experiments. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 18264. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-97772-9
  • Baek, J., Dosher, B. A., & Lu, Z.-L. (2021). Visual attention in spatial cueing and visual search. Journal of Vision, 21(3), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1167/jov.21.3.1
  • Baek, J., & Chong, S. C. (2020). Ensemble perception and focused attention: Two different modes of visual processing to cope with limited capacity. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 27(4), 602–606. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-020-01718-7
  • Lee, G., Baek, J., & Yang, J. (2020). Statistical Representation of Facial Emotion in Social Anxiety. Cognitive Behavior Therapy in Korea, 20(1), 71-90.
  • Baek, J., & Chong, S. C. (2020). Distributed attention model of perceptual averaging. Attention, Perception & Psychophysics, 82(1), 63–79. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13414-019-01827-z
  • Baek, J., & Kwon, M.-K. (2019). Developmental Changes of Top-down Attentional Modulation in Saliency Model. The Korean Journal of Cognitive and Biological Psychology, 31(4), 265-273.
  • Lee, T., Moon, S., Baek, J., Lee, J., & Kim, S. (2019). Music for Sleep and Wake-Up: An Empirical Study. IEEE Access, 7, 145816–145828. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2945404
  • Lee, J. M., Baek, J., & Ju, D. Y. (2018). Anthropomorphic Design: Emotional Perception for Deformable Object. *Frontiers in Psychology, 9 (October), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01829
  • Baek, J., & Chong, S. C. (2018). A computational model of mean size perception. The Korean Journal of Cognitive and Biological Psychology, 30(2), 97-112.
  • Lee, S., Baek, J., & Han, G. (2018). Effects of using a second-screen application on attention, learning, and user experience in an educational content. Interactive Learning Environments, 26(3), 289–307. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2017.1324494
  • Yang, J., & Baek, J. (2017). Perceptual Sensitivity and Response Bias of Face Detection in Social Anxiety. Cognitive Behavior Therapy in Korea, 17(2), 251-266.
  • Baek, J., Lesmes, L. A., & Lu, Z-L. (2016). qPR: An adaptive partial-report procedure based on Bayesian inference. Journal of Vision, 16(10), 25. http://doi.org/10.1167/16.10.25
  • Moon, H., Baek, J., & Seo, J. (2016). Effect of Redundant Haptic Information on Task Performance During Visuo-Tactile Task Interruption and Recovery. Frontiers in Psychology, 7(1924). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01924
  • Lee, H., Baek, J., & Chong, S. C. (2016). Perceived magnitude of visual displays: Area, numerosity, and mean size. Journal of Vision, 16(3), 12. http://doi.org/10.1167/16.3.12
  • Kwon, M.-K., Setoodehnia, M., Baek, J., Luck, S. J., & Oakes, L. M. (2016). The Development of Visual Search in Infancy: Attention to Faces Versus Salience. Developmental Psychology. http://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000080
  • Park, J., Kim, H., Baek, J., and Yi, D. (2015). Action capability enhances visual sensitivity in the extrapersonal space. The Korean Journal of Cognitive and Biological Psychology, 27(3), 543-560.
  • Lesmes, L. A., Lu, Z.-L., Baek, J., Tran, N., Dosher, B. A., & Albright, T. D. (2015). Developing Bayesian adaptive methods for estimating sensitivity thresholds (d’) in Yes-No and Forced-Choice tasks. Frontiers in Psychology, 6(1070). doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01070
  • Lee, T., Baek, J., Lu, Z., & Mather, M. (2014). How arousal modulates the visual contrast sensitivity function. Emotion, 14(5), 1–18. doi:10.1037/a0037047
  • Lesmes, L. A., Lu, Z.-L., Baek, J., & Albright, T. D. (2010). Bayesian adaptive estimation of the contrast sensitivity function: the quick CSF method. Journal of Vision, 10(3), 17.1–21. doi:10.1167/10.3.17
  • Baek, J., Kham, K., Kim, M.-S. (2007). Spatial attention can enhance or impair visual temporal resolution. Korean Journal of Cognitive Science, 18(3), 285-303.
  • Baek, J., & Kim, M.-S. (2005). Memory in Visual Search: Evidence from search efficiency. Korean Journal of Cognitive Science, 16(1), 1-15.

