Our Team
Katalin Bálint
Katalin E. Bálint is an Associate Professor of Media Psychology at VU Amsterdam, researching the psychological impact of audiovisual storytelling. Her work explores how elements like shot composition and character gaze influence emotions, empathy, and cognitive processes. Combining experimental and qualitative methods—including eye tracking and physiological measures—Katalin investigates narrative engagement, theory of mind, and empathy in relation to filmmaking choices. With a background in both Psychology and Film Studies, she bridges cognitive science and the art of storytelling, having conducted research at institutions including Utrecht University and Tilburg University. Katalin is passionate about applying her findings to socially valuable applications like Cinema Therapy, believing storytelling has the power to connect and heal.
Cynthia Cabañas
Cynthia Cabañas is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Communication at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She studied Psychology at the Complutense University of Madrid and a MA in Clinical Neuropsychology (Camilo José Cela University) before completing a dual Masters in Brain and Mind Sciences at University College London (UCL) and Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) and École Normale Supérieure (ENS). In 2024, she obtained her PhD in Psychology, specializing in Film Cognition, from Birkbeck, University of London. Recently, she also completed an MA in Film and TV from Universidad Carlos III of Madrid, complementing her background in psychology and neuroscience.
She is interested in the impact of film narratives on various cognitive processes in both neurotypical and neurodiverse populations, as well as the formal elements of film that filmmakers employ to engage and shape these processes. Currently her research focuses on investigating whether narrational complexity in film can serve as an accessible tool to enhance the cognitive and affective capacities necessary for confronting real-world complexity.
Gaya Yona
Gaya Yona is a PhD candidate in the department of communication science at VU Amsterdam. She studied film studies and psychology at Tel Aviv university, where she also completed a master’s degree in clinical psychology. Her interdisciplinary background bridges media studies and psychological research, integrating insights from both fields.
Her research explores how complex narrative structures in film and television might influence our perception of real-world complexity. She is particularly interested in how narrative engagement can serve as a tool for enhancing cognitive and emotional processing. Currently, her work examines whether engagement with narrational complexity in media can foster cognitive flexibility and tolerance for ambiguity, offering new perspectives on how media experiences might impact personal development.