Overview
Our research uses brain imaging and neurotechnology to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying perception, action and complex human experience. We examine how the brain responds when people observe movement, interpret others’ actions, experience dance and music, imagine their own movements or recognise a need for information.
This work also investigates the neural basis of cybersickness. Using EEG, physiological sensing and non-invasive brain stimulation, we study how the vestibular network responds to conflicts between visual and physical motion, why susceptibility differs between individuals and whether targeted stimulation can reduce motion sickness.
Research Themes
Our research examines how patterns of brain activity support movement perception, shared experiences, cognitive states and the voluntary regulation of neural processes.
Methods and Capabalities
We combine advanced brain-imaging techniques with behavioural experiments and computational analysis. This allows us to connect patterns of neural activity with participants’ perceptions, experiences, decisions and performance.
Selected publications
Reduced Motion Sickness Using Vestibular EEG-Guided tACS Under Mismatched Physical Rotation and VR Visual Motion
Gang Li, Mark McGill, Alana Grant, Katharina Pöhlmann, Rory Holden, Stephen Brewster and Frank Pollick
IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 26(8), 11603–11618, 2025.
This study used vestibular EEG patterns to guide targeted tACS during mismatched physical and virtual motion. The stimulation reduced nausea, improved postural stability and increased the time participants could tolerate the experience. Read the publication
A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Examination of Audiovisual Observation of a Point-Light String Quartet Using Intersubject Correlation and Physical Feature Analysis
Amanda Lillywhite, Dewy Nijhof, Donald Glowinski, Bruno L. Giordano, Antonio Camurri, Ian Cross and Frank E. Pollick
Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16, 2022.
This study used fMRI and intersubject correlation to investigate shared neural responses while participants observed an audiovisual point-light performance by a string quartet. Read the publication
Multimodal Biosensing for Vestibular Network-Based Cybersickness Detection
Gang Li, Mark McGill, Stephen Brewster, Chao Ping Chen, Joaquin A. Anguera, Adam Gazzaley and Frank Pollick
IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics, 26(6), 2469–2480, 2022.
This research combined vestibular-network EEG with physiological measurements to investigate the detection of cybersickness, demonstrating the value of integrating neural and autonomic signals. Read the publication
Upregulation of Supplementary Motor Area Activation with fMRI Neurofeedback During Motor Imagery
Salim Al-Wasity, Stefan Vogt, Aleksandra Vuckovic and Frank E. Pollick
eNeuro, 8(1), 2021.
This research examined whether participants could use real-time fMRI neurofeedback to increase supplementary motor area activity while imagining complex body movements. Read the publication
Towards Predicting a Realisation of an Information Need Based on Brain Signals
Yashar Moshfeghi, Peter Triantafillou and Frank E. Pollick
The Web Conference, 2019.
This study investigated whether fMRI signals could identify the moment a person recognises that they need new information, connecting neuroscience with proactive information retrieval. Read the publication
Exploring Collective Experience in Watching Dance Through Intersubject Correlation and Functional Connectivity of fMRI Brain Activity
Frank E. Pollick, Staci Vicary, Katie Noble, Naree Kim, Seonhee Jang and Catherine J. Stevens
Progress in Brain Research, Volume 237, 2018.
This work examined shared brain responses and functional networks while participants watched a continuous dance performance accompanied by music. Read the publication