This talk describes research on how the brain learns and remembers by recording neural activity in mice navigating virtual environments. By studying hippocampal and cortical neurons, the work reveals how the brain builds cognitive maps of space and experience, offering insights into memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease.

This research develops a framework for designing haptic technologies in virtual reality that balance immersion and practicality. By accounting for differences in body sensitivity, it introduces affordable, scalable devices—gloves, facial haptics, jackets, and floors—that enable full-body tactile feedback, bringing realistic touch into VR experiences.

This research examines how architectural spaces shape emotional experience through their acoustic environments. Using binaural audio, 360° video, VR, biosensors, and self-reports, the study shows that spaces amplifying low frequencies enhance positive emotions. The goal is to develop architectural guidelines that create restorative, well-being-enhancing environments in schools, hospitals, offices, and public spaces.

This project uses virtual reality to turn drug design into a spatial puzzle game. By fitting molecular “drug” shapes into protein grooves—much like Tetris—players can exploit human spatial intuition to explore new treatments. Using Nano Simbox software, VR proved over ten times more effective than other platforms for complex molecular tasks.