The Lab at Western

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Ryan Stevenson

Dr. Ryan Stevenson is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Brain & Mind Institute at the University of Western Ontario. His research focuses on sensory perception across the lifespan, specifically how changes in sensory perception influence cognitive processes such as speech perception. This work includes research with neurotypical populations and special populations including Autistic individuals, ADHD, and cochlear implant users. He uses behavioural measures, advanced neuroimaging techniques (fMRI and EEG), and neuropsychological measures to approach this research from multiple perspectives.

Contact: ryan.andrew.stevenson@gmail.com

POSTDOCS & RESEARCH ASSOCIATES

Eun Jung Choi

Dr. Eun Jung Choi is a Research Associate in the lab. Her research focuses on the functional development of the brain’s sensory and attachment systems in relations to diverse developmental and environmental contexts, including neurodevelopmental disorders, the quality of early caregiving, and parental addiction. Outside the lab, she is often on the road as a devoted driver and supporter for her kids.

Anqi Hu

Dr. Anqi Hu is a postdoc in the lab. She studies how different populations of children and adults learn language. She is especially interested in how "lower-level" sensory differences cascade into language differences in autistic, ADHD, and non-autistic individuals. A fun fact about Anqi is that she is an incidental multilingual (watched too much TV and learned a new language).

Ala'a Seif

PHD STUDENTS

Michelle Luszawski

Michelle is a PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program at Western University. She completed her BSc Honours in Psychology and Major in French Studies and her MSc in Psychology at Western University. She is currently investigating sensory processing differences and daily sensory experiences in autistic individuals using qualitative, quantitative, and neurophysiological methods. Outside of the lab, Michelle enjoys reading, travelling, and spending time outdoors.

Marilyn Chege

Marilyn is a PhD student in Psychology (Cognitive, Developmental, and Brain Sciences) at Western University, where she also completed her M.Sc. in Psychology—right here in the lab. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and Counselling from Daystar University, Kenya. Her research explores emotion recognition in Autism, with a focus on how sensory modality influences this process. Outside the lab, Marilyn enjoys long, leisurely walks, baking sweet things, and spirited conversations with friends.

Fan Yang

Fan studies emotion recognition and multisensory perception. Outside of the lab, he is a video game enthusiast. First-person action-adventure/fantasy games are his favorite!

Leila Moradkhani

MASTERS STUDENTS

Stephanie Larmer

Stephanie is an MSc student in the Cognitive, Developmental, and Brain Sciences program at Western University. She completed her BSc in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at Western University. Her research focuses on autism and education. Outside of the lab, Stephanie enjoys spin, Pilates, and reading.

Naomi Dodgson

Naomi is a Master’s student in Psychology, with a research interest in sensory differences in Autism and the position of neurodiverse people as a social class. She is currently investigating tactile defensiveness responses (colloquially called “texture” or “touch sensitivities”) in Autistic people. Naomi strives to use a neurodiverse-affirming approach to her research and is working on several side projects related to social perceptions of ADHD. Off hours, you will find her at karaoke, or playing board games and video games with her friends.

LAB MANAGER

Renee Guerville

Renee recently graduated from the Honours Specialization in Neuroscience and is currently working as the lab manager. She assists with a variety of studies, and ensures the lab runs smoothly. Outside of the lab, she enjoys embroidery, painting, and recreating matcha/coffee recipes from cafes!

Contact: rguervil@uwo.ca

HONOURS THESIS STUDENTS

Alexandra Elmslie

Alexandra is a fourth-year student in the BSc Honours Specialization in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience and Scholar’s Electives programs. Her research uses EEG neuroimaging to investigate electrophysiological emotion recognition differences in individuals with ADHD. Outside the lab, Alexandra likes to go for runs in nature, read classic novels, and discover new local cafes!

Aaliyah St. Denis

Aaliyah is a fourth-year student completing a BA Honours Specialization in Psychology. As a thesis student, she is investigating substance use patterns among autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, and typically developing adults, with a focus on how these patterns differ between groups. Her research also examines how repetitive behaviours and sensory processing patterns relate to substance use within these populations. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing video games, 3D printing, and painting!

Renee Shrestha

Renee is a fourth-year student completing a BSc Honours Specialization in Neuroscience. For her thesis project, she is investigating multisensory integration in autistic children and adults using EEG. Outside of the lab, Renee serves as Co-President of the Western Undergraduate Neuroscience Society and volunteers as a Conversation Facilitator at the Aphasia Institute. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, baking, and going to the gym!

