Current Projects
See what we've been up to with our current research projects.
The Influence of Childhood Trauma on Visual Perception In Schizotypy
The purpose of this study is to investigate how childhood trauma shapes visual perception across varying levels of schizotypy using two visual illusions (the Ebbinghaus and Müller-Lyer illusions) to probe differences in contextual processing. Existing literature showed that childhood trauma moderates the link between schizotypy and illusion susceptibility, with higher trauma amplifying perceptual distortions and lower trauma weakening or reversing them. By testing specific trauma subtypes (emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, as well as emotional and physical neglect), the project identifies which early experiences most strongly influence perceptual organization deficits. This work advances our understanding of which adverse childhood experiences interact with subclinical psychosis‑risk traits to shape cognition and perception. This study has been curated by lab member Adrian Lai.
The Role of Disconnection in Psychosis Risk
The purpose of this study is further understanding how social disconnectedness, a known risk factor, increases risk for the development of psychosis. In particular, this study uses a simple online ball tossing game to simulate social exclusion, a form of social disconnectedness. The within-subjects design looks at social cognitive biases before and after the simulated exclusion to identify its effects on how people perceive social cues in their environment. Current theories suggest that repeated experiences of social adversity sensitize the mesolimbic system which increases hypervigilance towards social threats in the environment, in turn, increasing social cognitive biases. This study aims to provide support for this theory and increase understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which social disconnectedness confer risk for psychosis. This study has been curated by lab member Katie Beck-Felts.
Nicotine, Outcome Expectancies, and Schizotypy in College Students
This study examines how beliefs about nicotine (called expectancies) relate to schizotypal traits in college students. Because this population has high rates of substance use and mental health vulnerability, it provides an important context for understanding early risk factors. The project assesses how common substance use and expectancies are, and how both relate to schizotypy. It also explores whether these expectancies help explain the link between substance use and schizotypal traits. Overall, the goal is to identify cognitive factors that could inform early prevention and intervention efforts. This study has been curated by lab member Nelly Garcia.