Scholarship@Western

Lammert, Jessica M

Butler, Blake E

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Learning through stories: Examining the neurocognitive correlates 
of narrative engagement in children 
Jessica M. Lammert 
Western University, jlammert@uwo.ca 
Blake E. Butler 
Western University, bbutler9@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Lammert, Jessica M. and Butler, Blake E., "Learning through stories: Examining the neurocognitive 
correlates of narrative engagement in children" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of Western’s 
Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 820. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/820 
Storytelling has been a fundamental part of human learning and experience for thousands 
of years. Stories exist beyond reality, harnessing our imagination to communicate 
instructions, ideas, values, and history across cultures and generations. In the classroom, 
stories like books, movies, plays help pupils structure new information and stay engaged in 
their lessons. The ability to understand and tell stories can vary widely with age, 
experience, and cognitive ability, warranting further research on how students engage with 
stories and storytelling. I used the Healthy Brain Network, a large-scale open access 
clinical neuroimaging database, to study narrative processing in 526 school-age children. 
Machine learning models based on cognitive test scores, stories produced by children, and 
their brain activity during a movie offer insight into how different children engage with 
stories. Research on storytelling has the potential to improve access to this important 
mode of human connection within and beyond the classroom. 


Learning through stories: Examining the neurocognitive correlates of narrative engagement in children

Esmailian, Kian

Lacefield, James C., Dr

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
A Better Way to See the Heart: Fast and Precise Blood Flow 
Imaging 
Kian Esmailian 
Western University, kesmaili@uwo.ca 
James C. Lacefield Dr 
Western University, jlacefie@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Esmailian, Kian and Lacefield, James C. Dr, "A Better Way to See the Heart: Fast and Precise Blood Flow 
Imaging" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity. 826. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/826 
A Better Way to See the Heart: Fast and Precise Blood Flow Imaging 
Kian Esmailian, James C. Lacefield 
 
Heart failure, a leading cause of death, often arises from conditions like valvular defects, which 
cause abnormal blood flow. Echocardiography is ideal for imaging heart function due to its 
safety, portability, and low cost. However, traditional ultrasound, with a frame rate of 50 Hz, 
struggles to capture the rapid, complex flow patterns seen in valve disorders. Ultrafast Doppler 
ultrasound, operating at 1000 Hz, improves temporal resolution but faces trade-offs: high 
velocities may appear reversed or blur heart structures. Our group aims to overcome this 
limitation, enabling both accurate velocity estimation and sharp imaging at high frame rates to 
measure pulsatile flow. We will validate this approach in mouse hearts, with the goal of 
translating it to human use. This advancement could significantly improve the diagnosis of heart 
failure and valvular disease—making it faster, more accurate, and widely accessible. 


A Better Way to See the Heart: Fast and Precise Blood Flow Imaging

Adler, Samantha

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Contextualizing Embodied Movement: Young People’s 
Negotiations of Race, Gender, Culture, and Body Image 
Samantha Adler 
sadler9@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Adler, Samantha, "Contextualizing Embodied Movement: Young People’s Negotiations of Race, Gender, 
Culture, and Body Image" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, 
Scholarship and Creative Activity. 854. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/854 
Samantha Adler 
 
Physical activity (PA) can be beneficial for one’s physical, mental, and social development. 
However, I have experienced first-hand how PA settings often fail in serving diverse 
communities, and how PA can be unpleasant and unhealthy when viewed as a way to 
achieve unrealistic body ideals. We need more body image and PA research with 
marginalized groups of young people, as they may have unique body image concerns and 
poorer health outcomes compared to individuals more commonly represented in research 
and media. The purpose of my work is to understand how cultural norms, PA engagement, 
and social identities (like race and gender) influence young people’s relationships with their 
body and movement. My findings will guide the creation of more inclusive PA opportunities, 
thus enhancing enjoyment and embodiment, or one’s ability to connect with and trust their 
body. I aim to support the wellbeing of diverse young people by centering their experiences. 
 


