WELCOME

 

Welcome! Our lab is based at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Sabanci University, Turkey, led by Olesya Blazhenkova.  Our current research, supported by TÜBİTAK 1001 project (“Investigating the developmental origins of visual imagery variability through assessment of visual-object and visual-spatial play”), focuses on the developmental origins of mental imagery variability. It examines visual-object and visual-spatial imagery development in children through play with different types of visual toys. This work involves both children and their parents and explored how early experiences shape individual differences in visual thinking.  Our research also explores individual differences in visual and verbal cognition and their assessment, the connection between imagery, emotion, and creativity, visual art perception and creation, imagination of missing information (including mental filling-in and boundary extension), and memory errors.

 

 

'PLAY & LEARN’ FESTIVAL

 

As part of our TÜBİTAK 1001-supported research (223S396 Numaralı Proje), we organize the ‘Play and Learn’ festival at Sabancı University. This event combines field research on children’s play with engaging, fun-filled activities, ranging from art and science educational games to outdoor play experiences.

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This year incoming festival:
in English ‘Play and Learn’ Festival 2025
in Turkish 'Oyna ve Öğren' Şenliği 2025

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Past festival:
in English ‘Play and Learn’ Festival 2024
in Turkish 'Oyna ve Öğren' Şenliği 2024 

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