People


Principal Investigator

Sarah Haigh


Graduate Students

Wendy Alfonso Torrens

My research focuses on contributing to the understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the sensory experience of individuals with schizophrenia and autism. I also strive to improve neurophysiological methods (e.g., electroencephalography) by developing more racially inclusive materials.

Wendy was awarded a GRFP from the NSF to examine (and design) hair clips for EEG to make electroencepahlography accessible for ALL hair types. This work is already preregistered https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/AXU2C and will be updated with tools and information as the project progresses.

Publications

Conference Presentations

Carson Smith

My research interests include exploring the mechanisms behind our sensory systems that permit complex perception of the world around us. By examining the limits of our visual and auditory systems, we can begin to paint a clearer picture of how various stimuli shape our environmental perception.

Specifically, my current project investigates how sensory sensitivity changes over the migraine cycle with the aim to identify biomarkers that signal approaching migraine-onset. While there is a lot of variability across migraineurs, a common symptom is sensitivity to light (photophobia) and/or sound (phonophobia). Using electroencephalography (EEG), electroretinography (ERG), and auditory brainstem response (ABR), my research contrasts the effects of sensory stimuli on migraineurs and headache free individuals from the retina and brainstem to the visual and auditory cortices.

Conference Presentations


Undergraduate and Volunteer Research Assistants

Leo Lopez

Hello! I’m Leo Lopez and I am a senior majoring in Neuroscience with a pre-med focus! As I navigate through my pre-med journey I hope to become an anesthesiologist. Outside of school I really enjoy soccer, rock climbing, and nature. I’ve always been super interested in anything brain related as it’s so interesting to learn about the mind! I'm very grateful for Dr. Haigh and Carson for giving me the opportunity to be part of a great team within the lab and am excited to learn under Carson.


Danielle Nochera

Hi! I am a sophomore studying Psychological Science with a minor in Philosophy at UNR. I am most interested in cognitive psychology and am excited to be in the lab learning new things, especially how to go through the data collection process. I love to travel, cook, and express my creativity through journaling, jewelry making and glassblowing! I am passionate about understanding cognitive processing and plan to one day go into medicinal assisted studies!


Marcos Moreno Cervantes

Hey, my name is Marcos Moreno Cervantes. I am a Freshman at the University of Nevada, Reno, majoring in neuroscience. I love learning about the mind and finding ways to use that information to optimize my life. Along with this, I enjoy weightlifting, cinematography, and mixing music during my free time. I have no background in research but recently got accepted into PREP with Dr. Haigh as my mentor. I aspire to become a psychiatrist, where I will gain a better understanding of the mind and body to not only help those with psychiatric disorders but also neurotypical individuals.

Marcos was funded by the Nevada PREP program


Neville Roy

I am a sophomore studying Neuroscience at UNR. I have always been fascinated with the brain and I'm glad Dr.Haigh gave me this opportunity. My research interests are everything Migraine because I have so many friends and family that have the condition. After graduating, I plan to join an MD program and become a psychiatrist.


Mia Price

Hey! I am a junior pursuing a B.S. in Psychology, minoring in Black Studies and Social Justice. Although I do not have very much neuroscience experience through this lab I'm hoping to get more exposure to everything neuroscience! I have not yet decided if I want to go down a clinical or research career path however, I am sure I want to help communities of color and more specifically the Black community with whatever work I do.

Mia is currently funded by a Nevada Undergraduate Research Award


Alayna McGuire

Hello! My name is Alayna McGuire and I am a Junior pursuing a Neuroscience B.S. I love to travel, cook/bake, and try new things, and despite my broad interest in the Neuroscience field, I have a particular regard for cognitive neuroscience. As for my research interests, I want to study more on sensory processing, specifically deficits for people with neurological disorders. I have found a passion in studying neuroscience through the research I have done in the past, and what I am doing now. My goal is to explore and learn what I can through my research, and potentially pursue an MD/PhD program or a PhD in Neuroscience working at a company's research lab. I hope to make a valuable contribution to the Neuroscience community, and help people with these issues through my discoveries.

