Raymond earned a B.Sc. (Hons) from the University of Toronto in 2016. He joined UBC Psychology in the fall of 2018 and works under the supervision of Jim Enns in the Vision Lab. For his MA research, Raymond combined the use of modern optical eye-tracking methods with an older eye-tracking technique known as EOG in order to optimize the measurement of closed-eye movements. He transitioned into the PhD program following the completion of his MA degree in 2020.

Outside of lab, you can find Raymond running on the trails of Pacific Spirit park, scrambling in the local mountains, or exploring the caves of Vancouver Island and the Chilliwack River Valley.

The broad aim of Raymond’s research program is to elucidate the mechanisms by which the brain and its cognitive architecture allow us to perceive and interact with the world.

By using psychophysical methods and state-of-the-art motion tracking technology, one line of Raymond’s research is focused on understanding how the ventral (‘what’) and dorsal (‘how’) visual pathways interact to support the planning and execution of goal-directed limb movements (e.g., reaching and grasping).

A second line of research leverages electrooculography (EOG) to understand how the saccadic system can acquire remembered target locations in the dark and during eye closure. This research project can lend insight into how (and when) the oculomotor system uses extraretinal signals (e.g., proprioceptive feedback) and also has broader implications for spatial cognition. As a collaborative project with colleagues in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, this research is also facilitating the development of novel signal processing techniques and specialized biosignal acquisition devices.

MacNeil, R. R., & Enns, J. T. (2024). The “What” and “How” of Pantomime Actions. Vision, 8(4), 58. https://doi.org/10.3390/vision8040058

Gunawardane, P. D. S. H., MacNeil, R. R., Zhao, L., Enns, J. T., De Silva, C. W., & Chiao, M. (2024). A fusion algorithm based on a constant velocity model for improving the measurement of saccade parameters with electrooculography. Sensors, 24(2), 540. https://doi.org/10.3390/s24020540

Whitwell, R. L., Hasan, H. A., MacNeil, R. R., & Enns, J. T. (2023). Coming to grips with reality: Real grasps, but not pantomimed grasps, resist a simultaneous tilt illusion. Neuropsychologia, 191, 108726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108726

MacNeil, R. R., Gunawardane, P., Dunkle, J., Zhao, L, Chiao, M, De Silva, C., & Enns, J. T. (2021, May 13–18). Using electrooculography to track closed-eye movements [Poster presentation]. 2021 Vision Sciences Meeting (hosted virtually). Poster Link; Talk Link

Gunawardane, P., MacNeil, R., Zhao, L., Enns, J., De Silva, C., & Chiao, M. (2021). A fusion algorithm for saccade eye movement enhancement with EOG and lumped-element models. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering. Advance online publication: https://doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2021.3062256

MacNeil, R. R. & Brcic, J. (2017). Coping with the subterranean environment: A thematic content analysis of the narratives of cave explorers. Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments, 13(1), Article 6. https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jhpee/vol13/iss1/6

MacNeil, R. R., Che, H., & Kahn, M. T. (2016). Human space exploration: Neurosensory, perceptual, and neurocognitive considerations. University of Toronto Medical Journal, 93(2), 19-26.

• NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship – Doctoral, UBC, (2020–24)
• UBC Four Year Fellowship, UBC (2020–24)
• President’s Academic Excellence Initiative PhD Award, UBC (2020–22)
• Faculty of Arts Graduate Award, UBC (2019–20)
• NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s, UBC (2018-19)
• William Waters Graduate Achievement Award, University of Toronto (2016)