Courtnie Paschell:VR BCI: Mind Over Virtual Matter

SEMINAR (Zoom)

This UC Next Seminar will be hosted online via Zoom. RSVP to receive the zoom link by emailing info@bioengineering.ucsb.edu.

Zoom will open after the host has joined at the start of each seminar. You can ask questions through the chat forum and by raising your "hand" and the speaker will call on you. 

Speaker

Courtnie Paschall

9:25 am via ZOOM

Title: Virtual Reality for BCI Research with Intracranial Electrodes: Virtual Mind Over Matter.

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) has become an important experimental design platform for behavioral neuroscience
but has only recently been brought into the clinical setting. In this brief 20-minute talk, I will present my
work implementing a VR experimental platform with in-patient, intracranial neural recording subjects
who have had cortical and subcortical electrodes implanted for invasive clinical monitoring and seizure
localization. I will discuss protocols and best practices for delivering headset-based VR experiences to
this subject group, as well as innovative approaches to classic neuroscience experiments and the ongoing
development of VR-based brain computer interface (VR-BCI). I will also address the new neuroethical
challenges that I believe both invasive BCI and VR research present.
VR offers unparalleled experimental control and has opened exciting new directions for human
neuroscience research. I look forward to sharing with you how my lab and I are leveraging this new
immersive technology to further our understanding of the human brain and identify useful avenues for
brain computer interface.

BIO

Courtnie Paschall is an MD-PhD student studying neural engineering with the Center for
Neurotechnology (CNT) at the University of Washington in Seattle. She is also a Jean B.
Viereck ARCS Scholar and UW Reality Lab researcher leveraging Virtual Reality (VR)
technology to advance human neuroscience. Her research involves the development of novel
VR-based experiments and implementation of brain-computer interface (BCI) for functional
decoding, sensory restoration, and directed neuroplasticity. When not in the lab or clinic,
Courtnie can be found taking way too seriously the flavor notes of a natural process WushWush
pour-over, roasted locally and freshly ground -- because coffee snobbery is delightful, delicious,
and fun.