Dr. Nathan Evans

Dr. Nathan Evans

Scientific collaborator

Presentation

Earned a PhD in Neuroscience from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). His research in Cognitive Neuroscience investigated the neural and psychological mechanisms associated with new technologies that permit us to decode neural signals and directly translate them into machine-guided actions, circumventing the standard action pathways of the muskuloskeletal system. He obtained a Masters degree in Computer Science (also from the EPFL) and a BS in Computer Science from the University of Washington (Seattle, USA), where his research and coursework focused on biological computing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

In addition his scientific work, he is a passionate multi-instrumentalist, music producer, songwriter, vocalist, DJ, and general music enthusiast who creates and performs in various projects (madnax; youniverse; Love Bunker).

His artistic endeavors continue to inspire his current work at the Agalma Foundation where, in collaboration with Prof. Pierre Magestretti and musician Richard Rentsch, he investigates the spontaneous creative process and the unconscious through musical improvisation. Using insights from his research, he leads a conceptual, mixed-media artistic performance that combines musical improvisation, biological signal decoding, and the projection of 3D visuals.

Publications

Peer-reviewed Articles

 

Evans, N., Gale, S., Schurger, A., & Blanke, O. (2015). Visual Feedback Dominates the Sense of Agency for Brain-Machine Actions. PloS one, 10(6).

 

Heydrich, L., Marillier, G., Evans, N., Blanke, O., & Seeck, M. (2015). Lateralising value of experiential hallucinations in temporal lobe epilepsy. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, jnnp-2014.

 

Evans, N., & Blanke, O. (2013). Shared electrophysiology mechanisms of body ownership and motor imagery. Neuroimage, 64, 216-228.

 

Conference Proceedings (Articles & Invited Talks)

Evans, N. & Blanke, O. (2012) Who’s the Boss? Manipulating the sense of agency over actions mediated by direct cortical control. Alpine Brain Imaging Meeting, Champerey, Switzerland.

 

Evans, N. Gale, S. Blanke, O. (2011). Who’s the Boss? Manipulating one’s sense of agency over actions mediated by direct cortical control. Virtual Embodiment and Robotic Re-Embodiment PhD Symposium (VERE). Barcelona, Spain.

 

Hara, M., Rognini, G., Evans, N., Blanke, O., Yamamoto, A. (2011). A novel approach to the manipulation of body-parts ownership using a bilateral master-slave system. IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), San Francisco, USA.

 

Evans, N. & Blanke, O. (2010) Electrophysiological mechanisms of body ownership. Alpine Brain Imaging Meeting, Champerey, Switzerland.

 

Evans, N. & Blanke, O. (2010) The electrophysiology of virtual-body ownership and motor imagery: A VR-EEG study. Body Representation in Physical and Virtual Reality with Application to Rehabilitation, Ascona, Switzerland.

 

Schwabe, L. Evans, N. Leggenhager, B. Blanke, O. (2008). Mental perspective transformations: ERP analyses and single trial EEG classification. CoSYNE. Salt Lake City, USA.

 

Tanimoto, S. Evans, N. Carlson, A. (2007). Using Graphical Models to Unobtrusively Assess Student Performance in Educational Image Processing Activities. Advanced Learning Technologies. Volume 7. Pg. 848-852.

Tanimoto, S. Evans, N. Carlson, A. (2007). Sequential Input Graphical Model Assessment Diagrams for Analysis of Student Activity Data. Advanced Learning Technologies. Volume 7. Pg. 686-690.

Shenoy, P. Miller, K.J. Evans, N. Ojemann, J. Rao, R. (2006). Robust Classification of Electrocorticographic Signals for BCI. 3rd International BCI Workshop, Graz, Austria.

Conference Proceedings (Posters)

Evans, N. Gale, S., Blanke, O. (2012) The sense of agency over actions mediated by direct cortical control. Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness, Brighton, England.

 

Herbelin, B., Evans, N., Blanke, O. (2012) Jumping the Gun: The sense of agency when sensory consequences precede the action. Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness, Brighton, England.

 

Evans, N., Gale, S., Blanke, O. (2011) Conflicts between motor intentions and artificial sensory consequences via a real-time brain computer interface alter intention recognition but not classification performance. Society for Neuroscience (SfN), Washington DC, USA.

 

Evans, N. Blanke, O. (2011). Toward Cognitive Neuroprosthetics: Motor imagery and illusory body ownership. Swiss Society for Neuroscience (SSN). Basel, Switzerland.

 

Rezende, DJ., Evans, N., Gerstner, W., Blanke, O. (2010). A Bayesian Model for a Fully Automated, Virtual Reality-based Rubber Hand Illusion. European Conference on Visual Perception, Lausanne, Switzerland.

 

Evans, N. & Blanke, O. (2010). Fully-automated modulation of virtual-body ownership suppresses fronto-parietal mu rhythm. Human Brain Mapping, Barcelona, Spain.

 

Evans, N. & Blanke, O. (2010). The electrophysiology of body parts ownership and motor imagery: A virtual reality/EEG study. Lemanic Neuroscience Annual Meeting (LNAM), Geneva, Switzerland.

 

Evans, N. & Blanke, O. (2010). Cognitive neuroprosthetics: Single-trial classification in a brain-computer interface task depends on illusory body ownership. Society for Neuroscience (SfN), San Diego, USA.
Evans, N. Lopez, C. Blanke, O. (2009). The Virtual Arm Illusion: Programmatically inducing illusory touch and ownership. Lemanic Neuroscience Annual Meeting (LNAM). Morges, Switzerland.

Doctoral Thesis

Cognitive Neuroprosthetics: Body Ownership and agency for brain-machine actions. EPFL Doctoral Thesis 5632. Lausanne, Switzerland.

Masters Thesis

Evans, N. (2008). Single trial analyses of novel cognitive tasks in an EEG-based Brain-Computer Interface framework. Masters Thesis (EPFL). Lausanne, Switzerland.

Bachelors Thesis

Evans, N. (2005). The GMA Gnome: Providing Automated Assessment via Graphical Models. University of Washington Department of Computer Science and Engineering Honors Thesis. Seattle, WA, USA.