Carl Michael Galang, PhD 
I am currently a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the Social Intelligence Lab (Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany) under the supervision of Prof. Marcel Brass. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto with a double major in Cognitive Science and Philosophy. My PhD is in Social Cognitive Neuroscience and was completed at McMaster University under the supervision of Prof. Sukhvinder Obhi.
My research focuses on motor and cognitive control, wherein I investigate the neurocognitive mechanisms of social cognition and human volition. I work on topics such as sense of agency, imitation, empathy, social power, and intentional actions. I also have a passion for research methods, statistics, and open science. I am fortunate to have my current work supported by a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship. If you're curious about my research, would like access to my papers or related materials, or simply want to talk shop, please don't hesitate to shoot me an email!
Publications
Galang, C.M., Cracco, E., Chirkov, V., Obhi, S.S., & Brass, M. (In Press). Sense of Agency during Group Control. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Edwards, S., Galang, C.M., Fung, K., Knight, A., & Obhi, S.S. (2025). Preliminary evidence for a selective agency-boosting effect of psychosocial stress. Consciousness and Cognition, 134, 103872.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Galang, C.M., Akan, A., Pfister, R., & Brass, M. (2025). Temporal binding during deliberate rule breaking. Consciousness and Cognition, 130, 103851.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Shum, Y.H., Galang, C.M., & Brass, M. (2024). Using a Veto Paradigm to Investigate the Decision Models in Explaining Libet-style Experiments. Consciousness and Cognition, 124, 103732.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Galang, C.M., Cracco, E., & Brass, M. (2024). Anticipated imitation of multiple agents. Cognition, 249, 105831.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Quesque, F., Apperly, I, Baillargeon, R., [...], Galang, C.M., [...], & Brass, M. (2024). Defining key concepts for mental state attribution. Communications Psychology, 2(29), 1-5.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Galang, C.M. & Obhi, S.S. (2022). Empathic pain observation does not influence automatic imitation in an online setting. Experimental Brain Research, 241, 263-276.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Malik, R., Galang, C.M., & Finger, E. (2022). The Sense of Agency for Brain Disorders: A Comprehensive Review and Proposed Framework. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 139, 104759.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Mekik, S.C. & Galang, C.M. (2022). Cognitive Science in a Nutshell. Cognitive Science, 46, e13179.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Galang, C.M., Ku, M., & Obhi, S.S. (2021). Blatant Dehumanization is Not Influenced by Dual Identity Labels: Evidence from the Canadian Context. International Journal of Psychological Studies, 13(4), 62-74.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Galang, C.M., Malik, R., Kinley, I., & Obhi, S.S. (2021). Studying Sense of Agency Online: Testing the robustness of the intentional binding effect using an online sample. Consciousness and Cognition, 95, 103217.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Galang, C.M., Jenkins, M., Fahim, G., & Obhi, S.S. (2021). Exploring the relationship between social power and the ERP components of empathy for pain. Social Neuroscience, 16, 174-188.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Galang, C.M., Pichtikova, M., Sanders, T., & Obhi, S.S. (2021). Investigating the effects of pain observation on approach and withdrawal actions. Experimental Brain Research, 239, 847-856.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Galang, C.M. & Obhi, S.S. (2021). To Move or Not to Move: Motor cortical output is enhanced during pain observation regardless of motor preparation state. Journal of Neurophysiology, 125, 599-605.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Galang, C.M., Johnson, D., & Obhi, S.S. (2021). Exploring the Relationship Between Empathy, Self-Construal Style, and Self-Reported Social Distancing Tendencies During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 588934.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Galang, C.M. & Obhi, S.S. (2020). Automatic imitation does not predict levels of generosity during a modified dictator game. Acta Psychologica, 204, 103022.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Galang, C.M., Jenkins, M., & Obhi, S.S. (2020). Exploring the Effects of Visual Perspective on the ERP Components of Empathy for Pain. Social Neuroscience, 15(2), 186-198.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Galang, C.M. & Obhi, S.S. (2020). Please Empathize! Instructions to empathize strengthen response facilitation after pain observation. Cognition and Emotion, 34(2), 316-328.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Galang, C.M. & Obhi, S.S. (2019). Social Power and Frontal Alpha Asymmetry. Cognitive Neuroscience, 10(1), 44-56.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Civile, C., Elchlepp, H., McLaren, R., Galang, C.M., Lavric, A., & McLaren, I.P.L. (2018). The effect of scrambling upright and inverted faces on the N170. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 71(11), 2464-2476.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Galang, C.M., Naish, K.R., Arbabi, K., & Obhi, S.S. (2017). Observing painful events in others leads to a temporally extended general response facilitation in the self. Experimental Brain Research, 235(11), 3469-3477.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Naish, K.R., Rajagobal, A., Galang, C.M., Sartori, L., & Obhi, S.S. (2017). Effects of intentional movement preparation on response times to symbolic and imitative cues. Experimental Brain Research, 235(3), 753-61.
Open Access | Publisher's Copy
Under Review
Galang, C.M., Biswas, M., Luk, M., & Brass, M. (Submitted). Social Exclusion Does Not Affect Temporal Binding: Evidence Using a Cyberball Paradigm. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.
Galang, C.M., Jenkins, M., Sanders, T., Vijh, R., & Obhi, S.S. (Under Review). Motor preparation during pain observation does not influence event-related Mu/Beta desynchronization. Cortex.
Shum, Y.H., Galang, C.M., & Brass, M. (Under Review). Moderate Manipulation to Somatosensory Feedback Does Not Affect Libet-style Intentional Action. Psychological Research.
Aczel, B., Szaszi, B., Clelland, H. T., Kovacs, M., Schulz-Kümpel, H., Holzmeister, F.,…, Galang, C.M., … & Nosek, B. A. (Under 2nd Review). Investigating the analytical robustness of the social and behavioural sciences. Nature. https://osf.io/q5h2c/
Preprints
Azevedo, F., Parsons, S., Micheli, L., Strand, J., Rinke, E., …, Galang, C.M., … & FORRT (Preprint). Introducing a Framework for Open and Reproducible Research Training (FORRT). https://osf.io/bnh7p
In Prep.
Shum, Y.H., Galang, C.M., & Brass, M. (In Prep.). Stimulating Your Voluntariness: What Can Brain Stimulation Studies Tell Us about Intention and Voluntary Behaviors?
Galang, C.M., Malik, R., Obhi, S.S., & Brass, M. (In Prep.). Intentional Binding.
Nisanci, S., Galang, C.M., Formica, S., & Brass, M. (In Prep.). Collective Rule-Breaking and the Sense of Agency.
Saba, S., Galang, C.M., & Brass (In Prep.). Gender and the Perception of Agency.
Marschner, M., Galang, C.M., Knoblich, G., & Brass, M. (In Prep.). Us and Them: Anticipated Imitation Between Groups.