INST research ultimately focuses on optimizing human performance in complex task environments. Our research falls into one of two very broad categories, or thrust areas, cognitive science and medical systems. Because humans are both mental and physical beings, we combine research from various fields within our thrust areas to allow study of both aspects of human nature. Our researchers' interests vary greatly, with many involved in interdisciplinary projects, inclusive of two or more traditional academic areas. INST encourages our researchers to become involved in projects that are interdisciplinary, pushing the limits of perceived areas of study and broadening their reach, even across the thrust areas.

Broadly speaking, cognitive science involves the study of information systems, both human (the brain) and artificial, and/or how they interact. It is an interdisciplinary field, combining the areas of computer science, psychology, engineering, neuroscience, and human factors, among others, to study human-computer interaction and human performance in complex task environments. Cognitive science researchers at INST perform research more specifically focusing on the areas of computational cognitive science, skill acquisition, problem solving, expertise, computational cognitive models of human learning and performance, decision-making, artificial intelligence, neuropsychology, and information visualization. Our researchers in this area come from the departments of agricultural and biological engineering, industrial engineering, psychology, finance and economics, computer science, and electrical and computer engineering. Their individual research interests vary greatly in topic and scope.

Medical systems includes human and animal research in biomedical engineering, biological sciences, human-system integration, and veterinary medicine, and serves to improve human and animal performance. Well-known results of medical systems research include artificial organs and limbs, advances in the field of drug absorption, and using biomaterials for dental applications. Medical systems researchers at INST come from the departments of biological sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine's clinical sciences and basic sciences departments. Their research includes studies in biomedical engineering, bone loss, animal models in research, molecular stimulation of body function, animal anatomy, orthopedics, and anesthesiology.

To learn more about INST's current research projects, please view the project abstracts linked below or call our office at 325-0237 for more specific information:

Exploring the Internal Structure of the Lexicon Using the Stroop Effect and fMRI Recording Techniques

Structured Visualization Environments for Large-Scale Displays

Monocrystalline Iron Oxide Nanocompound (MION) Labeling of Red Blood Cells for Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Dogs

Optimizing Multimodal Strategic Processing

Optimizing Strategic Visual Processing

Tutoring Real-Time Dynamic Task Performance

Instructor-Student Interaction Dynamics

Individual Differences in Team Performance in Interactive Task Environments

Situation Awareness

Building An Infrastructure for Augmented Reality Perceptual Research and Engineering at the INST