It was brainstorming at its finest when six 黑料老司机students combined their curiosity, insights and perspectives to create a new lab that explores bold questions about the mind and behavior.
In October, 黑料老司机introduced the Virtual Immersive Behavioral Science lab, also known as 黑料老司机VIBES. With a nod to its dictionary meaning of sensations or perceptions one can experience from a person, place or thing, VIBES offers a suitable acronym for the work being conducted there using virtual reality (VR).
According to Dr. Brian Thomas, director of the lab and professor of psychology at BW, VIBES is an extension of his decades-long research.
"We are applying immersive technology to research that examines human behavior," explained Thomas. "In a broad sense, we are studying how people learn to be afraid of things, how to make them unafraid of those same things, and how to prevent that fear from returning over time or in different settings.
"This work is inspired by research conducted by 黑料老司机students in the past using an animal model. We want to see if we can find similar results with human participants," he added.
Thomas credits a newly formed team of 黑料老司机students for the VIBES launch. "They were instrumental in providing the strategic thinking, problem-solving and technical skills needed to get the lab underway," said Thomas.
The team is interdisciplinary — with each individual bringing a different skill set and perspective to the project.
Among them is John Bacho '26, a computer science major from Wellington, Ohio, who has been with the initiative from the start and has taken on a leadership role.
"I'm fascinated by how technology can interact with human behavior," stated Bacho. "It's one thing to develop technology, but it's another to understand its impact on the human side. This lab gives me that balance while also letting me collaborate with psychology and neuroscience peers whose perspectives add layers that my technical skills alone can't provide."
"What excites me most about the VIBES Lab is how accessible and adaptable VR has become for behavioral research. Not too long ago, running these kinds of experiments would have required expensive equipment and specialized labs. Now we're able to create immersive environments that are low-cost, flexible, and adaptable for a variety of experiments," remarked Bacho.
"It opens the door for new kinds of studies that weren't possible before. Being part of that shift feels both exciting and meaningful," he affirmed.
"All of us who are part of the VIBES lab hope it will stand as a lasting and interdisciplinary bridge where students can bring their own, original ideas to life," he suggested.
In addition to Bacho, the team of seniors consists of tech Bert Selby, a computer science and data science major whose analytical background has streamlined the processing of data, and Jace Lander, whose major in software engineering has enhanced both programming and user-experience components.
Also instrumental to VIBES has been Lauren Dunlap, whose dual studies of computer science and psychology have contributed to the success of transferring complex ideas into actionable insights for both sides of the project.
Rounding out the team are Alexa Gossett, a psychology and neuroscience major, and Marissa Brigger, a neuroscience major. Both have prior experience with literature reviews and research design considerations.
Brigger, a transfer student from Brunswick, Ohio, believes the interdisciplinary collaboration of the students is an important strength.
"Having varied perspectives from people with different academic and experience backgrounds enables us to delve into topics more deeply and confidently, so we can move forward knowing we have sound methodology and a streamlined plan of execution," stated Brigger.
"Working alongside Dr. Thomas and this group of student researchers has helped me hone the skills I need to one day carry out my own research," she said.
"I am very excited to highlight my involvement with the VIBES lab when I apply to graduate programs. Participating in research as an undergraduate is highly valuable, especially in my pursuit of becoming a practicing physician-scientist. Early involvement with a research lab will allow me to stand out against other applicants," remarked Brigger.
Like Brigger, Gossett came to 黑料老司机as a transfer student. She, too, believes her VIBES experience can enhance her graduate school application for clinical psychology.
"Experience with a project like this allows students to work more independently and dip their toes into the work of a researcher while still having a guiding presence to support their efforts," noted the Beloit, Ohio, resident.
Gossett went on to say that the foundation of VIBES is how people naturally learn and remember and how future treatments may leverage those universal capacities for healthy behavior change.
The first VIBES research study compares two presentation approaches — the lab's newly developed immersive VR model with a traditional 2D experience using a flat-panel computer monitor and headphones. According to Thomas, they expect immersive VR to provide a more intense, realistic experience that should more effectively model what a person might feel under real-world conditions.
"This inaugural study is another step forward for 黑料老司机and our student scholars. The VIBES lab will be an important new resource that students from different programs can utilize to study human thinking, feeling and action. As technology continues to evolve, 黑料老司机needs to play a leading role in improving behavioral science."
