Highlighting the Postdoctoral Achiever: Erin Bojanek, PhD ( graduate from '14)
In the heart of academic research, Erin Bojanek, a dedicated psychologist with a PhD in Clinical Child Psychology, is making significant strides in understanding the unique ways individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) perceive and process visual information. Bojanek is currently based at the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC), where she is an instructor in the Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab.
Bojanek's research is centred around the concept of local-global processing in autism. Her study aims to shed light on the sensory processing differences that characterise ASD, specifically focusing on how individuals with ASD perceive visual information differently compared to neurotypical individuals.
Bojanek's work has yielded key contributions to the field. One such contribution is clarifying the local-global processing bias in ASD. Her studies provide evidence that individuals with ASD often show a heightened focus on local elements of visual scenes rather than integrating those details into a global whole. This local processing bias helps explain some characteristic perceptual and cognitive features of ASD, such as attention to detail and difficulties in tasks requiring holistic processing.
Another significant contribution is Bojanek’s elucidation of the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying this bias. By investigating how visual information is processed differently, her work contributes to understanding the underlying neural pathways and cognitive processes that might be atypical in ASD. For example, differences in connectivity between brain regions responsible for local versus global processing may underlie this bias.
Bojanek’s findings also support theories like the “Weak Central Coherence” hypothesis, which proposes that individuals with ASD tend to focus on parts rather than wholes. Her research helps refine such models by providing empirical data from controlled visual tasks.
The implications of Bojanek’s research extend beyond theoretical understanding. Her work can guide the development of better diagnostic tools and tailor interventions that take advantage of or compensate for these perceptual tendencies. For instance, therapies might focus on enhancing global processing or leveraging strong local processing skills.
Bojanek's interest in working with children was inspired by her mom, who was a special education teacher. Her journey in autism research was significantly influenced by Tris Smith, PhD, a pioneer in autism research, during her undergraduate training. John Foxe, PhD, Edward Freedman, PhD, Laura Silverman, PhD, and Heather Adams, PhD, are colleagues and clinical supervisors who have played pivotal roles in Bojanek's research at the CNL lab, teaching her new techniques and helping her understand how her clinical skills inform her research.
Bojanek plans to continue a career with a research focus while maintaining a clinical component. She is currently pursuing her clinical psychology license and gaining expertise in autism diagnostic assessments. Her work continues to provide valuable insights into the unique cognitive and neural processes in individuals with ASD, contributing to a more nuanced picture of the perceptual and cognitive mechanisms underlying the condition.
- Erin Bojanek's research in the field of science, specifically mental health and neurological disorders, is centered around autism, with a focus on health and wellness as it pertains to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
- As an educator in health-and-wellness, Bojanek's contributions to medical-conditions, such as ASD, involve online education, with a significant emphasis on understanding the unique ways individuals with ASD process visual information.
- Bojanek's findings reveal key insights about local-global processing in autism, which contributes to the development of education-and-self-development tools, tailoring interventions that cater to the perceptual tendencies observed in individuals with ASD.
- In her pursuit of a clinical psychology license, Erin Bojanek plans to uphold a balance between her research focus on ASD and a clinical component, leaning on the guidance of her colleagues and clinical supervisors to further refine her skills and contribute to the understanding of ASD's cognitive and neural processes.
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