UNH Manchester Alumni and Associate Professor Publish Groundbreaking Neuropsychology Research

If you’ve ever wondered how the brain helps us make sense of the world or how studying it can make a real difference in people’s lives, UNH Manchester offers a path to help turn that curiosity into discovery. Two recent graduates, Vishnu Soni ’22 and Joey Planchet '23, are proof that big opportunities can start in small, supportive classrooms.

Together, they co-authored a research paper with Dr. John Sparrow, Associate Professor of Psychology at UNH Manchester. Dr. Sparrow holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Experimental Psychology from the University of New Hampshire and a B.S. in Psychology from SUNY Oswego. Their article, “A Compendium of Considerations for Methods in Motion-Induced Blindness Research,” was published in the prestigious journal Behavior Research Methods. This achievement stems from years of work in UNH Manchester’s Sensation & Perception Lab, supported by NH-INBRE funding.

Why This Research Matters

The paper addresses Motion-Induced Blindness (MIB), a fascinating visual illusion in which objects appear to disappear when viewed against a moving background. Motion-Induced Blindness research goes far beyond visual illusions; it offers critical insights into how the brain processes information and could pave the way for clinical tools to address conditions such as ADHD.

“Many studies simply copied previous setups without questioning how those details might impact data,” says Vishnu Soni. “Even simple aspects, like color choices or display definitions, can influence results and interpretations.”

“This project took over three years to complete, so that's a pretty big deal,” Joey Planchet adds. “It was also a complicated project, since it's not necessarily the result of one experiment, but a comprehensive review of studying a visual phenomenon. The fact that we got published at all is very impressive. It is not common for undergrad students to publish papers in peer-reviewed journals at all, much less as first author.”

From UNH Manchester to Leading Research Institutions

Vishnu Soni is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh. “As a neuroscience PhD student, I'm working to understand how our brain can represent a piece of information, such as a mental image, or an abstract quantity, and then manipulate or transform it, by say rotating that image (like in Tetris), or adding the quantity with another to produce a third quantity (math).”

Joey Planchet is putting his neuropsychology degree to work at Massachusetts General Hospital, helping patients through hands-on cognitive and psychological testing. “I'm currently a psychometrist at Massachusetts General Hospital's Psychology Assessment Center, where I administer cognitive and psychological tests to adult patients to help neuropsychologists with their evaluations.”

He further explained that the evaluations he helps conduct can be crucial for diagnosing and managing a wide range of conditions. “Some common conditions where a neuropsychological evaluation is helpful include Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, mild cognitive impairment, strokes, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy and other seizure disorders, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Parkinson's disease, psychiatric conditions, and brain tumors or cancers.”

A Culture of Support and Discovery

Both alumni credit UNH Manchester’s unique neuropsychology program, small class sizes, and hands-on research opportunities for shaping their careers.

“I chose UNH Manchester because of its unique neuropsychology program and possibilities to do related research,” Joey says. “While I'm originally from New Hampshire, I was going to school in Ohio when I learned I wanted to pursue a career in clinical neuropsychology, so when I found this program in my ‘backyard', I applied to transfer soon after.”

Joey also emphasized the collaborative and encouraging environment on campus, saying, “I really got to know my faculty well and approach them with anything. It was a very collaborative and exciting environment where people brought a lot of great energy for discovering new things.”

Vishnu shares, “I chose UNH Manchester due to its urban setting, affordability, and commutable distance to home.” He adds, “They also do a great job at recognizing student success. I was grateful to receive several recognitions during my time there.”

Your Future Starts Here

At UNH Manchester, psychology and neuropsychology have proven to be launchpads for meaningful careers in research, healthcare, and beyond. With small classes, hands-on labs, and direct faculty mentorship, students gain the skills and experience to thrive in graduate programs and clinical roles.

“Learning directly from Dr. Sparrow gave us valuable research experience,” Joey says. “I use concepts from my classes at work every day.”

Vishnu Soni reflects, “Because the lab work catered to my curiosity, by the time of my graduation, I was not only able to amass a great amount of knowledge about the field, but in more practical terms, I was also able to gain tons of practice presenting the lab's work at conferences.” He adds, “This publication was also part of my application to graduate schools, and I believe that overall, all the entries in my CV that came from Dr. Sparrow's lab played a crucial role in my admission to grad school.”

If you’re driven to understand the brain and help others, UNH Manchester offers the tools, mentorship, and opportunities to turn your passion into impact. Explore the psychology and neuropsychology programs at UNH Manchester today.