Recent work published by my colleagues and I showed that diagnostic ultrasound, applied directly over the visual cortex of human participants, increased the likelihood that they would observe visual effects while looking at a visual target, with that likelihood increasing over the course of the experiment. However due to a lack of EEG data, it is impossible to know the biophysical mechanisms and neural pathways that generate the observed effects on brain function. To better understand the full effect and mechanism of our initial findings, I helped develop a surgical protocol for a mouse model allowing for the collection of EEG data while exposing the animal to a combination of light and diagnostic ultrasound stimuli. EEG data was collected from 5 mice using a stimulus paradigm that we believed would increase the rodent's susceptibility to light stimulus. I utilized Matlab for processing, visualization, and statistical analysis of the data to determine the effects and hypothesize potential biophysical mechanisms of the stimuli. My analysis focused on determining whether the ultrasound stimulus successfully increased the susceptibility of the visual cortex, and which brain frequency bands were modulated by the stimulation.

Training a nonhuman primate (NHP) for research experiments generally requires the NHP to spend large quantities of time learning experimental tasks outside their home environment, and this requires a human researcher to be present at all times during training sessions. The purpose of this project is to create a wireless, semi-autonomous, low cost, cage-side training reward system allowing NHPs to train on experimental tasks for extended periods of time without the presence of a human researcher. An ideal device would allow for wireless data collection and provide both real-time and post-training information on the NHP’s training progress. Exposing NHPs to tasks first in the low-stress environment of their home cage before exposing them to the same task in an experimental booth can potentially speed up training processes. This lets research laboratories maximize researcher time and efficiently use equipment. Our cage-side training reward system consists of an iPad displaying touchscreen tasks, a speaker supplying audial cues for the tasks, an automatic feeder administering treats to the NHP for correct performance, and a computer to control the touchscreen tasks and collect data with custom MATLAB code. The iPad and computer communicate via a Wi-Fi router and this router also communicates with a Wi-Fi receiver which runs the feeder and speaker. The connection methods give the ability for wireless communication through walls, allowing the researcher to run tasks semi-autonomously from a computer outside the animal room. Excluding the costs of the iPad, computer, and MATLAB license, the system is estimated to cost under $300. Two rhesus macaques have undergone cage-side training with this device and have subsequently transitioned smoothly to learning tasks in a traditional experimental booth. In conclusion, this device serves as a low-cost method to enhance the training process for non-human primates while saving time and resources of the research laboratory.