Machine Classifiers, Cognitive Science, and Artistic Style (2018-2020) - with Catherine Buell (Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Fitchburg State University) and Ricky Sethi (Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Fitchburg State University). The goal of this research project is to continue the development and distribution of the WAIVS digital image analysis tool (see Scientific Work Flows, Image Analysis & Visual Stylometry in the Digital Analysis of Art below) and explore its utility for research in cognitive science and aesthetics. The focus of this stage of research is correlations between our machine classifier results, categorization studies, and perceptual recognition research. We are interested in exploring correlations between the image statistics that machine classifiers employ to sort paintings by genre, movement, individual artist, medium, and subject matter and the image statistics that support perceptual recognition in ordinary contexts. www.waivs.org

Extinguishing the Backfire Effect: Using Emotions in Social Collaborative Argumentation for Fact Checking - with Ricky Sehti (Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Fitchburg State University), Roger Azevedo (Professor of Psychology, North Carolina State), and Yolanda Gil (Research Professor in Computer Science, University of Southern California). The goal of this project is to develop software to help explore the role of affective variables in reasoning and decision-making.

Making WAIVS!: A Workshop Introducing Digital Image Analysis Tools for Art Historians, Philosophers, and Arts Educators, Fitchburg Art Museum, May 2017 - organized with Catherine Buell (Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Fitchburg State University) and Ricky Sethi (Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Fitchburg State University). The goal of this workshop, funded in part by a Digital Humanities Startup Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (Scientific Workflows, Image Analysis, and Visual Stylometry in the Digital Analysis of Art - Award HD-248360-16, $40,000) and an American Society for Aesthetics Major Projects Initiative Grant ($4,000), is to introduce our new WAIVS software tool (Workflows for Analysis of Images and Visual Stylometry) and explore the potential of digital image analysis tools for research in the arts and humanities.

Anatomical and Functional Evidence for a Thalamic Relay and Top-down Processing in Olfactory Perception - with Julie Self (Neuroscience, Bates College, 2018).

Making Minds: Using Genetic Algorithms to Evolve Neural Network Controllers in Lego Robots (2016-2017) - with Wade Rosko (Mathematics, Bates College 2017).

Scientific Work Flows, Image Analysis & Visual Stylometry in the Digital Analysis of Art (2015-2017) - with Catherine Buell (Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Fitchburg State University) and Ricky Sethi (Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Fitchburg State University). The goal of this research project, funded in part by a Digital Humanities Startup Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (Scientific Workflows, Image Analysis, and Visual Stylometry in the Digital Analysis of Art - Award HD-248360-16, $40,000) and an American Society for Aesthetics Major Projects Initiative Grant ($4,000), is to develop a digital image analysis tool for research in both vision science and art history that can also be used to foster computational literacy in the humanities classroom. www.waivs.org

Evolving a Reward System: Value-Based Learning in Evolved Artificial Neural Network Controllers for Autonomous Mobile Robots (2015-2016) - with Juergen Kritschgau (Mathematics & Philosophy, Bates College, 2016) and Gregg Heller (Mathematics & Neuroscience, Bates College, 2016).

Sensorimotor Strategies for Object Categorization Through Environmental Interaction: A Study in Artificial Intelligence and Distributed Representation (2015) - with Juergen Kritschgau (Mathematics & Philosophy, Bates College, 2016) (supported by a Hoffman Summer Research Fellowship: $3500).

Association Learning and Evolved Neural Network Controllers: Implementing Scalable Architectures for Modeling Intelligent Behaviors in Lego NXT Robots (2015) - with Peter Cole (Physics, Bates College, 2015), Bates College and Gregg Heller (Mathematics & Neuroscience, Bates College, 2016).

Embodied Cognition, Intelligent Behavior and the Philosophy of Mind: Teaching Philosophy with Lego Robots (2015-2016) -  with Claire Bartell (Junior, Biology/Philosophy), Bates College.

The Kindergarten Learning Approach: Implementing Early STEM  Learning in a 6th Grade Classroom with Lego Robots (2015-2016) – with Joseph Tulip (Chemistry, Bates College 2018).

Image Analysis and Visual Stylometry: Hue, Saturation, Luminance and Contour as Markers of Categories of Art (2013-2014) - with Catherine Buell (Visiting Assistant Professor, Mathematics) and Mathieu Duvall (Director, Imaging Center), Bates College.

Consciousness Studies: Philosophical and Neuroscientific Theories of Consciousness – with Zena Sabath (Chemistry, Bates College, 2014), Mariya Manahova (Psychology, Bates College, 2014),  and Walter Beinecke (Physics, Bates College, 2014). https://sites.google.com/site/consciousnessstudiesreview/home

Does Visuomotor Skill Confer an Advantage in Gestalt Completion Tasks and Out-of-Focus Picture Recognition in Baseball and Softball Players (2013-2014) - with Elise Levesque (Psychology, Bates College, 2013) Erin Harmon (Politics, Bates College, 2013), Travis Boyle (Mathematics, Bates College, 2014), and Jane Mayer (Neuroscience, Bates College, 2014).

Movements, Marks, & Electronic Media: Drawing and Dance after Cage, Cunningham and LeWitt - with Rachel Boggia (Assistant Professor, Dance), and Mathieu Duvall (Director, Imaging Center), Bates College.

Motor Skill as a Mediating Variable in the Effects of Energetic Costs on Apparent Egocentric Distance (2012) - with Zena Sabath (Junior, Philosophy), Greer Chapman (Senior, Biology), and Todd Kahan, Assistant Professor, Psychology), Bates College.

Looking at Mona Lisa: A Psychophysiological Study (2012-13) - with Tony Chemero (Associate Professor, Philosophy & Psychology, University of Cincinnati) and Tavis Cantania (Senior, Psychology, Franklin & Marshall College).

The Influence of Art Historical Knowledge on Gaze Strategies in Viewers' Engagement with Andrew Wyeth's Christina's World (2012-13) - with Tony Chemero (Associate Professor, Philosophy & Psychology, University of Cincinnati) and Tavis Cantania (Senior, Psychology, Franklin & Marshall College).

Does Surface Electromyography Reveal a Role for Motor Simulation in Picture Perception? (2008) - with Emily Halldorson (Senior, Biological Foundations of Behavior), Franklin & Marshall College.

Piano Hands: Surface Electromyography Reveals Effects of Motor Simulation in Passive Listening? (2008) - with Angel Appel (Senior, Psychology), Franklin & Marshall College.

Motor Simulation as a Mediating Variable in the Perception of Biologically Possible Apparent Motion (2008) - with Angel Appel (Senior, Psychology), Franklin & Marshall College.

Energetic and Emotional Effects of Simulated Actions in Picture Perception (2006-2008) - with Jes Waughtel (Senior, Biology) and Emily Ofeldt (Senior, Biological Foundations of Behavior), Franklin & Marshall College.

Artists and Non-Artists Eye Movements in Out-of-Focus Picture Recognition (2006-2007) - Franklin & Marshall College.