Sierra W
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at University of California San Diego (UCSD)
Expertise
neuroscience, psychology, biology, music, art, philosophy, meditation, sleep, language/linguistics, mental illnesses, drugs/addiction, and creativity
Bio
My name is Sierra and I study the electrical properties of the brain (this field is called electrophysiology). These electrical properties are present at all scales ranging from single neurons (patch clamp) to ensembles of cells (LFPs) to the whole brain (EEG). If you didn't know, electrical signals are the primary method of communication in the brain! I am comfortable leading any project in the realms of neuroscience or psychology. Additionally, I have expertise and can guide projects related to: music, art, philosophy, meditation, sleep, language/linguistics, mental illnesses, drugs/addiction, and creativity. In my free time I enjoy rock climbing, playing guitar and piano, learning languages, and being outdoors. In addition to neuroscience, I have a degree in Arabic and a minor in music. I look forward to working with you!Project ideas
How do mental illnesses alter brain waves?
Electrical activity is the main form of communication in the brain. How is this activity disrupted in mental illness? This project could focus on any mental illness such as: depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, OCD, or others. There is ample literature and open-source data available. The project could include a literature review and potentially an analysis of some EEG data.
What happens in the brain when you meditate?
Meditation is an ancient practice that has now shown efficacy in treating various mental ailments and promoting general well-being. How does meditation alter the brain to achieve these goals? In this project we can explore how meditation affects
How do psychedelics affect brain oscillations?
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is gaining a lot of popularity recently. Based on the existing electrophysiology literature, are there any common features between the states induced by different psychedelic compounds? What are medicinal uses for them potentially? This project could be an op-ed piece, a literature review paper, or blog post.