Open Source OpenEphys Data Analysis Pipeline
During my first-year Neuroscience Ph.D. student at Washington University in St. Louis, I rotated in the labs of Drs. Jordan McCall and Adam Bauer. Part of my rotation project was learning to do in-vivo electrophysiology with mice. To do this, I used OpenEphys and developed a data analysis pipeline that can be used by anyone analyzing OpenEphys data. Analyses include power spectral density & plotting neuronal spike rates.
The code can be found on my GitHub here.
Modafinil's Wakefulness Promoting Effects
In the spring of 2023, I took a class on grant writing as part of my graduate education. In the class, I wrote a grant addressing the neural circuitry involved in modafinil.
Hypothesis: The mechanism behind modafinil’s wakefulness-promoting effects is mediated through an increase in serotonin.
The maturation of exploratory behavior in adolescent Mus spicilegus on two photoperiods
I worked on this project as an undergraduate research assistant in the lab of Linda Wilbrecht at the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute at UC Berkeley. We were interested in using Mus spicilegus as a mouse model to study the relationship between exploratory behavior and dispersal. We also examined the effects of photoperiod on exploratory behavior in spicilegus and looked into sex differences in exploratory behavior.
Results
We found that exploratory behavior increases during adolescence in Mus spicilegus. Male spicilegus travel significantly longer distances in the open field than female spicilegus. Photoperiod can affect exploratory behavior in M. spicilegus. Mice reared on a short photoperiod showed reduced novel object investigation compared to mice reared on a long photoperiod.
The Cognitive, Psychological, and Physical Effects of Wim Hof's Breathing Method: An Exploratory Study
In 2021, as an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley, I conducted a study to test the effects of Wim Hof’s breathing method on altering cognitive, psychological, and physical states compared to a control group. To do this, I connected with Dr. Presti and Dr. Keltner who were my mentors throughout the project. We hypothesized that after completing Wim Hof’s breathing method, participants would experience improved cognitive function and an elevation in mood leading to increased positive affect. Furthermore, the placebo control group would not experience these effects.
Results
The results showed that participants in the Wim Hof breathing group self-reported experiencing heightened levels of awareness, changes in emotional states, as well as a physical buzzing sensation.
The full article can be found here.
Mind Magazine Issue 6: Change My Mind
The Fall of 2021, was my last semester as an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley. During this time, I was re-elected to serve as co-lead for the Publications division for Neurotech@Berkeley.
Throughout the fall semester, I worked with 13+ students to put together Issue 6 of MIND. We chose the theme Change My Mind to enable our writers to explore the idea of evolutions and transitions on particular topics within the fields of neuroscience and technology. We hope that these articles will expand your views and serve as a reminder that the only constant is change.
While serving as a lead for Neurotech@Berkeley, I was been fortunate to spend time learning and working with an amazing group of people. The passion we collectively share for neurotechnology has been channeled into this magazine with the goal of inspiring the reader to develop new ideas, opinions, and perspectives.
Mind Magazine Issue 5: Other Minds
In the Spring of 2021, as a co-lead for the Publications division for Neurotech@Berkeley, I put together the 5th issue of MIND Magazine.
Part of this project involved holding weekly meetings for our 14+ members during the Spring semester. Over the course of the semester, our members wrote the articles which are featured in this issue of MIND Magazine.
In this 5th issue of MIND, we delve into the diverse embodiments of intelligence and cognitive structures through the lens of our theme: Other Minds. Within the pages of the magazine, you will find well-researched explorations of topics ranging from the brains of crows and orca whales to the importance of diverse perspectives in big tech. What unites all of the articles is a shared passion and curiosity for the intersections of neuroscience, cognition, and applications of technology.
EEG and Music Data Analysis
In the fall of 2020, as a member of Neurotech@Berkeley, I worked with a team to analyze emotional and neurological responses to different kinds of music. To answer this question, we analyzed several datasets collected from researchers at various universities.
The dataset and code can be found here.
Unlocking the power of the subconscious mind through autosuggestion
In the fall of 2020, I wrote an article for MIND Magazine titled, Unlocking The Power of The Subconscious Through Conscious Autosuggestion. This article discusses Emile Coué’s principle of autosuggestion and how can be used to improve the quality of one’s life by self-imposing specific thought patterns to develop a growth mindset. The article also discusses what is currently known in neuroscience research about the power of autosuggestion.
The article can be found on page 35 of MIND Magazine Issue 4: The Subconscious.