Research themes
I. Neuroscientific research on executive functions II. Cognitive enhancement of executive functions
The human being has impressive cognitive abilities. To define and to update objectives, to adapt flexibly to the environment, and to guide appropriate behavior are just a few examples. These abilities rest upon executive functions (EF) of which response inhibition, conflict monitoring, memory-updating and cognitive flexibility are of particular importance. We assess how the brain implements these functions. Our research interests concern the neural correlates of EF and the neural underpinnings of inter-individual differences in healthy young adults as well as in older participants and patients. For the understanding of normal behavior, healthy cognitive aging and psychopathologies, such differentiation of functional and neuroanatomical markers and the establishment of associations between the brains` morphology, neurofunction and behavior are crucially important.
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In context of cognitive enhancement, neuroscientific techniques like neurofeedback demonstrate great potential by offering a rather direct pathway to the underpinnings of cognition via the modulation of relevant neural mechanisms. A specific type of neural mechanism are neural oscillations, which seem to directly reflect perceptual and cognitive processes. A particular oscillation reliably associated with EFs is the so-called frontal-midline (fm)-theta, which is suggested as “working language” of EF. My investigation includes testing the modulability of fm-theta and focuses on the effects of neurofeedback on cognition. For the application of neurofeedback, a freely available software program was developed: NeurofeedbackSuite 1.0 (NFS).
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III. Translational research
Executive functions (EFs) are imperative for the success in daily life. Disturbances of EFs are furthermore associated with neurocognitive and psychiatric impairments as well as the loss in functional outcome. Given the fundamental role of EFs for everyday life and their relation to disorders, research on effective EF-training is vitally important. In this context, our research focuses on developing different types of training approaches as peak-performance and therapeutic tools.
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Ongoing lab projects |
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NEUROFEEDBACK AS A POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC TOOL
Here, we study the potential of NF training in a subclinical group with individuals indicating subjective impairments of executive functions.
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CROSS-CULTURAL COGNITIVE CONTROL (4C)
In this project we assess executive dysfunctions in participants with mild cognitive impairment. We furthermore assess the influence of cultural effects. This study is funded by Alzheimer Nederland. 
EVIDENCE-BASED ASSESSMENT IN COGMAX
Our group contributes to the cooperation study Cogmax by taking over the neuropsychological assessment of mild cognitive impairment as well as by developing and adapting new tests.
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The Big Shared MI-BCI Protocol
Mental-imagery Brain Computer Interfaces are of great interest for many different fields, ranging from assistive technologies to video games, through cognitive and motor rehabilitation (e.g., stroke patients) and enhancement (e.g., athletes).
While promising, MI-BCIs remain barely used outside laboratories due to their modest reliability. This project is a collaborative, international and interdisciplinary project, with more than 20 labs, which will build up a shared MI-BCI dataset based on a rigorous and standardised experimental protocol. |
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