Alayna is currently funded by the ENDURE program


Sidney Hulsey

Hi! I am a junior at the University of Nevada, Reno studying Neuroscience with a minor/certificate in Gerontology. Previously, I worked in Dr. Piantadosi’s Computation and Language Lab for a summer studying psychophysical modeling techniques for approximate number tasks. My research interests are in sensory processing and neurodevelopmental disorders. I love working with students on campus with IDDs and other disabilities with the P2I and TAPDINTO-STEM programs. After graduating, I plan to apply to an M.D.-Ph.D. program where I can further pursue my interests.

Sid is currently funded by the ENDURE program


Isabella Durda

I am currently a junior at UNR majoring in Psychology and doing a minor/certificate program in gerontology. While I’ve helped in a lab before coming to UNR, working with Dr. Haigh is the first official lab experience I have had. I am excited to have the opportunity to learn new things and grow throughout this journey. As of right now, I want to become an occupational therapist specializing in pediatrics because I am passionate about helping people live their lives to the fullest and love working with kids!

Izzy was funded by the Nevada PREP program and a Nevada Undergraduate Research Award


Former Graduate Students

Stephanie Otto

Publications

Simon Whitton, Jung Min Kim, Alexandra N. Scurry, Stephanie Otto, Xiaowei Zhuang, Dietman Cordes, & Fang Jiang. (2021). Multisensory temporal processing in early deaf. Neuropsychologia, 163, 108069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.108069.

Conference Presentations

Marena Manierka

Publications

Marena S Manierka, Rachel Rezaei, Samantha Palacios, Sarah M Haigh, Jeffrey J Hutsler (2021). In the mood to be social: affective state influences facial emotion recognition in healthy adults. Emotion. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000999.

Lisa Lindquist

Publications

Lisa C Lindquist, Gregory R McIntire & Sarah M Haigh (2021). The effects of visual discomfort and chromaticity separation on neural processing during a visual task. Vision Research. 182, 27-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2021.01.007.

Conference Presentations

Gregory McIntire

Publications

Lisa C Lindquist, Gregory R McIntire & Sarah M Haigh (2021). The effects of visual discomfort and chromaticity separation on neural processing during a visual task. Vision Research. 182, 27-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2021.01.007.

Conference Presentations


Former Lab Managers

Caitlin Laycox

Publications

Caitlin A Laycox, Rory Thompson, Jasmine A Haggerty, Arnold J Wilkins & Sarah M Haigh (2024). Flicker Slows Reading Speed: Effects on Individuals with Visually Sensitivity. Perception. 53(8), 512-528. https://doi.org/10.1177/03010066241252066. Conference Presentations

Sarah M Haigh, Caitlin A Laycox, Rory Thompson, Jasmine A Haggerty & Arnold J Wilkins (May 2023). Flicker Impairs Reading Speed: Impacts on the Visually Sensitive. Poster presented at the Vision Sciences Society, St Petersburg, FL, USA. Journal of Vision 23(9), 4782. https://doi.org/10.1167/jov.23.9.4782.

Mackenzie Montero

Publications

Sarah M Haigh, Anna M Haugland, Lourdes M Mendoza, & Mackenzie Montero (2023). Auditory discomfort in visually sensitive individuals. Frontiers in Psychology: Perception Science. 14, 1126481. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1126481.

Conference Presentations

Sarah M Haigh, Lourdes R Mendoza & Mackenzie Montero (Nov 2021). Auditory discomfort in migraine and the visually-sensitive. Poster presented at the virtual Society for Neuroscience conference.

Alexandrea Kilgore-Gomez

Publications

Sarah M Haigh†, Marian E Berryhill†, Alexandrea Kilgore-Gomez, & Michael Dodd (2023). Working memory and sensory memory in schizotypy: an avenue for understanding schizophrenia? (†Joint first authors). European Journal of Neuroscience, 57, 1577-1596. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.15961.


