Team Members

I am a cognitive and systems neuroscientist

investigating how multisensory processing impacts spatial and temporal perception, decision-making, and human movement in real, virtual and artificial intelligence created environments.   

My research has helped to identify key markers of disease and test the efficacy of therapeutic and rehabilitation efforts to combat disorientation, especially in differently-abled populations. My discoveries about vestibular perception have also led to practical applications in the calibration of virtual reality environments and motion simulators.

https://ca.linkedin.com/in/michael-barnett-cowan-b9b93a11

I am a PhD candidate studying the effects of aging on multisensory processing. I use psychophysical tasks such as temporal order and simultaneity judgement tasks combined with Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to assess the role of decreased levels of the neurotransmitter GABA has on impaired perceptual decision making in the older adults.

https://ca.linkedin.com/in/viquar-unnisa-begum

I am a PhD candidate at the University of Tübingen, Germany where Dr. Barnett-Cowan is co-supervising my research. After completing my MSc in the MBClab I returned to Germany to study electrosensory processing in electric fish using neurophysiology recording and behavioural assessment and I am using psychophysical tools such as temporal order, simultaneity judgement, and reaction time tasks to assess the role of confidence in perceptual decision making.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolin-sachgau/

I am a PhD candidate studying multisensory processing in gamers and non gamers. I am building online studies to assess performance of e-sports players. 

https://ca.linkedin.com/in/nic-hobson-170a04110

I am a PhD candidate researching the neural mechanisms that affect cybersickess in virtual reality. I use psychophysical tasks such as the subjective visual vertical and the oriented character recognition task paired with exposure to nauseating commercially available virtual reality games to assess the role of sensory down weighting as a natural method the central nervous system uses to reduce cybersickess incidence.

https://ca.linkedin.com/in/siyavash-izadi

I am a MSc candidate co-supervised by Dr. Barnett-Cowan and Dr. Brian Horslen. I use Electrical Vestibular Stimulation and force plates to assess the role of the vestibular system in regulating balance control with and without allocentric touch information. 

https://ca.linkedin.com/in/megan-goar-859816143

I am a MSc candidate examining how disruptions in VR immersion contribute to cybersickness and impact overall user experience. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-lynn-46b21120b/

I am a BSc Psychology candidate and the lab manager here in the MBCLab. I am truly interested in all things neuroscience, and especially passionate about neuropsychology and the study of neurological disorders as they relate to the brain-behavior relationship and how we experience the world around us.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydney-mcaffer-010/

I am a BSc Candidate, and a pilot within the Canadian Armed Forces, interested in the study of aviation. I plan to utilize technologies such as motion capture, eye-and-head tracking, and simulators to help revolutionize the sustainable aviation industry. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/narein-chenthivelnathan/

I am a BSc thesis candidate interested in using virtual reality to assess and improve patient neurorehabilitation.

https://ca.linkedin.com/in/vania-marzbanrad-1509a71a6

I am a BSc candidate working this term in the MBClab as a part of a summer research program for Ukrainian students. I am interested in creating and applying language and generative models to improve user experience in VR.

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykhailo-briazkalo-542ab9200/