Overall, my research (check out my dissertation research here!) explores how prior experiences, expertise, and expectations shape learning, adaptation, and perception. These same cognitive processes are critical in game design, influencing how players navigate virtual worlds, process information, and respond to in-game challenges. Understanding how people segment experiences and make decisions under pressure can help create more immersive, engaging, and psychologically rich gameplay.

One area of research that I’m investigating is event segmentation—the way our brains divide continuous experiences into meaningful chunks. Whether transitioning between game levels, shifting environments, or experiencing a sudden sound cue, these event boundaries influence memory, immersion, and narrative flow. How do players recall information across different spaces? Can changes in pacing or scene shifts enhance engagement or disrupt learning?

Similarly, decision-making and self-control play a crucial role in interactive media. The RC-RAGE paradigm (Reactive Costly Retaliation and Aggression in Gaming Environments) explores why individuals retaliate even when it comes at a cost. Studying these behaviors in virtual reality (VR) provides insights into impulsivity, aggression, and social decision-making, revealing how players respond to provocation and how these mechanisms shape in-game interactions.

By bringing together cognitive science, VR research, and game design, we can better understand how players think, learn, and react—ultimately creating richer, more adaptive gaming experiences. Learn more about event segmentation and decision-making research below!