Dr. Dragan Rangelov

Email: d.rangelov@uq.edu.au

Current research

I investigate how the brain mechanisms underlying perception and memory are dynamically calibrated in order to meet environmental challenges and yield fast and accurate behaviour. I use a combination of psychophysics and brain imaging (EEG, fMRI), as well as methods of direct intervention on brain processes (TMS) to study cognitive functioning of healthy adult humans. I focus on how the functional connectivity between brain areas dedicated to processing different visual properties such as colour and motion depends on task instructions. My research will help to characterize one of the most fascinating traits of human cognition—its adaptability.

Research interests

• Adaptive behaviour

• Cognitive control

• Neural plasticity

• Psychophysics and neuroimaging

Published papers

Li, X., O’Sullivan, M.J., Mattingley, J.B., Rangelov, D. (2025). Goal-directed modulation of neural activity during working memory maintenance. Cereb Cortex, 35(11). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41189418      

Pearce, D. J., Loughnane, G. M., Chong, T. T. J., Demeyere, N., Mattingley, J. B., Moore, M. J., New, P. W., O’Connell, R. G., O’Neill, M. H., Rangelov, D., Stolwyk, R. J., Webb, S. S., Zhou, S.-H., Brosnan, M. B., & Bellgrove, M. A. (2025). Target selection signals causally influence human perceptual decision making. The Journal of Neuroscience, Article e2048242025. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.2048-24.2025

Stone, C., Mattingley, J. B., & Rangelov, D. (2025). Neural mechanisms of metacognitive improvement under speed pressure. Communications Biology, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07646-3

Stone, C., Mattingley, J. B., Bode, S., & Rangelov, D. (2024). Distinct neural markers of evidence accumulation index metacognitive processing before and after simple visual decisions. Cerebral Cortex, 34(5). https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhae179

Marek, N., Horr, N. K., Rangelov, D., & Pollmann, S. (2024). Prefrontal dimension change-related activation differs for visual search in sparse and dense displays. Neuropsychologia, 109065. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.109065

Rangelov, D., Fellrath, J., & Mattingley, J. B. (2024). Integrated perceptual decisions rely on parallel evidence accumulation. The Journal of Neuroscience, Article e2368232024. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.2368-23.2024

Rideaux, R., Dang, P., Jackel-David, L., Buhmann, Z., Rangelov, D., & Mattingley, J. B. (2025). Violated predictions enhance the representational fidelity of visual features in perception. Journal of Vision, 25(4), 14. https://doi.org/10.1167/jov.25.4.14

Barnes, L., Rangelov, D., Mattingley, J. B., & Woolgar, A. (2023). Fractionating distraction: How past- and future-relevant distractors influence integrated decisions. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 49(5), 737–752. https://doi.org/10.1037/xhp0001081

Rideaux, R., West, R. K., Rangelov, D., & Mattingley, J. B. (2023). Distinct early and late neural mechanisms regulate feature-specific sensory adaptation in the human visual system. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(6). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2216192120

Li, X., Rangelov, D., Mattingley, J. B., Oestreich, L., Lévy-Bencheton, D., & O'Sullivan, M. J. (2023). White matter microstructure is associated with the precision of visual working memory. NeuroImage, 120069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120069

McIntyre, M. E., Rangelov, D., & Mattingley, J. B. (2022). Biased weighting of temporally discrete visual stimuli in a continuous report decision-making task: A combined behavioral and electrophysiological study. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 48(2), 173–186. https://doi.org/10.1037/xlm0000914

Stone, C., Mattingley, J. B., & Rangelov, D. (2022). On second thoughts: Changes of mind in decision-making. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 26(5), 419–431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2022.02.004

Rangelov, D., West, R., & Mattingley, J. B. (2021). Stimulus reliability automatically biases temporal integration of discrete perceptual targets in the human brain. The Journal of Neuroscience, 41(36), 7662–7674. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.2459-20.2021

Rangelov, D., & Mattingley, J. B. (2020). Evidence accumulation during perceptual decision-making is sensitive to the dynamics of attentional selection. NeuroImage, 220, 117093. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117093

