Recent placements and projects in the CNCR Masters Course

2012-2013
Bayesian modelling of visual estimation strategies: design a Bayesian statistical model for analysing subject
responses, simulating subjects based on the methodology of the experiment, fit the Bayesian model to the
provided data set. Dr Beierholm
The role of audiovisual asynchrony in perceived distance: use a novel psychophysical paradigm to investigate
whether reducing or increasing the time lag between visual and audio cues causes a change in perceived distance,
generate stereoscopic stimuli and precisely timed sounds to study perceived simultaneity. Dr Di Luca
The effect of observer location and group size on group synchrony: conduct a study into synchronisation and
motor resonance to explore which has the greater effect on group synchrony - the location of the group relative to
the observer or its size. Dr Elliott
Data assimilation for a neural mass model: program a neural mass model in Matlab to produce mock local field
potential (LFP) data, develop a method for estimating the state of the model from this LFP output, and test it in
particular for the continuous variation of a control parameter, estimate continuously the variables and parameters
of a neural mass model from a sparse data stream. Dr Bojak
Using computational models to study the influence of averaged reward on performance on the Go/NoGo task: to
examine different influences on subject choices in a Go/No-Go task, such as Pavlovian effects, bias and cumulative
rewards. Dr Beierholm
Detection of force perturbations: Programming a force controlled robot (vBot) to determine detection thresholds
using a psychophysical staircase. Prof Miall
Unsupervised learning for stochastic neurons: Implement a basic learning model for any recognition task to study
various learning models for stochastic neurons. Dr Wyatt & Dr Beierholm

2011-2012
Motor Learning and EEGL: Conduct a motor learning experiment to explore the effects of sleep on TMS-influenced
motor learning using EEG. Dr Sami
An fMRI pilot study of multiple rates of adaptation to movement perturbation: Run a behavioural experiment using
force controlled robots (vBot) to study human motor learning capabilities. Prof Miall
Grasping under uncertainty: Behavioural experiment using virtual stimuli to examine how varying the relationship
between pose uncertainty and shape of the object affects choice of grasp orientation. Dr Di Luca & Dr Wyatt
Effect of error size on motor adaptation: Behavioural experiment to compare two conditions involving human
motor learning. Dr Hardwick
Understanding brain computations in the individual brain: implement machine learning algorithms to analyse
behavioural and fMRI data. Prof Kourtzi & Prof Tino
EEG under the influence of propofol: Implement a neural mass model with bi-exponential synapses ODEs),
implement known effects of the general anaesthetic isoflurane on PSPs, model the influence of proposal on EEG
rhythms. Dr Bojak
Motor imagery based brain-computer interface with robotic feedback: create a Brain-computer interface for
moving a Lego Mindstorms robot based on EEG activity. Dr Heinke & Dr Sami