Research

I work on philosophy of perception, neuro-philosophy, and philosophy of neuroscience, with other interests in philosophy of science including the role of metaphor and idealization in scientific practice as well as the philosophy of time. I am particularly interested in how the history of neuroscience can inform philosophy of perception and how the current state of neuroscientific practice can inform philosophy of perception, with a focus on auditory perception and multisensory perception.

My current research is focused on two major ideas: (1) the deeply multisensory nature of the auditory system. I want to explore the consequences that this finding has on traditional discussions in philosophy of perception such as audible qualities, representation, and modularity, and (2) the deeply plastic nature of the auditory system. The auditory system flexibly adapts both in real-time and across developmental time, to various multisensory and extra-perceptual contexts. What can these effects tell us about the nature of perception? What is the function of perception? How should perception be organized? And what are the outputs of perception?

In Progress and Under Review

Under review — Standardization of Automated Methods in Neuroscience: The DADTA, in Studies in the History and Philosophy of Science, 2023.

Abstract: In the second half of the 20th century, neuroscientists across North America were independently making strides towards automation by bringing computers into their research. Decisions to automate were complex and contingent, partly due to global reasons, such as the need to increase efficiency and flexibility, and partly due to local reasons, such as the need to amend certain perceived biases of earlier research methodologies. Newly designed automated methods were advancements but presented several challenges. Neuroscientists aimed to develop a “standardized package” containing a high-level programming language with a minimal set of hardware and software, which would allow different laboratories to easily implement it. But commercial manufacturers were sparse in the early days of computing and did not meet the needs of many neuroscientists. Moreover, building specialized equipment from scratch required a large investment in time and funding. Finally, automation required that neuroscience lab groups hire experts in computing or programming. My brief history focuses largely on Karl Pribram’s decision to standardize automated laboratory equipment, programming, and protocols. Although he was an eminent Stanford neuroscientist with strong institutional support, his decision to automate behavioral testing was riddled with hardship. The process of automation was not so automatic.

WIP — Book length treatment on the history of Mathematical Psychology called The Unreasonable Ineffectiveness of Mathematics in Psychology, with Professor Colin Allen, Osman Attah, Brendan Fleig-Goldstein, and Mara McGuire.

Description: I am currently writing a book length treatment with Professor Colin Allen, Osman Attah, Brendan Fleig-Goldstein, and Mara McGuire on the history of the formation of Mathematical Psychology as a distinct field in the 1950’s and 1960’s. This project is funded by Professor Richard Atkinson who was one of the founders of the Society and the Journal of Mathematical Psychology. We have been conducting interviews with prominent figures from the history of mathematical psychology as well as accumulating evidence in the form of historical and archival materials. You can access our keynote address at MathPsych/ICCM 2021: Three Questions about Mathematical Psychology.

Spring 2014 — The Direction of Time: A Focused Critique of an Argument for the Presentist Metaphysic, in Aporia, Volume 24.1 Spring Edition. Accessible here: Aporia - Spring 2014 Archived Issue (byu.edu)

Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition (CNBC)

I am a part of the CNBC graduate training certificate program that spans across both University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. This program consists of taking four core neuroscience courses, presenting and attending the Brain Bag talk series, attending research retreats, and outreach. More information can be found here: Program Description – CNBC (cmu.edu)