Dr. Anne Voormann

I’m interested in human cognition. More specifically, I do research on recognition memory (errors), attention, I compare sequential effects that arise during task performance across paradigms, as well as the applied field of cognition in human-machine interaction. For my research I use various experimental methods and where appropriate I consider statistical and cognitive models to get a deeper insight into the processes behind human cognition.

Recognition memory

Within memory, I’m doing research on the processes involved in recognition memory. More specifically, I examine the processes differing between multiple recognition decisions and simple recognition decisions, via cognitive modelling. Additionally, I investigate the role of guessing during recognition decisions and the importance of mis-detection as a necessary process within recognition decisions.

Sequential effects in cognitive psychology

In another  line of research I focus on sequential effects occurring in different areas of cognitive psychology (e.g., visual attention, interference tasks, task-switching). My aim is to find common aspects of those phenomenon and ideally a common way to model these effects.

Human-machine interaction

Furthermore, to apply the knowledge about fundamental human cognition gained from the previous two projects, I’m also interested in human-machine interaction. More specifically, we aim to investigate the impact of vibration on cognitive performance.

2025

• Sperl, M. F. J., Attig, C., Baumgaertner, L., Behlau, C., Bergmann, B., Bienefeld, M., Biller, A. M., Brandt, N. D., Buehler, J. L., Frauhammer, L. T., …, Voormann, A., … Wendt, A. N. (2025). Good supervision, fair assessments, and appropriate working conditions enable excellent doctoral studies in psychology Comment on the position paper by the Young Members’ Representatives of the German Psychological Society (DGPs). Psychologische Rundschau, 76(3), 196–199. https://doi.org/10.1026/0033-3042/a000729
• Voormann, A., Lindenmann, A., Robens, J. H., Matthiesen, S., & Kiesel, A. (2025). Continuous hand-arm vibrations do not interfere with cognitive processing. PsychArchives. https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.17369
• Voormann, A., Doellken, M., Lindenmann, A., Matthiesen, S., & Kiesel, A. (2025). Vibration und Handlungskontrolle: Erleben und Kognition unter Vibration. In Humanschwingungen 2025, VDI Wissensforum GmbH, Hrsg., VDI Verlag 2025, S. 47-56. https://doi.org/10.51202/9783181024508-47
• Robens, J. H., Saurbier, S., Voormann, A., Döllken, M., Kiesel, A., & Matthiesen, S. (2025). JEMSyS: Jerk Experience Model for Human-Machine Symbiosis – Exploring the Influence of Translational Jerks on Sense of Agency and Embodiment. Preprint at Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). https://doi.org/10.5445/IR/1000178341
• Voormann, A., Spektor, M. S., & Klauer, K. C. (2025). Do models for paired-word recognition capture manipulations in the way they are meant to do? A model validation study. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition. https://doi.org/10.1037/xlm0001463
• Voormann, A., Rothe-Wulf, A., Meyer-Grant, C. G., & Klauer, K. C. (2025). Sometimes memory misleads: Variants of the error-speed effect strengthen the evidence for systematically misleading memory signals in recognition memory. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 32, 294-305. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-024-02534-z

2024

• Voormann, A., & Miller, J. (2024). Sequential Effects on Reaction Time Distributions: Commonalities and Differences Across Paradigms. Journal of Cognition, 7(1): 68, 1–34. https://doi.org/10.5334/joc.395
• Voormann, A., Meyer-Grant, C. G., Rothe-Wulf, A., & Klauer, K. C. (2024). Do moments of inattention during study cause the error-speed effect for targets in recognition-memory tasks? Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 31, 2180-2188. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-024-02475-7

2021

• Voormann, A., Spektor, M. S., & Klauer, K. C. (2021). The simultaneous recognition of multiple words: A process analysis. Memory and Cognition, 49, 787-802. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-020-01082-w
• Voormann, A., Rothe-Wulf, A., Starns, J. J., & Klauer, K. C. (2021). Does speed of recognition predict two-alternative forced-choice performance? Replicating and extending Starns, Dubé, and Frelinger (2018). Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 74(1), 122-134. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747021820963033

• Voormann, A., & Miller, J. (2024). All the same? Comparing response time distributions of sequential effects of the visual search, two-choice RT, interference, and task-switching paradigm. Colloquium of the chair Human Factors (Martin Baumann). Ulm, Germany.
• Voormann, A., & Miller, J. (2024). All the same? Comparing response time distributions of sequential effects of the visual search, two-choice RT, interference, and task-switching paradigm. Colloquium of the chair Research Methods and Cognitive Psychology (Markus Janczyk). Bremen, Germany.
• Voormann, A. , Spektor, M. S., & Klauer, K. C. (2020). Investigating paired-word recognition: Memory mechanisms and model validation. Colloquium of the chair Experimental Psychology (Arndt Bröder). Mannheim, Germany.  

