Current Projects
| MUSIC STUDY This study is in association with The Leading Note Foundation, a not-for-profit after school music program. This is a multi-faceted study where we will be recording ERPs of children ages 5-18 years as they complete a Go-Nogo or Mismatch Negativity task. This study will also examine genetic polymorphisms in the parents and children, such as stress levels. The goals of these tasks are to assess the self-regulation ability of children, to determine if perceived tone deafness can be alleviated with musical training, and to examine effects of socio-economic status. For more information go to: Join us on Facebook. |
| IMAGERY STUDY The Perky effect is the widely accepted phenomenon according to which the presence of a mental image can interfere with incoming visual information (stimuli) (Perky, 1910). This can be interpreted as visual imagination interfering with visual perception when both are happening simultaneously. However, concurrent imagery has also been shown to have potential priming effects (Farah, 1985; Ishai & Sagi, 1997; Kosslyn, 1980; Kosslyn, 1994), in which visual imagination actually facilitates and enhances visual perception. My current research focuses on the effects of different types of visual mental imagery and how they either enhance or interfere with perception. |
| BRAIN COMPUTER INTERACTION (BCI) This research aims to use computers and real-time EEG methodology to improve task performance, learning, and memory. This endeavour has the potential to substantially improve interaction between individuals and digital devices. Non-invasive BCI will be used to examine neuroplasticity in relation to learning and skill development. |
| PROSOPAGNOSIA The goal of this research is to investigate the link between prosopagnosia, object imagery, and spatial localization deficits. Prosopagnosia is an impairment in the ability to recognize faces. This condition has a number of implications and we are interested in how it can impact spatial cognition. For example, how we find our way around or imagine things. Finally, there is some evidence to suggest that the condition is genetic and we wish to explore this possibility. |