Former Research Assistants

Kate Pellegrino


Cheyenne McCormick


Ruby Snyder


Kensal Coudriet

BS Neuroscience - University of Nevada, Reno (2025)

Kensal was funded by the ENDURE program


Yasmin Perry

BA Psychology - University of Nevada, Reno (2025)


Amber Thaxton

BS Neuroscience - University of Nevada, Reno (2024)


Angelina Solorzano-Zamora

BS Psychology - University of Nevada, Reno (2024)


Michelle Ruiz

BS Psychology - University of Nevada, Reno (2024)

Michelle was funded by the ENDURE program

Conference Presentations

Hailey Snook

BS Psychology - University of Nevada, Reno (2024)


Jackie Vallo

BS Microbiology & Immunology - University of Nevada, Reno (2023)


Rasia Yankaway

BS Psychology - University of Nevada, Reno (2024)

Conference Presentations

Shane Trivitt

BS Psychology - University of Nevada, Reno (2024)

Conference Presentations

Lindsey Bevilacqua

BS Psychology - University of Nevada, Reno (2024)


Savanna Blanchette

BA Psychology - University of Nevada, Reno (2023)


Matthew Cummings

BS Neuroscience - University of Nevada, Reno (2023)

Conference Presentations

Carson C Smith, Matthew Cummings, Laura I Van Key & Sarah M Haigh (May 2023). Localizing Visual Allodynia in Migraine. Poster presented at the Vision Sciences Society, St Petersburg, FL, USA. Journal of Vision 23(9), 5474. https://doi.org/10.1167/jov.23.9.5474.

Mariah Meagher

BA Psychology - University of Nevada, Reno (2023)


Jasmine Haggerty

BS Psychology - University of Nevada, Reno (2022)

Currently a medical student at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Cincinnati, Ohio (class 2028)

Publications

Conference Presentations

Sarah M Haigh, Caitlin A Laycox, Rory Thompson, Jasmine A Haggerty & Arnold J Wilkins (May 2023). Flicker Impairs Reading Speed: Impacts on the Visually Sensitive. Poster presented at the Vision Sciences Society, St Petersburg, FL, USA. Journal of Vision 23(9), 4782. https://doi.org/10.1167/jov.23.9.4782.

Lena Kemmelmeier

BA Psychology - University of Nevada, Reno (2025)

Currently a graduate student at San Diego State University

Lena was funded by our R15 AREA grant from NIMH

Publications

Jenna N Pablo, Jorja Shires, Wendy A Torrens, Lena L Kemmelmeier, Sarah M Haigh, & Marian E Berryhill (2025). Identifying Overlapping and Distinctive Traits in Subclinical Autism and Schizophrenia Using Machine Learning Classification. Cognitive Neuropsychiatry. 30(2), 69-91. https://doi.org/10.1080/13546805.2025.2464728


Karina Kneeland

BA Psychology - University of Nevada, Reno (2024)

Karina was funded by our R15 AREA grant from NIMH


Wesley Chen

BS Neuroscience - University of Nevada, Reno (2022)


Kevin Soto



Anna Haugland

BA Psychology - University of Nevada, Reno (2022)

Publications

Sarah M Haigh, Anna M Haugland, Lourdes M Mendoza, & Mackenzie Montero (2023). Auditory discomfort in visually sensitive individuals. Frontiers in Psychology: Perception Science. 14, 1126481. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1126481.

Janea Santiago

BS Neuroscience - University of Nevada, Reno (2022)

Conference Presentations

Sarah M Haigh, Melissa M Cortez, Lauren M Thompson, Anastasia Chevychalova, Janea Santiago & KC Brennan (Nov 2022). Sensory sensitivity across the migraine cycle. Poster presented at the Society of Neuroscience conference. San Diego, CA, USA.