Conference Presentations

  • Chong, S. C., & Baek, J. (May, 2018). A distributed attention model of mean size computation. Vision Sciences Society (VSS) Annual Meeting, St. Pete Beach, FL.
  • Baek, J., & Yi, D. (November, 2016). Contrast Sensitivity Function near Hands. Annual meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Boston, MA.
  • Ju, D-Y, Baek, J., Yoo, H., & Hwang, H. (January, 2016). Emotional UX/UI based on Z-force Touch Interaction. HCI Korea 2016, Kangwon, Korea.
  • Baek, J. (January, 2015). A computational model of visual search. Korean Society for Cognitive and Biological Psychology Annual Meeting, Jeju, Korea.
  • Baek, J., Lesmes, L. A., & Lu, Z. L. (May, 2014). Bayesian adaptive estimation of the sensory memory decay function: the quick Partial Report method. Vision Sciences Society (VSS) Annual Meeting, St. Pete Beach, FL.
  • Baek, J., Lesmes, L. A., & Lu, Z. L. (November, 2013). qPR: an adaptive partial report procedure based on Bayesian Inference. Society for Neuroscience (SfN) Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.
  • Baek, J., Zhao, Y., Lu, Z.-L., & Dosher, B. (May, 2011). Visual attention in spatial cuing and visual search. Vision Sciences Society (VSS) Annual Meeting, Sarasota, FL.
  • Lesmes, L. A., Lu, Z. L., Baek, J., & Albright, T. D. (May, 2008). Efficient Adaptive Measurement and Classification of Contrast Sensitivity Functions. Vision Sciences Society (VSS) Annual Meeting, Sarasota, FL.
  • Baek, J., Yi, D.-J., & Kim, M.-S. (May, 2006). Increasing perceptual difficulty reveals implicit spatial memory. Vision Sciences Society (VSS) Annual Meeting, Sarasota, FL.
  • Baek, J., Kham, K.–T., & Kim, M.-S. (November, 2005). Spatial attention can enhance or impair visual temporal resolution. Annual meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Toronto, Canada.

Invited Talks and Seminar

  • Baek, J. (October, 2024). Visual Attention in Human Information Processing: Roles and Mechanisms. 2024 Academic Seminar of the Korean Society for Phenomenology, Seoul.
  • Baek, J. (August, 2023). Programming Online Experiments for Psychological Studies. 2023 Annual Conference of the Korean Psychological Association, Suwon.
  • Baek, J. (October, 2021). PsychoPy: Advanced Course. Korean Society for Clinical Psychology Annual Meeting, Online.
  • Baek, J. (October, 2020). Programming Psychological Experiments with PsychoPy. Korean Society for Clinical Psychology Annual Meeting, Online.
  • Baek, J. (August, 2020). Programming Online-Experiments with PsychoPy. Korean Society for Cognitive and Biological Psychology Annual Meeting, Online.
  • Baek, J. (July, 2019). Distributed attention model of perceptual averaging. 2019 Cognitive Neuroscience Symposium, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea.
  • Baek, J. (February, 2019). Bayesian parameter estimation: Adaptive procedures for psychophysics. Korean Society for Cognitive and Biological Psychology Annual Meeting, Pyeongchang, Korea.
  • Baek, J. (May, 2017). Programing Psychological Experiments using PsychoPy. Korean Society for Clinical Psychology Annual Meeting, Changwon, Korea.
  • Baek, J. (January, 2016). Contrast Sensitivity Function. Korean Society for Cognitive and Biological Psychology Annual Meeting, Jeju, Korea.

Patents

  • SAT model estimation method and apparatus.
    Park, H.-J. & Baek, J. Korea Patent 10-2276884 (2021)
  • Method of generating an adaptive partial report and apparatus for implementing the same.
    Lu, Z. L., Baek, J., & Lesmes, L. A. US Patent 10,646,155 (2020)

Grants

  • Developing Bayesian adaptive procedure for concurrent estimation of multiple psychometric functions (RS-2025-23523378)
    • Funding Agency: Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT)
    • Period: September, 2025 – August, 2026
    • Role: Principal Investigator
    • Amount: 93,079,000 KRW
  • Developing adaptive procedure set for quick diagnosis of cognitive impairment in elder people (2021R1I1A1A0106009211)
    • Funding Agency: Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education
    • Period: June, 2021 – May, 2024
    • Role: Principal Investigator
    • Amount: 210,000,000 KRW
  • Development of a quick procedure and application estimating working memory capacity for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease (2017R1D1A1B03036082)
    • Funding Agency: Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education
    • Period: June, 2017 – May, 2020
    • Role: Principal Investigator
    • Amount: 150,000,000 KRW