Principal Investigator
Michael Miller
Professor and Dean of Undergraduate Education
Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience, Dartmouth College, 1998
B.A. in Psychology, San Francisco State University, 1994
In 1999, Dr. Michael Miller became an assistant professor at the Department of Psychological
& Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Boston. In 2002, he joined the faculty
at UCSB. His research studying the cognitive neuroscience of human memory,
decision-making, and individual differences have utilized various techniques including
fMRI, EEG, TMS, tDCS and patient testing. Professor Miller is the chair of the department of
Psychological & Brain Sciences, vice director of the Sage Center for the Study of the Mind,
editor of The Year in Cognitive Neuroscience, and a co-leader of the Cognitive Neuroscience
Task Order within the Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies.
Psychology East (Building 251), Room 3835
michael.miller@psych.ucsb.edu
Project Scientist
Tyler Santander
Project Scientist
Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology, University of Virginia, 2017
B.A. Psychology and Political Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2011
Psychology East (Building 251), Room 0814A
tyler.santander@psych.ucsb.edu
Post-doctoral Fellow
Evan Layher
Post-doctoral Fellow
Ph.D. in Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2022
B.A.S. in Psychology and Neurobiology, Physiology, & Behavior, University of California, Davis, 2012
My research investigates the neural mechanisms of episodic memory and decision-making via single neuron recordings
in epilepsy patients. This research is conducted in collaboration with
Dr. Ueli Rutishauser
at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Psychology East (Building 251), Room 0814
evan.layher@cshs.org / layher@psych.ucsb.edu
Graduate Students
Selin Bekir
Graduate Student
B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy, Bogazici University (Istanbul, Turkey), 2020
I am interested in studying hemispheric asymmetry in various cognitive functions, motivated by the
split-brain research. Specifically, how the left and the right frontal neural networks contribute to
belief formation and belief updating when facing incomplete and ambiguous information that changes
over time. With the use of fMRI and HD-tDCS, I hope to learn more about the individual differences in
interpreting and integrating information.
Psychology East (Building 251), Room 0814
Courtney Durdle
Graduate Student
B.A.S. in Human Development and Psychology, University of California, Davis, 2014
I am interested in studying the neural processes of emotion recognition and regulation, specifically
their effect on cognition, decision-making, and memory. With the use of fMRI, I hope to learn more
about these aspects of human behavior through their underlying networks. In the future, I plan to use
my research to inform legal actors and policies.
Psychology East (Building 251), Room 0814
Sara Leslie
Graduate Student
Psychology East (Building 251), Room 0814
Luna Li
Graduate Student
Psychology East (Building 251), Room 0814
Henri Skinner
Graduate Student
B.S. in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Min. Biology, University of California, San Diego, 2019
Psychology East (Building 251), Room 0814
Christina Boardman
Visiting Scholar
M. Sc. in Neuroscience, University of Strasbourg (France), 2019
B.A. in Cognitive Neuroscience, Scripps College, 2012
I am a visiting scholar in the Miller Lab. My primary research focus is studying the neural mechanisms
of memory and learning in social decisions. I am particularly passionate
about social decisions that differentially affect marginalized individuals.
In the Miller lab, I am using signal detection theory to model criterion
shifting in a security patrol paradigm. My goal is to identify EEG oscillations
and ERPs related to criterion shifting.
Psychology East (Building 251), Room 0814
Lab Manager
Jessica Simonson
Lab Manager
B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences, Min. Italian Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2022
jessicasimonson@ucsb.edu
Research Assistants
Ayra Bandeli
Research Assistant
Major: Biopsychology
Angelo Joseph Bulahan
Research Assistant
Major: Biopsychology
Minor: Applied Psychology, Technology Management Program
Manasvi Chandra
Research Assistant
Major: Biopsychology
Rosalyn Collins
Research Assistant
Joyce He
Research Assistant
Eleanor Khan
Research Assistant
Major: Psychological and Brain Sciences
Grace Liu
Research Assistant
Anoushka Menon
Research Assistant
Claudine Ushana
Research Assistant
Major 1: Biopsychology
Major 2: Sociology
Emily Yi
Research Assistant
Major: Psychological and Brain Sciences