Connectionists: Postdoctoral Research Fellow: EEG Brain-computer Interface, University of Birmingham

[Howard Bowman]

Postdoctoral Research Fellow: EEG Brain-computer Interface, a Brainwave-based Visual Acuity Test
Centre for Human Brain Health, School of Psychology and School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham
Closes:  6th March 2025
JOB-DESCRIPTION: The Fringe-P3 method (Bowman et al, 2013; Alsufyani et al, 2019) developed out of a line of theoretical work focussed on temporal attention and perception on the fringe of awareness (Bowman & Wyble, 2007; Craston et al, 2009; Avilés et al, 2020). The method provides a means to present a large number of visual stimuli very rapidly to a participant's brain and then determine with EEG, which of those stimuli the participant finds salient. The method has been proposed as a deception detector, specifically, a (countermeasures-resistant) concealed-knowledge test (Bowman et al, 2013, 2014; Alsufyani et al, 2019; Harris et al, 2021; see https://sms.cam.ac.uk/media/2077487/).
Previous projects with the company Visionmetric (https://visionmetric.com/) used the Fringe-P3 method to develop a system for extracting the memory of a face. This is done by generating a facial morph that is a weighted average of the faces presented in rapid serial visual presentation, with weight determined by the strength of the P3 that face generated.
The Research Fellow being advertised will be employed on a recently awarded MRC Impact Acceleration account at the University of Birmingham, with two companies: Visionmetric and Advanced Ophthalmic Systems (https://aos-hub.com/). This will take the Fringe-P3 method and develop it as an objective visual-acuity test, called the Acuity-P3. Many groups, such as young children, those with learning difficulties and dementia patients find it hard to follow the instructions required to complete a standard visual-acuity test (such as a Snellen chart). As a result, clinical decisions, such as whether to perform cataract surgery, often have to be made without a reliable assessment of vision.
We will develop a system by which a brain response (the P3) can be used as an objective measure that a letter has been read. This will provide an objective visual-acuity test, not dependent upon a subjective response. We will also improve the efficiency with which P3s are detected with machine learning and will explore alternative detection modalities, such as pupil dilation.
At the University of Birmingham, the work will be undertaken within the School of Psychology and Centre for Human Brain Health, with involvement from the School of Computer Science (where the PI, Bowman, also has an appointment).
PERSON SPECIFICATION: Batchelors (and potentially also Masters) degree, as well as a PhD or equivalent qualification in Computer Science, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), Psychology, Neuroscience, or related subjects. Candidates with equivalent industrial experience would also be within scope. Strong programming skills, with experience of or the capacity to learn how to program in Python and C++. Experience of neuroimaging, including data collection, or the capacity to learn such methods. Fluency or capacity to become fluent in relevant models, techniques and methods, e.g. Fieldtrip, Statistical Parametric Mapping, EEG-lab, and ability to contribute to developing new methods.
Informal enquiries can be made to Professor Howard Bowman and H.Bowman at bham.ac.uk.
Full application details can be found here:
https://edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_6001/requisitions/preview/6497/?keyword=Grade+7&lastSelectedFacet=POSTING_DATES&mode=location&selectedPostingDatesFacet=30
Alsufyani, A., Hajilou, O., Zoumpoulaki, A., Filetti, M., Alsufyani, H., Solomon, C. J., ... & Bowman, H. (2019). Breakthrough percepts of famous faces. Psychophysiology, 56(1).
Avilés, A., Bowman, H., & Wyble, B. (2020). On the limits of evidence accumulation of the preconscious percept. Cognition, 195, 104080.
Bowman, H., Filetti, M., Janssen, D., Su, L., Alsufyani, A., & Wyble, B. (2013). Subliminal salience search illustrated: EEG identity and deception detection on the fringe of awareness. PLoS One, 8(1).
Bowman, H., Filetti, M., Alsufyani, A., Janssen, D., & Su, L. (2014). Countering countermeasures: Detecting identity lies by detecting conscious breakthrough. PloS one, 9(3), e90595.
Bowman, H., & Wyble, B. (2007). The simultaneous type, serial token model of temporal attention and working memory. Psychological review, 114(1), 38.
Craston, P., Wyble, B., Chennu, S. & Bowman, H. "The attentional blink reveals serial working memory encoding: Evidence from virtual & human event-related potentials." Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 21(3):550-566, March 2009.
Harris, K., Miller, C., Jose, B., Beech, A., Woodhams, J., & Bowman, H. (2021). Breakthrough percepts of online identity: Detecting recognition of email addresses on the fringe of awareness. European Journal of Neuroscience, 53(3), 895-901.

--------------------------------------------
Howard Bowman (PhD)
Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience in Psychology and Computer Science at the University of Birmingham
Honorary Professor of Imaging Neuroscience at Functional Imaging Lab, University College London

email: H.Bowman at bham.ac.uk<mailto:H.Bowman at bham.ac.uk>
WWW: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/psychology/bowman-howard
?Howard Bowman - ?Google Scholar<https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=pcKQix4AAAAJ&hl=en>

School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK

Research Groups:
Neuroimaging Methods and AI, Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham
Perception, Language and Action, Computer Science, University of Birmingham
PLORAS (Predicting Language Outcomes and Recovery After Stroke), Functional Imaging Lab, University College London

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/pipermail/connectionists/attachments/20250222/9ebad45d/attachment.html>