Evolutionary biology · science communication · critical thinking
Evolutionary biologist, cognitive-science-of-religion researcher, science communicator and educator focused on behaviour, parasites, skepticism and public science.
Jelena works across evolutionary biology, cognitive science of religion, parasite-related behavioural research, critical thinking and science communication. In XPhiRel she contributes to work on supernatural beliefs, ritual efficacy, conspiracy beliefs and cultural-cognitive factors in religion.
Overview
Her earlier research focused on latent toxoplasmosis, behaviour, personality, hormones, cognition and mental health. Public-facing work includes Pátečníci, Sisyfos, science festival lectures, skeptical education and popular talks about evolution, pseudoscience and animal behaviour.
Publications
- 2026Silvia Boschetti, Robin Kopecký, Jakub Binter, Lenka Příplatová, Konrad Talmont-Kaminski (2026). Black and White Magic: Efficacy of In-Group versus Out-Group Rituals. The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion. DOI: 10.1080/10508619.2026.2696005.
- 2025Alicja Zawistowska, Robin Kopecký, Lenka Příplatová, Silvia Boschetti, Konrad Talmont-Kamiński, Jaroslav Flegr (2025). Superstitions, Religious Identity, and COVID-19 Conspiracy Beliefs in Secularized Czechia. Journal of Religion in Europe. DOI: 10.1163/18748929-bja10110.
- 2023Silvia Boschetti, Hermann Prossinger, Tomáš Hladký, Daniel Říha, Lenka Příplatová, Robin Kopecký, Jakub Binter (2023). Are Patterns Game for Our Brain? AI Identifies Individual Differences in Rationality and Intuition Characteristics of Respondents Attempting to Identify Random and Non-random Patterns. Lecture Notes in Computer Science. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-35979-8_12.
- 2022Jaroslav Flegr, Pavel Flegr, Lenka Příplatová (2022). The effects of 105 biological, socioeconomic, behavioral, and environmental factors on the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and a severe course of COVID-19: a prospective, explorative cohort study. Biology Methods and Protocols. DOI: 10.1093/BIOMETHODS/BPAC030.
- 2022Robin Kopecky, Lenka Příplatová, Silvia Boschetti, Konrad Talmont-Kaminski, Jaroslav Flegr (2022). Le Petit Machiavellian Prince: Effects of Latent Toxoplasmosis on Political Beliefs and Values. Evolutionary Psychology. DOI: 10.1177/14747049221112657.
- 2021Jaroslav Flegr, Lenka Příplatová, Jana Hlaváčová, Blanka Šebánková, Emanuel Žďárský, Šárka Kaňková (2021). The importance of being heterozygote: effects of RHD-genotype-sex interaction on the physical and mental health of a non-clinical population. Scientific Reports. DOI: 10.1038/S41598-021-00977-1.
- 2018Jaroslav Flegr, Blanka Šebánková, Lenka Příplatová, Veronika Chvátalová, Šárka Kaňková (2018). Lower performance of Toxoplasma-infected, Rh-negative subjects in the weight holding and hand-grip tests. PLOS ONE. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200346.
- 2014Lenka Příplatová, Blanka Šebánková, Jaroslav Flegr (2014). Contrasting Effect of Prepulse Signals on Performance of Toxoplasma-Infected and Toxoplasma-Free Subjects in an Acoustic Reaction Times Test. PLoS ONE. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112771.
- 2014Aleš Antonín Kuběna, Petr Houdek, Jitka Lindová, Lenka Příplatová, Jaroslav Flegr (2014). Justine Effect: Punishment of the Unduly Self-Sacrificing Cooperative Individuals. PLoS ONE. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092336.
- 2014(2014). Difference of neuro- and immunomodulatory steroids and selected hormone and lipid concentrations between <i>Toxoplasma</i>-free and <i>Toxoplasma</i>-infected but not CMV-free and CMV-infected schizophrenia patients. Neuroendocrinology Letters.
- 2013Karel Kleisner, Lenka Priplatova, Peter Frost, Jaroslav Flegr (2013). Trustworthy-Looking Face Meets Brown Eyes. PLoS ONE. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053285.
- 2012Jitka Lindová, Lenka Příplatová, Jaroslav Flegr (2012). Higher Extraversion and Lower Conscientiousness in Humans Infected with <i>Toxoplasma</i>. European Journal of Personality. DOI: 10.1002/per.838.
- 2012(2012). The relation of cortisol and sex hormone levels to results of psychological, performance, IQ and memory tests in military men and women (vol 33, pg 224, 2012). Neuroendocrinology Letters.
- 2010(2010). Testosterone and Cortisol Levels in University Students Reflect Actual rather than Estimated Number of Wrong Answers on Written Exam. Activitas Nervosa Superior Rediviva.
Public talks & media
- 2025To snad nemyslíte vážně, paní Evoluce! (Surely you can’t be serious, Ms Evolution!)Pátečníci online special
- 2025Magie moderního materialisty (Magic of a modern materialist)Pátečníci / Sisyfos video
- 2025
- 2022
- 2022Věda zkoumá konspirace (Science studies conspiracies)Pátečníci / Sisyfos
- 2018Očkování a evoluce virulence (Vaccination and the evolution of virulence)Sisyfos / March for Science
- 2018
- 2015O chování (On behaviour)Pátečníci / Sisyfos
- 2014Jsme loutky v rukou parazitů? (Are we puppets in the hands of parasites?)Věda kontra iracionalita (Science against irrationality) / Pátečníci
- 2014