What am I currently playing?
DESIGNING WITH INSIGHT, RESEARCHING WITH PURPOSE
Hi, I’m Katie!
About Me!
I’m a cognitive scientist and user experience researcher passionate about designing engaging, motivating, and cognitively enriching game experiences. With a background in perception, attention, and memory consolidation, I’m especially interested in how games can optimize learning, decision-making, and problem-solving in ways that feel intuitive and rewarding. I bring expertise in experimental research, playtesting, and iterative design to refine mechanics that enhance player engagement, retention, and skill development.
Ongoing Research Projects
Click to find out more!
Game Design Projects
My role as a Puzzle designer in haven academy and beyond
Learn more about Haven Academy here
Check out the Haven Academy puzzles that I worked on
Look through my other game design projects!
Publications
my Peer reviewed papers in scientific journals
Taking a nap helps perceptual learning, solidifying gains and enhancing generalization to new contexts.
Reis, Heald, Uddin, Fenn, & Nusbaum (2023)
Brainstem activity can predict your perfect pitch abilities.
Reis, Heald, Veillette, Van Hedger, & Nusbaum (2021)
Rote and generalized learning are supported by different types of brain activity.
Heald, Van Hedger, Veillette, Reis, Snyder, & Nusbaum (2022)
Brain activity can predict individual consumer choice and market outcomes.
Veillette, Heald, Wittenbrink, Reis, & Nusbaum (2023)
The brain adapts to different speakers by dynamically tuning auditory processing during speech recognition.
Uddin, Reis, Heald, Van Hedger, & Nusbaum (2020)
Expertise changes your brain’s accuracy in tracking dance and sign language.
Brookshire, Mangelsforf, Sava-Segal, Reis, Nusbaum, Goldin-Meadow, & Casasanto (2021)
Other creative interests
Ceramics, sketching, and textiles
Ceramics
Inspired by Donu from Slay the Spire
I was told my laminar flow is “okay”
(Donuts not edible)
