[visionlist] PhD in Fractal Therapy: Improving Hearing Test Experience in Those with Neurodevelopmental and Sensory Disorders

[Karen Hampson]

Dear All

We are seeking a PhD student to investigate the optimum visual stimulus that has the largest soothing response on those with and without neurodevelopmental disorders. The goal is to improve hearing test experience by reducing stress in those with neurodevelopmental and sensory disorders.

What our eyes see is known to have a big impact on our mood and cognition. Viewing fractals with particular spatial characteristics has a physiological soothing effect. A fractal is an object that appears the same no matter how far one zooms in on it, such as tree branches and snowflakes. Dimensions of colour, such as hue and saturation, also have an impact. However, the impact of fractals and dimensions of colour have largely been studied in isolation of each other. You will investigate the combined effect of colour and fractal spatial characteristics on those with and without neurodevelopmental and sensory disorders.

Retinal imaging will be carried out using a state-of-the-art custom-built Adaptive Optics-Optical Coherence Tomography system capable of imaging retinal structure and function at the resolution of individual cells. The capabilities of this instrument make it one of only a handful of instruments around the world. Cognitive and affective processing of the stimuli will be assessed using, behavioural, skin conductance, and brain electrophysiology (i.e., EEG) measures.

You will be trained by an interdisciplinary team spanning audiology and learning disability, physics and programming, neuroscience, and retinal neurophysiology and colour vision. This project offers the opportunity to develop skills in working with people with intellectual disabilities. This will include methods of communication and provision of reasonable adjustments in a healthcare setting.

Deadline: 8th November

For further details on how to apply: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/mrc-dtp-fractal-therapy-improving-hearing-test-experience-in-those-with-neurodevelopmental-and-sensory-disorders/?p187188

For more information, please contact karen.hampson-2 at manchester.ac.uk<mailto:karen.hampson-2 at manchester.ac.uk> or siobhan.brennan at manchester.ac.uk<mailto:siobhan.brennan at manchester.ac.uk>

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