• Voormann, A., Kiesel, A. & Miller, J. (2025). All the same? Comparing sequential effects on response time distributions across paradigms using a within-subject design. 24th Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology. Sheffield, UK.  (Talk)
• Voormann, A., Doellken, M., Lindenmann, A., Matthiesen, S., & Kiesel, A., (2025). Vibration und Handlungskontrolle: Erleben und Kognition unter Vibration. 10. VDI-Fachtagung Humanschwingungen 2025: Vibrations- und Schwingungseinwirkungen auf den Menschen. Würzburg, Germany. (Talk)
• Voormann, A., Kiesel, A. & Miller, J. (2025). Comparing sequential effects in interference tasks to sequential effects in other domains using cognitive modelling. 67. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen. Frankfurt, Germany.  (Talk)
• Voormann, A., & Miller, J. (2024). Impacts of sequential effects on reaction time distributions in a variety of paradigms: Commonalities and differences. 53rd congress of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie (DGPs). Vienna, Austria. (Talk)
• Voormann, A., & Giesen, C.G. (2024). A cross-paradigm perspective on action control: Insights from the binding and retrieval in action control (BRAC) framework and merits for (cognitive) psychology. 53rd congress of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie (DGPs).  Vienna, Austria. (Symposium)
• Voormann, A., Lindenmann, A., Fotler, D., Rodríguez, A., Matthiesen, S., & Kiesel, A. (2024). Does the perception of hand-arm vibration interfere with cognitive control?. 66. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen. Regensburg, Germany.  (Talk)
• Voormann, A., Rodríguez, A., Lindenmann, A., Fotler, D., Matthiesen, S., & Kiesel, A. (2023). Influences of hand-arm vibration on human cognition. Summer school for human factors. Chemnitz, Germany. (Poster)
• Voormann, A., & Miller, J. (2023). Comparing sequential effects across paradigms using a modelling approach. 23rd conference of the european society of conitive psycholoy. Porto, Portugal. (Poster)
• Voormann, A., & Dignath, D. (2022). Domain-general as well as task-specific influences of cognitive control: A reanalysis using the diffusion model for conflict tasks. 22nd conference of the european society of conitive psycholoy. Lille, France. (Talk)
• Voormann, A., Spektor, M. S., & Klauer, K. C. (2022). Validating models for paired word recognition using selective influence studies. 64. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen. Köln, Germany.  (Talk)
• Voormann, A. & Meyer-Grant, C.(2022).Modelling Cognition (1): Model Development, Comparison, Validation and Application and Modelling Cognition (2): Understanding Memory via Modelling. 64. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen. Köln, Germany.  (Symposia)
• Voormann, A., Spektor, M. S., & Klauer, K. C. (2021). Evaluating an MPT model for paired-word recognition. 15th Conference of the Section Methods and Evaluation. Mannheim, Germany.  (Talk)
• Voormann, A., Rothe-Wulf, A., Starns, J.J., & Klauer, K. C. (2021). Is misremembering crucial for recognition memory? An investigation of the error speed effect. 63. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen. Ulm, Germany.  (Talk)
• Voormann, A. (2020).Statistical Models in Psychology (1): Development and Validation and Statistical Models in Psychology (2): Application. 62. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen. Jena, Germany.  (Symposia; cancelled due to the pandemia)
• Voormann, A., Spektor, M. S., & Klauer, K. C. (2020). Evaluating memory models for paired-word recognition. 62. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen. Jena, Germany.  (Talk; cancelled due to the pandemia)
• Voormann, A. (2019). Investigating mechanisms underlying paired-word recognition using continuous and discrete-state models. Talk given at the 34th IOPS/SMiP Summer Conference, 13-14 June 2019, Utrecht, Netherlands. (Talk)
• Voormann, A. (2019): Validating discrete and continuous memory models for paired-word recognition: a base-rate manipulation study. 21st Conference of the European Society for Cognitve Psychology, Tenerife, Spain. (Poster)
• Voormann, A., Spektor, M. S., & Klauer, K. C. (2019). Investigating paired word recognition: A comparison of continuous and discrete-state models. In 61. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen. London, UK. (Poster)
• Voormann, A., Dittrich, K., Schimpf, N., & Klauer, K. C. (2018). Examining the mechanisms underlying the item-specific proportion congruent effect using the process dissociation procedure.In 60. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen. Marburg, Germany. (Poster)

• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie (DGPs; German Society for Psychology) 

  Vice speaker of early career reaserchers in the section Allgemeine Psychologie (cognitive psychology)

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• European Society for Cognitive Psychology

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• Journal of Cognition
• Cognitive Psychology
• Memory and Cognition
• Computational Brain & Behavior
• Memory
• Frontiers
• Peer Community in Registered Reports

Teaching assignments at University of Freiburg:

• Social Cognition, B.Sc. (seminar)
• Cognitive Psychology, B.Sc. (lecture, seminar)
• Construction of Tests and Questionnaires, B.Sc. (tutorial)
• Multivariate Statistics, M.Sc. (tutorial)
• Workshop “cognitive modelling”
• Sustainable behaviour, M.Sc. (seminar)

Teaching assignment at Zentrum für Schlüsselqualifikationen (ZfS) Freiburg:

• Data preparation and analysis using SPSS

Workshops:

• Signal detection theory – application and criticism (in graduate school „Statistical Modelling in Psychology“)