Uscatescu, L. C., Kronbichler, M., FitzGerald, T., & Rangelov, D. (2018). The unitary percept of object orientation is achieved through conjoint, not separate processing of hori­zontal and vertical axes. Journal of Vision, 18(10), 622. https://doi.org/10.1167/18.10.622

Rangelov, D., Müller, H. J., & Zehetleitner, M. (2017). Failure to pop out: Feature singletons do not capture attention under low signal-to-noise ratio conditions. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 146(5), 651–671. https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000284

Liesefeld, H. R., Liesefeld, A. M., Müller, H. J., & Rangelov, D. (2017). Saliency maps for finding changes in visual scenes? Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 79(7), 2190–2201. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13414-017-1383-9

Töllner, T., & Rangelov, D. (2017). Item-based selection is in good shape in visual compound search: A view from electrophysiology. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 40. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0140525x16000261

Szinte, M., Rangelov, D., Jonikaitis, D., & Deubel, H. (2016). Pre-saccadic remapping is an attentional process. Journal of Vision, 16(12), 113. https://doi.org/10.1167/16.12.113

Rangelov, D., Müller, H. J., & Taylor, P. C. J. (2015). Occipital TMS at phosphene detection threshold captures attention automatically. NeuroImage, 109, 199–205. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.01.035

Rangelov, D., & Zeki, S. (2014). Non-binding relationship between visual features. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 8:749. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00749

Zinchenko, A., Kim, H., Danek, A., Müller, H.J., & Rangelov, D. (2014). Local feature suppression effect in face and non-face stimuli. Psychological Research, 1–12. doi: 10.1007/s00426-014-0548-6

Rangelov, D., Töllner, T., Müller, H.J., & Zehetleitner, M. (2013). What are task-sets: A single, integrated representation or a collection of multiple control representations? Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00524

Rangelov, D., Müller, H. J., & Zehetleitner, M. (2013). Visual search for feature singletons: Multiple mechanisms produce sequence effects in visual search. Journal of Vision, 13(3):22, 1–16. doi:10.1167/13.3.22.

Töllner, T., Rangelov, D., & Müller, H. J. (2012). How the speed of motor-response decisions, but not focal-attentional selection, differs as a function of task set and target prevalence. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. doi:10.1073/pnas.1206382109

Zehetleitner, M., Rangelov, D., & Müller, H. (2012). Partial repetition costs persist in nonsearch compound tasks: Evidence for multiple-weighting-systems hypothesis. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 74(5), 879–890. doi:10.3758/s13414-012-0287-y

Rangelov, D., Müller, H. J., & Zehetleitner, M. (2011). The multiple-weighting-systems hypothesis: Theory and empirical support. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics. doi:10.3758/s13414-011-0251-2

Rangelov, D., Müller, H. J., & Zehetleitner, M. (2011). Independent dimension-weighting mechanisms for visual selection and stimulus identification. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 37(5), 1369-1382. doi:10.1037/a0024265

Rangelov, D., Müller, H. J., & Zehetleitner, M. (2011). Dimension-specific intertrial priming effects are task-specific: evidence for multiple weighting systems. Journal of Experimental Psychology. Human Perception and Performance, 37(1), 100-114. doi:10.1037/a0020364

Müller, H. J., Töllner, T., Zehetleitner, M., Geyer, T., Rangelov, D., & Krummenacher, J. (2010). Dimension-based attention modulates feed-forward visual processing - A reply to Theeuwes (2010). Acta Psychologica. doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2010.05.004

Rangelov, D. (2004). Types of geometrical transformations and perceptual similarity of figures. Psihologija, 37(4), 483–493. doi:10.2298/PSI0404483R

Todorović, J. A., & Rangelov, D. (2002). Connection between self-concept and school success. Godišnjak studijske grupe za psihologiju, (1), 115–122.

Conference presentations

Rangelov, D., & Müller, H. J. (2015, September). If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it: Task-set components are re-used across different tasks. Paper presented at the 19th Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology (ESCOP), Paphos, Cyprus.

