Robert Shannon

Ph.D. 2012

Thesis Title:

Individual Differences in Cognitive and Perceptual Neuroscience

Current Position:

Research Scientist, 3M

Undergraduate Institution and Major/Degree:

University of Minnesota , BA, psychology, 2003.

Major Advisor(s):

  • Sheng He, Ph.D.
  • Christopher Patrick, Ph.D.

Research Description:

I am interested in how we process visual stimuli and interpret this information in a meaningful way.  I am also interested in how we can use visual phenomena as a tool to study other cognitive functions. Visual information can influence our behaviour, even when the information cannot be consciously perceived. By using a variety of techniques including psychophysics, functional magnetic resonance imaging, and electrophysiological recordings, it may be possible to unravel some of the mysteries behind visual processing.  Furthermore, by using these same techniques, we can explore other cognitive functions.  Specifically, I am using a visual stimuli presentation tool known as continuous flash suppression to explore the subconscious mind of individuals, including a population of criminal psychopaths.

Lab Rotations:

  • Laura Stone
  • Alice Larson
  • Martin Wessendorf
  • David Redish
  • Sheng He

Courses Taken Beyond the Core Courses:

  • Psy5036
  • Psy 5062
  • Psy 8960
  • Psy 8993

Graduate Level Minor:

  • Psychology

Selected Publications:

  • Shannon RW, Patrick CJ, Venables NC, He S. 'Faceness' and affectivity: evidence for genetic contributions to distinct components of electrocortical response to human faces. Neuroimage. 2013;83:609-15.
  • Shannon RW, Patrick CJ, Jiang Y, Bernat E, He S. Genes contribute to the switching dynamics of bistable perception. J Vis. 2011 Mar 9;11(3).
  • Moulson MC, Shannon RW, Nelson CA. Neural correlates of visual recognition in 3-month-old infants: The role of experience. Dev Psychobiol. 2011;53(4):416-24. 
  • Jiang Y, Shannon RW, Vizueta N, Bernat EM, Patrick CJ, He S. Dynamics of processing invisible faces in the brain: Automatic neural encoding of facial expression information. Neuroimage. 2009;44(3):1171-7.
  • Scott LS, Shannon RW, Nelson CA. Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence of species-specific face processing. Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci. 2005 Dec;5(4):405-16.
  • Pascalis O, Scott LS, Kelly DJ, Shannon RW, Nicholson E, Coleman M, Nelson CA. Plasticity of face processing in infancy.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005;102(14):5297-300.

Conferences Attended and Presentations:

  • Society for Neuroscience annual meeting - Fall 2005
  • Society for Psychophysiological Research, Berlin, Germany
  • Vision Sciences Society, Naples, Fl/Sarasota, FL
  • Society for Research in Child Development, Tampa, FL
  • International Conference on Infant Studies, Chicago, IL/Kyoto, Japan

Professional Memberships:

  • Society for Neuroscience
  • Center for Cognitive Sciences
  • Vision Sciences Society

Home Town:

  • Roseville, MN
Robert Shannon