Cassidy Smith

Cassidy is entering her fourth year in the Honours Specialization in Psychology (BSc) program at Western University. As a thesis student, she’s eager to help investigate how individuals process sensory information and how this shapes their cognition. Over the past year, she has developed a strong interest in pursuing a career in occupational therapy. Cassidy believes that gaining a deeper understanding of how diverse populations interact with their environments will equip her to provide more thoughtful and individualized care. Outside of academics, she is a very active person who enjoys strength training, hiking and trying new recipes!

Matthew Kur

Matthew is entering his final year of the BA Honours Specialization in Psychology at Western University. As a thesis student, Matthew is investigating the relationship between autistic traits, social competence, and Theory of Mind (ToM) in young adults. In his time with the lab, he has contributed to the development and implementation of new dynamic ToM measures, collaborated on multiple research projects, and developed a strong interest in extending this work to clinical populations. Outside of his academic involvement, Matthew enjoys running, playing piano, and tackling mini home-improvement projects!

Subi Louis

Subi is a 4th Year Neuroscience Student. In Dr. Stevenson’s Lab, he is working with Eun Jung Choi on her project studying the activation of neural circuits in mother child relationships. Subi’s specific project uses fNIRS to hyperscan mothers and TD or ASD children while they fix a puzzle together. His main interest in research is learning how the brain learns, and how it changes in response to what it learns. Outside of the lab, Subi enjoys hanging out with his brother and sister!

Gabby Czichrak

Gabby is a fourth-year student completing a BSc Honours Specialization in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience. She is exploring sensory processing and daily sensory experiences in autistic individuals, as well as educators’ experiences and needs in supporting autistic students. Outside of the lab, Gabby enjoys crocheting, baking, and yoga!

Ashley Pilling

Ashley is entering her final year of the BSc Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience. She is interested in exploring how individuals with ASD perceive the world. Outside the lab, Ashley enjoys watching marvel movies and hockey (Go Leafs)!

RESEARCH VOLUNTEERS

Samki Shu

Samki is a fourth-year BA Honours student specializing in Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology. She’s interested in Pediatric Occupational Therapy and supporting children with ASD in both their physical and mental health. In her lab role, she helps organize the lab’s free day camp and work alongside graduate students on data collection and data processing. Outside of the lab, she enjoys working out, crocheting, going on walks and reading. A fun fact about Samki is that she’s from Hong Kong!

Kaia Jovanovic

Kaia is a fourth-year Honours Psychology student at Huron University. Her research interests include auditory perception and its interactions with vision and tactility. She is passionate about mixed-method research and addressing gender bias in data collection, and she hopes to pursue graduate studies on the role of women’s hormones in auditory aging. When she is not studying, she can usually be found tending to her dorm’s growing plant jungle!

Faris Rajab

Faris is a second-year Nursing student with interests in neuroscience and child development. In the lab, he is contributing to a project examining neural synchrony between mothers and their children during puzzle play, with a focus on behavioral coding of verbal and non-verbal communication. This research aims to explore how interaction patterns differ between autistic and non-autistic children and how they relate to brain activity. Outside of the lab, he enjoys weightlifting, reading, and kayaking!

Kerasia Kosich

Kerasia is a second year Honours Specialization in Psychology with a Minor in Linguistics; she hopes to pursue Speech Language Pathology following her undergraduate degree. Kerasia works with camps/programs with neurodiverse populations outside of university. Outside the lab, she enjoys fitness, reading and going to concerts!

Angel Fan

Angel is a third-year BMSc student pursuing an Honours Specialization in Biochemistry. Her interests include multisensory perception, learning, and how sensory information is integrated in real-world contexts. She works alongside graduate students and postdoctoral researchers on projects examining word learning and retention in autism. In her free time, Angel enjoys reading, listening to music, and watching sitcoms.

Lara El Saheb

Lara just recently graduated with a double major in psychology and health science. In the lab she has worked on several projects and camps with a main focus on the VR gait study where she worked with children and adults with ADHD and autism. Outside of the lab, Lara likes fashion, reading and travelling.

Jayden Li

Jayden is a second-year Medical Science student with a strong interest in neuroscience and neurodegenerative disorders. In the lab, they work with EEG, fNIRS, and gait-based measures, and are curious about the mechanisms underlying neurodivergence, including how these processes may relate to difficulties with emotion recognition. Outside of academics, they like playing soccer and frisbee, going to the gym, reading manga, and running.

Jeffrey Chen

Jeffrey is an undergraduate student enrolled in the BSc Honours Specialization in Neuroscience, in his second year. He currently assists with the VR Gait Lab research. Outside of the lab, Jeffrey enjoys playing and performing music, cooking and eating, and film/TV.

