the neuroscience behind visual perception + decision making

I previously researched the eye tracking and neural processing of complex visual stimuli such as artwork. This includes understanding how we look at faces, artwork, or inanimate objects through analysis of eye tracking data. The project was a continuation of the Duke Bass Connections Team on Art, Vision, and the Brain through the Pearson Lab in the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience at Duke University.

I am currently working on an Independent Study focusing on the implicit judgments involved in legal decision making and how they correlate with face processing and visual perception.



Facial perception

How do humans view faces? Do the same trends apply for different genders, colors, angles, and contrast levels? Do people with autism spectrum disorders see faces differently?


in artwork

How can artists utilize eye tracking data to create "better" art? Are faces viewed differently in art than in photographs? Can designers and marketers take advantage of these findings to improve ads?


inanimate objects

Why do humans see faces in inanimate objects? Are the viewing patterns the same as in real human faces?