Advisor:
Bob Pearce
Research Description:
My research is focused on understanding the electrophysiological signatures of consciousness and sensory awareness under anesthesia and endogenous sleep conditions. Specifically, what patterns of activity distinguish a brain that is conscious and aware of the environment, a brain that is consciously experiencing a dream state that is disconnected from the environment, and a brain that is fully unconscious and experiencing nothing at all? To address these questions, I make use of electroencephalography (EEG) to study human subjects treated with various anesthetics, with distinct pharmacological action, as well as during natural sleep. The aim of this work is to develop better objective markers of consciousness and environmental awareness that can be used clinically for anesthetic monitoring and diagnosing disorders of consciousness.