Lazarev's early research was on hearing and he noted that auditory sensations could be amplified by coordinated visual stimulation.
Lebedev from 1903 and in 1912 he obtained a doctorate with a thesis Vytsvetanie krasok i pigmentov v vidimom svete ["The Fading of Colors and Pigments in Visible Light"].
[1][2] During World War I, he was involved in producing medical equipment, including thermometers and mobile X-ray systems.
[3] In 1918, he was involved in the study of the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly and worked on geomagnetism with E.G. Leyst [ru; de].
His institute was transferred to the Supreme Soviet of the National Economy, the key personnel was sacked and most of the equipment destroyed.