California State University-San Bernardino · PsychologyBrunet Lab
Nicolas M Brunet · San Bernardino, California
Research Focus
Dr. Nicolas M Brunet's lab at California State University, San Bernardino focuses on understanding how our brains and bodies respond to food when we feel hungry or full, especially in people with obesity. Using cutting-edge tools like virtual reality and brain imaging, the lab aims to uncover the differences in brain activity and physiological responses between individuals with different weight statuses. This research could lead to better ways to diagnose and treat obesity and eating disorders, providing valuable experiences for undergraduate students in the process.
hungerobesitysatietyneuroimagingvirtual realitybrain activityphysiological responseseating disordersbiomarkers
Research Aims
5AIM 01Assess neural and physiological responses to food stimuli in normal-weight individuals under different states of hunger and satiety.
AIM 02Compare these responses in individuals with obesity to those of normal-weight controls.
AIM 03Identify reliable biomarkers linked to energy intake regulation.
AIM 04Unravel how psychological and physiological mechanisms of hunger differ between normal-weight individuals and those with obesity.
AIM 05Provide hands-on research experience in neuroimaging and health interventions for undergraduate students.
Skills the Lab Values
functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)physiological and hormonal monitoringvirtual reality technologysubjective hunger/satiety ratingsdata collection and analysispsychophysiology techniquesneuroimaging data interpretationstatistical analysisresearch methodology
Output against the department
Publications46bottom 7% of dept.275th of 296
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.9kbottom 18% of dept.244th of 296
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.