Contextualizing Embodied Movement: Young People’s Negotiations of Race, Gender, Culture, and Body Image

Saltzman, Michelle

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Examining the Supporting Transition Resilience of Newcomer 
Groups (STRONG) Intervention 
Michelle Saltzman 
Western University, msaltzm3@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Saltzman, Michelle, "Examining the Supporting Transition Resilience of Newcomer Groups (STRONG) 
Intervention" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship 
and Creative Activity. 860. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/860 
Michelle Saltzman 
Canada’s growing newcomer youth population experience compounded pre and post migration 
stressors, including trauma, discrimination, and acculturative stress, which can adversely affect 
their mental health, academic performance and social-emotional development. To address this 
concern, the Supporting Transition Resilience of Newcomer Groups (STRONG) intervention 
was developed.  
STRONG is a trauma-informed, manualized, group-based intervention consisting of ten sessions 
rooted in cognitive-behavioural therapy principles. It is designed to enhance resilience and well-
being by teaching emotion regulation, coping strategies for stress, problem-solving and 
identification of personal strengths.  
This qualitative study aims to expand the evidence base for STRONG by examining the 
perceived experiences of participating newcomer children and youth in school and community 
settings. 
STRONG represents a paradigm shift in mental health care for newcomer populations, 
prioritizing strength and resilience over deficit and trauma. It amplifies youth voices while 
addressing critical support gaps, providing a practical and effective tool for fostering well-being. 
 
 
 


Examining the Supporting Transition Resilience of Newcomer Groups (STRONG) Intervention

Sikstrom, Lee

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Sensing Health with Light 
Lee Sikstrom 
Western University, lsikstro@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Sikstrom, Lee, "Sensing Health with Light" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of Western’s 
Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 753. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/753 
Sensing Health with Light 
My research investigates how light interacts with tissue. By shining light of certain colours on tissue and 
measuring how much light reflects off the tissue, information about the health and condition of that 
tissue can be determined. This technology is currently used in pulse oximeters and smart watches to 
measure heart rate and blood oxygen levels. My work focuses on expanding the types of health 
information that can be extracted from these optical signals and exploring new healthcare applications 
using machine learning algorithms. 
The main goal of my research is to develop a tool that assists neurosurgeons by using light to sense the 
health and viability of brain tissue. This technology will alert surgeons if health brain tissue is at risk of 
being harmed during surgical procedures. Limiting harm during procedures will reduce recovery times 
and improve patient outcomes.  
 
 


Sensing Health with Light

Baker Lehnen, Ella S

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Improving Mobility in Adults with Spina Bifida 
Ella S. Baker Lehnen 
Western University, ebakerle@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Baker Lehnen, Ella S., "Improving Mobility in Adults with Spina Bifida" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital 
Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 755. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/755 
Is it possible to promote recovery in a nervous system years after the initial damage? My study 
attempts to answer this for spina bifida patients. Spina Bifida is a birth defect where the spinal 
cord forms incorrectly and is damaged. This affects movement and function in the lower limbs, 
as signals from the brain cannot pass through the damaged area. My study involves stimulating 
the motor cortex in the brain with transcranial magnetic stimulation to improve the efficiency of 
this area. Then, participants use a stationary cycle with electrodes to stimulate the leg muscles. 
This exercise increases activation in the motor cortex, causes the release of brain function 
chemicals, improves cerebral blood flow and promotes function in the lower extremities. The use 
of these interventions is expected to improve walking ability. The hope is to explore a positive 
intervention for a group often ignored by rehabilitation research. 


Improving Mobility in Adults with Spina Bifida

Barnesky, Courtney

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Lessons from the 2024 Jasper Wildfire 
Courtney Barnesky 
Western University, cbarnesk@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Barnesky, Courtney, "Lessons from the 2024 Jasper Wildfire" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection 
of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 759. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/759 
Lessons from the 2024 Jasper Wildfire 
 
Canadians have become immune to the news of yet another out-of-control wildfire in Western 
Canada. Nevertheless, we think, “that won’t happen to me,” but what happens if it does? On July 
22, 2024, I, along with thousands of residents, were made aware of three active wildfires in 
Jasper National Park. In a matter of hours, with the bare essentials in hand, the park was empty 
for the first time since 1907. Forty-eight hours post-evacuation, the town began to burn. After a 
month of navigating displacement, ecological destruction and finally, return, Jasperites can begin 
to understand their experiences. While still beloved, how do Jasperites alter their sense of home 
to fit the new landscape? What are the psychosocial impacts of evacuation, restoration and 
recovery? I aim to uncover these impacts using phenomenology, semi-structured interviews and 
my own experience to explain “what does it mean to be evacuated from Jasper?” 
 


