Samantha Cunningham, Ph.D. Student in Biomedical Engineering
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Address: Doheny Vision Research Center
1355 San Pablo Street, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Email: sicunnin@usc.edu
Phone: (323) 442-6765
Fax: (323) 442-6755
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Background:
Samantha Cunningham received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biomechanical Engineering from Stanford University, Stanford, CA in 2008, during which time she also completed a computational neuroscience tutorial at Oxford University through Stanford's Overseas Studies Program. She joined USC's PhD program in Biomedical Engineering in the Fall of 2008. Her research interests include interdisciplinary work that integrates imaging technologies, computational science, neuroscience, psychology, and engineering.
Current Research:
Experiments have demonstrated that such devices as the ARGUS II Retinal Stimulation System increase the visual task performance of subjects suffering from progressive retinal degenerative disorders. While testing with real and simulated prosthetic vision shows that individuals adjust to the limited vision with time, the relationship between retinal prosthesis use and visual cortical activation is unclear. Samantha's current project utilizes functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to determine how a retinal prosthesis affects the processing of stimuli in the visual cortex over time.
