There are three facilities that are equipped for cutting edge electrophysiology research. The laboratories are managed by Dr Mario Parra and Dr William McGeown.
Research themes
Our research can be divided into two key themes:
Basic Psychophysiological Studies
- Identifying features that may be used in the detection or monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Determining the neural underpinnings of visual short-term memory binding (STMB) and other memory tasks.
- Investigating the psychophysiological underpinnings of video-based Animal Assisted Interventions delivered in the lab and remotely.
- Investigating the neural correlates of information need and information retrieval (Interdisciplinary research line in collaboration with Computer and Information Sciences [CIS])
- Investigating the neurocognitive underpinnings of daily living functions using Virtual Reality (Interdisciplinary research line in collaboration with CIS)
Applied Psychophysiological Studies:
- Developing affordable biomarkers for the preclinical detection of Alzheimer’s disease relying on Eye-Tracking and portable EEG Technologies (in partnership with industry - Viewmind and BrainWaveBank)
- Developing multimodal biomarkers for detection and monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease (in partnership with industry - Cognision)
- Developing new technology-based theory-oriented assessments and interventions for older people at risk of dementia (Interdisciplinary research line in collaboration with CIS)
Equipment
- High density 128 Channel Electrical Geodesics Inc (EGI) EEG system
- 32 Channel Biosemi EEG system
- BIOPAC MP150 amplifier: capable of recording EEG, heart rate, galvanic skin response.
- Multiple BIOPAC MP30 amplifiers
- Neuroconn transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) device
- Access to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) systems via Biomedical Engineering.
- Neuroscan EEG systems. Two 40 channels NuAmps which can be combined into one 64 channel system.
- BrainWaveBank technologies from in-home EEG assessments.
- Bioradio portable and configurable system for acquiring and transmitting a variety and combination of signals during real-time monitoring or saved during unattended recording (EEG, EKG, GSR).
- GazePoint and SMI portable Eye-Trackers
- Virtual Reality Station with the Virtual Reality Assessment and Intervention System (VRAIS) that allows assessment of functional abilities relying on theories of cognition.
Current projects
- Investigating the neural correlates of STMB
- Understanding the neural correlates of super-recognition of faces (collaboration with Dr David Robertson, Psychology).
- Investigating the neural correlates of determining (and processing) relevant information (collaboration with Dr Yashar Moshfeghi, CIS).
- Affordable biomarkers for the preclinical detection of Alzheimer’s Diseases
- Novel technologies for cognitive and mental health: remote assessments to interventions.
- Video-based Animal Assisted Interventions delivered in the lab and remotely.
- Enhancing VR assessment and intervention systems with theories from cognition.