Rangelov, D., Müller, H. J., & Taylor, P. C. J. (2014, August). Occipital TMS at phosphene threshold captures attention. Paper presented at the 37th European Conference on Visual Perception, Belgrade, Serbia.

Rangelov, D., Müller, H., & Töllner, T. (2014, July). Efficiency of attentional selection is continuous rather than categorical. Poster presented at the 12th International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience, Brisbane, Australia.

Rangelov, D., Zinchenko, A., & Müller, H. J. (2013, March). Are faces special? An EEG investigation of early processes of face perception. Paper presented at Empirical Investigations in Psychology, Belgrade, Serbia.

Rangelov, D., Müller, H., & Zehetleitner, M. (2012, July). Pop-out visual search mechanisms: Not all displays densities are made equal. Poster presented at the 3rd Visual search and selective attention symposium, Munich, Germany.

Töllner, T., Rangelov, D., & Müller, H.J. (2012, July). Detecting, localizing, and identifying feature singletons in visual search: How the speed of motor-response decisions, but not focal-attentional selection, differs as a function of task set and target prevalence. Poster presented at the 3rd Visual search and selective attention symposium, Munich, Germany.

Rangelov, D., Müller, H. J., & Zehetleitner, M. (2012, February). Pop-out visual search mechanisms: Not all set-sizes are created equal. Paper presented at Empirical Investigations in Psychology, Belgrade, Serbia.

Rangelov, D., Töllner, T., Müller, H., & Zehetleitner, M. (2011, July). Fractionating task-switch costs: A multi-component model of task switching. Poster presented at the 11th International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience, Palma, Spain.

Töllner, T., Rangelov, D., & Müller, H.J. (2011, May). Detecting, localizing, and identifying feature singletons in visual search: Does task set influence the speed of pre-attentive processing? Poster presented at the 11th Annual Meeting of the Vision Sciences Society, Naples, Florida, USA.

Rangelov, D., Müller, H. J., & Zehetleitner, M. (2011, January). Fractionating task-switch costs: A multi-component model of task switching. Paper presented at the 29th European Workshop on Cognitive Neuropsychology, Bressanone, Italy.

Rangelov, D., Müller, H., & Zehetleitner, M. (2009, October). Multiple dimension-weighting systems: A single versus multiple processing streams? Poster presented at the 3rd Rovereto Attention Workshop, Rovereto, Italy.

Rangelov, D., Müller, H., & Zehetleitner, M. (2009, August). Decomposition of dimension-specific intertrial effects: Separate weighting systems modulate selection and identification processes. Poster presented at the 32nd European Conference on Visual Perception, Regensburg, Germany.

Rangelov, D., Müller, H. J., & Zehetleitner, M. (2009, February). How the task requirements influence spatial selection processes? Paper presented at Empirical Investigations in Psychology, Belgrade, Serbia.

Rangelov, D., Müller, H. J., & Zehetleitner, M. (2008, September). Weighting mechanisms in information processing. Paper presented at Balkan Vision Science Meeting, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Rangelov, D., Müller, H., & Zehetleitner, M. (2008, July). Dimension-specific intertrial effects are task-specific: Evidence for multiple weighting mechanisms. Poster presented at the 2nd Munich Visual Search Symposium, Fribourg, Switzerland.

Rangelov, D., Müller, H., & Zehetleitner, M. (2008, May). Dimension-repetition benefit across trials is task-specific. Poster presented at the 12th International Conference on Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Rangelov, D., Müller, H. J., & Zehetleitner, M. (2008, March). Task-specificity of weighting dynamics: One or two dimension-weighting systems? Paper presented at Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen (TEAP), Marburg, Germany.

Rangelov, D., Müller, H., & Zehetleitner, M. (2007, October). Task-change modulation of dimension-specific intertrial priming effects. Poster presented at the 1st Rovereto Attention Workshop, Rovereto, Italy Rangelov, D., & Markovic, S. (2004, August). Perceptual sensitivity to different spatial transformations of shape. Paper presented at the 27th European Conference on Visual Perception, Budapest, Hungary.