Brock P
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at University of Southern California (USC)
Expertise
Neuroscience of consciousness, applications of machine learning to biomedical research, how do our genetic backgrounds influence our psychology
Bio
Brock was born in La Crescenta, California where he currently resides. He received his undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies -- Systems Neuroscience from Hendrix College in 2016. His dissertation work leveraged deep learning approaches to analyze fMRI and EEG datasets, uncovering the effects of long-term meditation training on brain network connectivity. While at USC, he also identified how mild traumatic brain injury contributes to the development of Alzheimer's disease, investigated the neurological basis of empathy, developed a theoretical supervised learning paradigm to develop empathetic machines, and uncovered a novel role for the proton-sensing receptor, GPR4. Outside of the lab, Brock loves to run, play guitar, and hang out with his wife in nature. He is also a shamelessly competitive Smash Bros. player, top 1% in the world, who welcomes all challengers.Project ideas
Genes and Addiction: Are Some People More Likely to Become Addicted?
This project focuses on the intersection of genetics and addiction, specifically on genes linked to our brain's reward system. By examining genetic data and correlating it with behavioral patterns in individuals with addiction, we aim to explore the possible predisposition to substance abuse. We're particularly interested in investigating if certain genetic variants are more common in individuals struggling with addiction, and how these variants might influence the severity of addiction and response to treatments. In the second phase of the project, we'll explore how these genetic factors interact with environmental triggers to influence addiction behaviors. By comparing individuals with similar genetic predispositions but different environments, we can gain insights into how these two factors interplay in the context of addiction. The insights gleaned from this project could potentially improve our understanding of addiction and inform future strategies for prevention and treatment.
Your Music Taste and You: Can Your Spotify Playlist Predict Your Personality?
This project seeks to understand the connection between musical preference and personality traits. We're particularly interested in investigating whether emotional responses to different music genres can serve as a predictor for certain personality attributes, such as extraversion and openness to experience. We plan to gather data through surveys and personality tests, analyzing them for correlations between musical preferences and personality traits. In the second stage of the project, we'll explore whether the patterns we find hold true across different cultural contexts, adding another layer of complexity to our research. If successful, our findings could pave the way for innovative, non-verbal, and culture-fair methods for personality assessment. Additionally, they could enrich our understanding of the psychological effects of music, offering a new perspective on how and why music is such a fundamental part of human culture.
Mind-Bending: Do Different Altered States of Consciousness Share Common Brain Activity?
This project revolves around the intriguing question of whether different altered states of consciousness, such as those induced by meditation and lucid dreaming, share common neurophysiological traits. Our goal is to conduct a meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies to identify possible shared patterns of brain activity between these states. Specifically, we're curious to explore if similar regions or networks in the brain are activated or suppressed in both scenarios, suggesting a universal neurological pathway to altered states of consciousness. In the subsequent phase of the project, we'll delve deeper into these identified commonalities, scrutinizing how these neural changes correlate with subjective experiences recounted by individuals. The knowledge gleaned from this research could potentially illuminate the neurological underpinnings of altered states of consciousness, and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the human mind. This could ultimately lead to novel strategies to enhance cognitive flexibility or treat conditions linked with abnormal states of consciousness.
Robot Ball: Using AI to predict sports outcomes
In this project, we will leverage AI computing tools to develop a better read on sports game outcomes. We'll gather all sorts of data – from player stats to past game results and even the day's weather – and let customized AI algorithms sort out the patterns. The goal is to make game predictions more accurate and give us a solid data-backed edge over just following hunches.