Rachel Mack

Rachel is a first-year Nursing student who helps run the lab’s social media and also assists with various research projects in the lab from time to time. She is particularly interested in working with kids from different clinical populations with plans to work in pediatrics in the future. Outside the lab, she enjoys digital scrapbooking, cafe hopping, or training in taekwondo.

Alumni

Postdoctoral Fellows

Kathleen Lyons – Currently a faculty member at King’s University.

Nikki Scheerer – Currently a tenure-track faculty member at Laurier University. Visit her lab here.

Jacalyn Guy – Currently working in the UK government’s Social Mobility Commission

Fakhri Shafai – Currently working As the Chief Science Officer at the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance, as well as with the Kids Brain Health Network.

Christina McDonnell – Currently a tenure-track faculty member at the University of Wyoming . Visit Christina’s lab here.

Carolynn Hare – Postdoctoral Fellow at Carleton University in the Psychology Department

PhD Students

Masters of Science Students

Sebastien Lauzon – Currently working as a data analyst/researcher at the French school board for Southern Ontario.

Kaitlyn Parks – Currently a doctoral student at Western.

Anne-Marie Muller – Currently working as a psychometrist

Meara Stow

Laura Schneeberger

Kate Turner

Kara Hannah

Sam Schulz

Undergraduate Honours Students

2022-2023

Alex Huang

Alyssa Lynn

Beverly Moye

Carol Atta

Emily Gillissie

Jordyn Cohen

Stephanie Larmer*

2021-2022

Yassmine Arnaout

Carly Shea

Alex Leslie

Michelle Luszawski*

Hiruthika Ravi*

Cassandra Marceau-Linhare

2019-2020

Lauryn Richardson - Sex differences across development in restricted and repetitive behaviours of Canadian autistic children

Caroline Luszawski - Aberrant Sensory Processing in Relation to Autistic Traits

Caleb Ajoa - Multisensory Integration in Individuals with Schizotypal Traits

Kourosh Sedeai-Eilkhchi - The Impact of Trait-Anxiety on Multisensory Temporal Processing and Emotion Recognition

Tyler Dalal - The Relationship Between Multisensory Temporal Processing and Schizotypal Traits

Kristina Curcin - Sensory-Based Phenotyping in Autism Spectrum Disorder

2018-2019

Noah Brierly - Factor Structure of Repetitive Behaviours Across ASD and ADHD

Claudia Sehl - A Temporal Community Structure Approach to Statistical Learning

Arin Abraham - The Relationship Between Multisensory Associative Learning, Multisensory Enhancement, and ASD-Related Traits

Elizabeth Gateman - Pupillary responses to emotional faces in autism

Alexandra Hawkins - Hypersensitivity and Autistic Traits

Christina Sakelis - Cognitive Bias Toward Happiness in Subclinical Anxiety

2017-2018

Laura Girffith - Sex differences across development in restricted and repetitive behaviours of Canadian autistic children

Zach Cohen - Aberrant Sensory Processing in Relation to Autistic Traits

Sara Jasim - Multisensory Integration in Individuals with Schizotypal Traits

2016-2017

Richard Besney - Audiovisual temporal recalibration and autistic traits

Treva Sadler - Auditory and visual sensory sensitivities and social competency in autism

Evan Morden - Neural processing of temporal aspects of audiovisual sensory processing

Research Assistants/ Lab Volunteers

Ravneet Grewal

Jiya Gangwani

Jessica Lerullo

Glenda Zhai

Emily Berlovich

Cassandra Marceau-Linhares

Bernice Leung

Asal Hosseini

Anahid Pourtousi

Alistair Dennis-Grantham

Jennifer Toulim, 2016-2017: The development of audiovisual temporal recalibration and autistic traits.

Jong Lee, 2016-2017: The development of audiovisual temporal recalibration and autistic traits.

Karen Black, 2015-2016: Linking Anxiety and Insistence on Sameness: The Role of Hypersensitivity in Autism.

Aviva Philipp-Mueller, 2015-2016: Are Conjunctive-processing Deficits in Autism Specific to Faces?

Jessica Luck, 2015-2016: Eye tracking in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Ze Yuan Wang, 2014-2016

Maggie Chueng, 2016

Ariana Youm, 2015-2016

Naomi Hazzlet, 2014-2015

Collaborators

The Cognitive Neuroscience Lab at the University of Toronto

The Memory and Perception Lab at the University of Toronto

The Multisensory Research Laboratory at Vanderbilt University

Mark Wallace, Sarah Baum, Iliza Butera, Matt De Niear

The Children’s Learning Centre at York University

Elizabeth Kelley at Queen’s University

Nicholas Altieri in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Idaho State University