OC Student Takes Engineering 2nd Place Award at Broadcom MASTERS 2021

Clara Choi from Orange County School of the Arts, Santa Ana won $2,500 cash grant  with her project EEG Study of Virtual Learning Demonstrates Worsened Learning Outcomes and Higher Mirror Neuron Activation

Inspired by her dance class cancelation due to COVID-19, Clara studied how mirror neurons in the brain are activated during virtual and in-person learning. Study participants watched virtual and live dance routines while Clara measured the brain waves that indicate mirror neuron activity. Then she asked the subjects to perform the routines and scored them on how well they did. Clara found that her subject scored lower on the routines they learned virtually but that mirror neuron activity was significantly higher during virtual learning.

Clara won 2nd place with this project earlier this year at the annual OCSEF – in the Cognitive Science category.

Visit Clara’s virtual booth at the Broadcom MASTERS to learn more about this project.