How I explore trauma through ‘cinematic neuroscience’

Shaira Berg, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, is pioneering a unique approach to understanding trauma through the lens of “cinematic neuroscience.” Her work bridges the fields of clinical behavioural neuroscience, virtual reality (VR), theatre, and film, offering new insights into how psychological experiences can be explored and communicated beyond traditional scientific frameworks. During her PhD in psychology at the University of Cambridge, UK, Berg collaborated with the video-game studio Ninja Theory to conduct VR-based studies on how threat influences goal-directed learning and maladaptive habit formation in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). These experiments utilized a method known as Pavlovian-instrumental transfer, which investigates how environmental cues linked to rewards or threats can shape behavior. In one experiment, participants were exposed to virtual scenarios designed to mimic real-world challenges, allowing researchers to observe how learned associations affected decision-making and response patterns. The findings, published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, revealed that increased immersion in VR enhanced the habitual aspects of behavioral responses, while goal-directed behaviors remained relatively stable. This discovery holds particular significance for OCD, where habitual responses often overshadow intentional actions. Berg's journey into interdisciplinary research was deeply influenced by her personal experiences. She described surviving a traumatic event during her doctoral studies as a pivotal moment that reshaped her perspective on the limitations of existing research methodologies for studying the brain after trauma. Instead of distancing herself from this experience, she integrated it into her academic work, exploring how creative expression could complement scientific inquiry. This led her to write and star in Gaslight, a play inspired by her own encounters with trauma. The production received critical acclaim and was later adapted into a short film, currently in development as a feature-length project. Through this medium, Berg sought to convey the complex emotional realities of psychological conditions such as PTSD and OCD in ways that scientific data alone could not achieve. Her current research focuses on fear conditioning and PTSD, continuing her collaboration with a film studio to merge neuroscience with storytelling. By using immersive technologies, she aims to deepen the understanding of how trauma impacts cognitive and emotional processes. Berg emphasizes that her creative output, whether in film or theatre, is rooted in neuroscience, serving as a means to examine and portray human behavior with honesty and authenticity. She believes that mainstream depictions of mental health conditions often lack sensitivity and accuracy, and she sees her work as a way to address this gap. The integration of art and science in Berg’s work reflects a growing trend among researchers who seek to expand the boundaries of traditional academic disciplines. Her approach highlights the potential for cross-disciplinary collaboration to yield innovative methods for studying and communicating psychological phenomena. As she continues her research and creative projects, Berg remains committed to bridging the divide between scientific inquiry and artistic expression, offering new perspectives on the nature of trauma and its impact on the human mind.