VRPSYCH Laboratory for Virtual Reality, Psychology, Rehabilitation, and Social Neuroscience

DANIEL J. EPSTEIN DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING ISE 650 SEMINAR:"VRPSYCH Laboratory for Virtual Reality, Psychology, Rehabilitation, and Social Neuroscience"Dr. Thomas D. ParsonsResearch Scientist, Neuropsychologist, Co-Director VRPSYCH Lab, USC Institute for Creative Technologies, Marina del Rey, CAABSTRACT: Thomas D. Parsons, PhD will be presenting on the VRPSYCH Laboratory for Virtual Reality, Psychology, Rehabilitation, and Social Neuroscience at the University of Southern California's Institute for Creative Technologies. The VRPSYCH Lab is engaged in a broad program of research on the brain mechanisms that underlie neurocognitive functioning and emotion regulation in persons throughout the life course. We make use of virtual environments to study associations between the essential neural correlates of cognitive functioning and emotion regulation to assess the mechanisms of brain-behavior relations. In particular we investigate frontal subcortical circuits that underlie neurocognitive functioning and emotion regulation in persons throughout the life course. Included among the disorders we have recently studied are mood and anxiety disorders (PTSD), stroke, mild traumatic brain injury, ADHD, autism, Alzheimer's, and pain distraction.Thomas D. Parsons, PhD is a Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychologist, and Research Scientist at the University of Southern California's Institute for Creative Technologies. Dr. Parsons was recruited to the University of Southern California in 2006 by the Institute for Creative Technologies. Prior to coming to ICT, Dr. Parsons was in the Neurology Department at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill's Medical School, where he conducted research on the frontostriatal system and the cognitive sequelae of deep brain stimulation. He currently codirects the VRPSYCH Laboratory with his longtime collaborator, Dr. Skip Rizzo, helping to facilitate research integrating Virtual & Augmented Reality, Psychology, Rehabilitation, and Social Neuroscience.Dr. Parsons can be reached by e-mail: tparsons@usc.edu, Tel: (310) 574-1632.Wednesday, November 28, 2007, 3:30 - 4:30 PM, GER 309

Location: Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center (GER) - 309

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Georgia Lum