Lessons from the 2024 Jasper Wildfire

Ansari Dezfuly, Niloufar

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Too Long, Too Twisty, or Both? 
Niloufar Ansari Dezfuly 
Western University, Nansarid@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Ansari Dezfuly, Niloufar, "Too Long, Too Twisty, or Both?" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 762. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/762 
Inspiring Minds_2025                                                                                               Niloufar Ansari Dezfuly 
 
Too Long, Too Twisty, or Both? 
 
Why do some people struggle to understand complex sentences while others breeze through them? 
When someone has trouble following a sentence, is the issue their language skills or working 
memory? 
Our research explores how language and working memory interact during sentence 
comprehension. We developed a new version of the classic, Token Test, using colored tokens and 
spoken commands. Some sentences are long but simple; others are short yet linguistically complex. 
This design helps tease apart whether difficulties stem from understanding language or from 
memory load. 130 participants completed the test, and we analyzed how accuracy and response 
times changed based on sentence length and complexity. 
The goal? To build better tools for assessing language comprehension. This is especially important 
for individuals with language disorders, such as Developmental Language Disorder, where 
accurate diagnosis and effective support depend on reliable assessment. Our work contributes to 
making those tools smarter, and more precise. 
 
 
 


Too Long, Too Twisty, or Both?

Loeschnik, Emma

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Bridging the Gap: Insulin Insights in Older Adults with Diabetes 
and CKD 
Emma Loeschnik 
Western University, eloeschn@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Loeschnik, Emma, "Bridging the Gap: Insulin Insights in Older Adults with Diabetes and CKD" (2025). 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 
763. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/763 
“Bridging the Gap: Insulin Insights in Older Adults with Diabetes and CKD” 
In Canada, diabetes is most common among older adults, and chronic kidney 
disease (CKD) is its most prevalent complication. Older adults living with both conditions 
face a heightened risk of heart disease, stroke, disability, frailty, and cognitive decline, 
making diabetes management especially complex. Yet, older adults with advanced CKD 
are often underrepresented in clinical trials of diabetes medications. 
Hypoglycemia—dangerously low blood sugar—is a serious concern in both aging 
and CKD, and insulin treatment must be carefully tailored to reduce this risk. My study 
compares the risk of hypoglycemia between two long-acting basal insulins to determine 
whether kidney function alters that risk. Using healthcare utilization data and a matching 
method that mimics randomization, my research improves generalizability by capturing 
real-world patients and insulin use in Ontario. By doing so, I aim to help fill an important 
evidence gap and support safer, more effective diabetes care for this vulnerable 
population. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Emma Loeschnik, MSc Student 
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics 
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry 
Western University 


Bridging the Gap: Insulin Insights in Older Adults with Diabetes and CKD

Bedard, Denise M

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Bringing “Home” to Long-Term Care 
Denise M. Bedard 
Western University, dbedard4@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Bedard, Denise M., "Bringing “Home” to Long-Term Care" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 766. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/766 
What if long-term care actually felt like home? 
I’m a PhD student researching how we can bring comfort, dignity, and belonging back into 
long-term care. Right now, many older adults live in cold, institutional spaces, when what 
they truly need is warmth, autonomy, and connection. There are better models out there: 
small, homelike environments that focus on relationships and quality of life. But despite 
their benefits, they remain rare. I reviewed 36 academic studies and 13 Canadian policy 
reports to find out why. What I found was: outdated regulations, staffing challenges, and 
limited funding are major barriers. But where leadership is strong and teams are supported, 
real change is happening. This project is not just about redesigning buildings. It is about 
reimagining how we care, for our elders, and for the future we all deserve. Because aging 
shouldn’t feel like the end of the story.  
 
 


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