Student research project
Does vestibular state influence the human response to light?
Exploring the meeting point of balance, sensory context and photobiology.
The question
We usually study the response to light as a problem of the eye. Could signals associated with balance and bodily orientation also matter for how the human body responds?
The project
Explore the relationship between vestibular state and physiological responses to light in a controlled human study. The work brings multisensory neuroscience into photobiology, combining supervised experimental measurements with careful treatment of variability and potential confounding.
What you will do
- Review evidence connecting vestibular, visual and physiological processes.
- Support study preparation and supervised measurements, subject to approvals and training.
- Check data quality and develop a reproducible analysis of physiological responses.
Possible scope
A thesis could combine experimental work and analysis. A shorter placement could focus on measurement reliability or an agreed dataset. Interest in human sensory physiology and quantitative methods is useful. Specific experimental arrangements are discussed individually.
How to apply
Send a short motivation, CV, relevant skills, preferred project, dates, format and location. Mention external funding. Contact Prof. Manuel Spitschan using the address below.
Location, timing and scope are agreed with the supervisor; availability depends on capacity and the work involved.