Fiona Ernst

EDUCATION

College / University

University of Kent

Highest Degree

Bachelor of Science

Major Subjects

Psychology

Country

Sweden

Lab Experience

Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Electromyography (EMG), Capsaicin and Thermo-induced pain stimulation, Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR), Psychophysical testing

Projects / Research

2025 – 2026: Bachelor’s Thesis, “Investigating Vestibular-Related Predictors of Cybersickness and Aftereffects in Virtual and Mixed Reality”
2025 – 2026: Research Assistant,Patient and Public Involvement in a Study of Goal Setting and Motivation in Parkinson’s Disease
2025 – 2026: Research Assistant, “Beyond Vision: The Müller-Lyer Illusion Reveals Geometric Biases in Passive Touch and Haptic Exploration”
2024 – 2025: Research Assistant, “Investigating Processes of Touch and Pain with Brain Stimulation: A TMS Study”

Publications

Gwynne, L., Ernst, F., Lenatti, C., & Tamè, L. (2026). Beyond vision: The Müller-Lyer illusion reveals geometric biases in passive touch and haptic exploration. Neuropsychologia, 109549. doi 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2026.109549

Scholarships / Awards

2026:	Edward Lamb Final Year Project Prize, University of Kent
2025:	Psychology Stage 2 General Prize, University of Kent
2024– 2026:	Fredrik d’Orchimonts Scholarship
2023– 2026:	First 500 Scholarship, University of Kent

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS AND GOALS

My scientific interests lie in understanding the mechanisms underlying neurological and neurodegenerative disorders and how this knowledge can inform more effective therapeutic approaches. I am particularly interested in how disruptions within the nervous system give rise to changes in motor function, cognition and perception, especially in the context of Parkinson’s disease. I hope to bridge different areas of neuroscience to build a more complete understanding of these disorders and inspire new strategies for studying and treating them. My previous research has also sparked an interest in the vestibular system and altered sensory processing, both in neurological disease and vestibular disorders. Working with techniques such as TMS and galvanic vestibular stimulation sparked my interest in using neural modulation to investigate nervous system function and its therapeutic potential. As I am introduced to new areas of neuroscience, I am excited to explore how this understanding may open new directions for my research.