Laura Van Key

BS Molecular Microbiology & Immunology and Nursing - University of Nevada, Reno (2023)

Publications

Sarah M Haigh, Laura Van Key, Pat Brosseau, Shaun M Eack, David I Leitman, Dean F Salisbury & Marlene Behrmann (2023). Assessing Trial-to-Trial Variability in Auditory ERPs in Autism and Schizophrenia. S.I.: Developmental Approach and Targeted Treatment of Sensory Alterations. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 53(12), 4856-4871. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05771-0.

Conference Presentations

Carson C Smith, Matthew Cummings, Laura I Van Key & Sarah M Haigh (May 2023). Localizing Visual Allodynia in Migraine. Poster presented at the Vision Sciences Society, St Petersburg, FL, USA. Journal of Vision 23(9), 5474. https://doi.org/10.1167/jov.23.9.5474.

Anastasiya Chevychalova

BS Neuroscience - University of Nevada, Reno (2022)

Conference Presentations

Sarah M Haigh, Melissa M Cortez, Lauren M Thompson, Anastasia Chevychalova, Janea Santiago & KC Brennan (Nov 2022). Sensory sensitivity across the migraine cycle. Poster presented at the Society of Neuroscience conference. San Diego, CA, USA.

Tabatha Walford

BA Psychology - Honors College, University of Nevada, Reno (2021)

Tabatha was funded by a Nevada Undergraduate Research Award

Publications

Sarah M Haigh, Tabatha P Walford, & Patricia Brosseau (2021). Heart rate variability in schizophrenia and autism. Frontiers in Psychiatry: Schizophrenia. 12, 2129. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.760396.

Lourdes Mendoza

BS Psychology - University of Nevada, Reno (2021)

Currently a Masters student in Music Therapy at Texas Women's University

Publications

Sarah M Haigh, Anna M Haugland, Lourdes M Mendoza, & Mackenzie Montero (2023). Auditory discomfort in visually sensitive individuals. Frontiers in Psychology: Perception Science. 14, 1126481. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1126481.

Xortia Ross

BS Behavioral Analysis - University of Nevada, Reno (2021)

Publications

Olivier Penacchio, Sarah M Haigh, Xortia Ross, Rebecca Ferguson, & Arnold J Wilkins (2021). Visual discomfort and variations in chromaticity in art and nature. Frontiers in Neuroscience: Perception Science. 15, 1706. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2021.711064

Conference Presentations

Rebecca Ferguson

BS Behavioral Analysis - University of Nevada, Reno (2021)

Publications

Olivier Penacchio, Sarah M Haigh, Xortia Ross, Rebecca Ferguson, & Arnold J Wilkins (2021). Visual discomfort and variations in chromaticity in art and nature. Frontiers in Neuroscience: Perception Science. 15, 1706. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2021.711064.

Conference Presentations

Rory Thompson

BA Psychology - Vassar College (2021)

Publications

Caitlin A Laycox, Rory Thompson, Jasmine A Haggerty, Arnold J Wilkins & Sarah M Haigh (2024). Flicker Slows Reading Speed: Effects on Individuals with Visually Sensitivity. Perception. 53(8), 512-528. https://doi.org/10.1177/03010066241252066. Conference Presentations

Sarah M Haigh, Melissa M Cortez, Lauren M Thompson, Anastasia Chevychalova, Janea Santiago & KC Brennan (Nov 2022). Sensory sensitivity across the migraine cycle. Poster presented at the Society of Neuroscience conference. San Diego, CA, USA.

Sarah M Haigh, Caitlin A Laycox, Rory Thompson, Jasmine A Haggerty & Arnold J Wilkins (May 2023). Flicker Impairs Reading Speed: Impacts on the Visually Sensitive. Poster presented at the Vision Sciences Society, St Petersburg, FL, USA. Journal of Vision 23(9), 4782. https://doi.org/10.1167/jov.23.9.4782.

Zoe Slaughter

BA Psychology - Honors College, University of Nevada, Reno (2020)


Pat Brosseau

BS Psychology - Carnegie Mellon University (2020)

Funded by our NARSAD award

Publications

Conference Presentations