The proactive and dynamic attention functions we investigate are central to cognitive health and mental wellbeing. Our non-invasive human neurophysiology methods provide a highly sensitive window into synaptic processing and transmission within neuronal populations and brain systems. With appropriate analysis methods, we can reveal and characterize changes in the temporal dynamics of within brain regions and networks.
We have brought our cognitive expertise to collaborations with clinical colleagues to investigate how attention and other cognitive functions are impacted in different brain disorders and how, in turn, they can support healthy cognitive function. With our neurophysiological methods, we are developing sensitive and selective biomarkers for detecting early changes in the integrity and dynamics of brain systems implicated in different brain disorders to support treatment and, ultimately, prevention of brain disorders.
Our current translational work involves:
- Developing sensitive and selective behavioral tasks to identify risks and pathology for specific brain disorders
- Developing sensitive and selective neural markers to identify risks and pathology for specific brain disorders
- Differentiating healthy and unhealthy patterns of progression of brain changes with ageing.