Nicolas Rouleau, Wilfrid Laurier University

Research

artificial intelligence embodied cognition neural tissue engineering biomedical engineering cytoarchitecture decision making learning microelectrode array

Latest papers

Superstitious conditioning shapes the illusory experience of free will under causal determinism.
Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2026 · senior author
Brains and where else? Mapping theories of consciousness to unconventional embodiments.
Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences · 2026 · first author
Cultural Considerations in Suicide Risk Assessment with Immigrant and Refugee Populations in Canada.
Transcultural psychiatry · 2026 · senior author

All 11 publications

Latest funding

Building modular circuits with bioengineered neural tissues to design brain-inspired artificial intelligences
SSHRC · 2023 · Principal investigator
$233,750
Identifying the neurostructural determinants of minimal cognition using embodied 3D bioengineered brain models
NSERC · 2022 · Principal investigator
$114,000

All 2 grants and awards

11 publications.

01

Superstitious conditioning shapes the illusory experience of free will under causal determinism.

Kansala C, Cicek E, Nkansah-Okoree VB, Golding AW, Murugan NJ, Rouleau N

Frontiers in human neuroscience2026Senior author

DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2026.1832135 PMID: 42272989

02

Brains and where else? Mapping theories of consciousness to unconventional embodiments.

Rouleau N, Levin M

Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences2026First author

DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2025.0082 PMID: 42130431

03

Cultural Considerations in Suicide Risk Assessment with Immigrant and Refugee Populations in Canada.

Sadri-Gerrior M, Shivakumar K, Rouleau N

Transcultural psychiatry2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1177/13634615251409709 PMID: 41604347

04

A cybernetic framework for synthetic biological intelligence in the era of neural tissue engineering.

Sellar ÉP, Rouleau N

Npj unconventional computing2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s44335-026-00077-1 PMID: 42404109

05

Protocol for the measurement and analysis of human photoencephalographic signals.

Bonzanni M, Rouleau N, Murugan NJ

STAR protocols2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2025.104223 PMID: 41351838

06

Effects of light, electromagnetic fields and water on biological rhythms.

Martel J, Rouleau N, Murugan NJ, Chin WC, Ojcius DM, Young JD

Biomedical journal2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2024.100824 PMID: 39672328

07

Exploring ultraweak photon emissions as optical markers of brain activity.

Casey H, DiBerardino I, Bonzanni M, Rouleau N, Murugan NJ

iScience2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112019 PMID: 40124516

08

Biophysical control of plasticity and patterning in regeneration and cancer.

Murugan NJ, Cariba S, Abeygunawardena S, Rouleau N, Payne SL

Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS2023

DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-05054-6 PMID: 38099951

09

3D bioengineered neural tissue generated from patient-derived iPSCs mimics time-dependent phenotypes and transcriptional features of Alzheimer's disease.

Lomoio S, Pandey RS, Rouleau N, Menicacci B, Kim W, Cantley WL, Haydon PG, Bennett DA, Young-Pearse TL, Carter GW, Kaplan DL, Tesco G

Molecular psychiatry2023

DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02147-3 PMID: 37365240

10

The Multiple Realizability of Sentience in Living Systems and Beyond.

Rouleau N, Levin M

eNeuro2023First author

DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0375-23.2023 PMID: 37963652

Building modular circuits with bioengineered neural tissues to design brain-inspired artificial intelligences

Principal investigatorSSHRC2023New Frontiers in Research Fund - Exploration

Principal investigators: Rouleau, Nicolas

$233,750

Identifying the neurostructural determinants of minimal cognition using embodied 3D bioengineered brain models

Principal investigatorNSERC2022Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Rouleau, Nicolas

Keywords: neural tissue engineering; minimal cognition; embodied cognition; biomedical engineering; microelectrode array; cytoarchitecture; neurorobotics; decision making; learning; artificial intelligence

$114,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

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Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their SSHRC grant from 2023

Subject: Prospective PhD student: artificial intelligence Dear Professor Rouleau, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Superstitious conditioning shapes the illusory experience of free will under causal determinism." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your SSHRC-funded project "Building modular circuits with bioengineered neural tissues to design brain-inspired artificial intelligences" (2023), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]