Neuroscience

Neuroscape’s Neuroscience Division focuses on advancing our understanding of the neural mechanistic basis of cognitive control – fundamental abilities of attention, working memory and cognitive flexibility (task-switching and multitasking) – and extends these cognitive neuroscience efforts to accomplish our translational goals of exploring how modern technology can allow us to better assess and optimize neural systems that underlie these cognitive abilities.

Neuroscience research objectives are supported by our Technology Division’s novel design / development efforts, as well as unique integrations of emerging consumer technologies with advances in neuroscience techniques. We also investigate the use of new analytical approaches for complex signal recording, machine learning and processing real-time, multimodal data collected during personalized interactions.

Our new technologies are deployed in rigorous empirical studies that evaluate their impact on brain anatomy, physiology and cognition, as well as stress, mood, sleep, hormones and inflammatory markers. Research studies in the Neuroscience Division recruit healthy adults across the lifespan to identify biomarkers associated with cognitive control and successful aging. These are then used to inform our translational research efforts in children (Education Division) and afflicted clinical populations (Clinical Division).

The Neuroscience Division has six complementary research focus areas, each with multiple studies underway: Cognitive Neuroscience, Healthy Aging, Video Game Training, Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation, Cognitive Brain-Computer Interface (cBCI), and Mobile Assessments.

Theodore Zanto
Director, Neuroscience Division

Cognitive Neuroscience

The Cognitive Neuroscience focus in the Neuroscience Division stems from our historical basic science roots in cognitive neuroscience research. From our beginnings in 2005 as the Gazzaley Lab, we used a unique multi-methodological approach (fMRI, EEG, TMS) to advance our mechanistic understanding how brain networks underlie cognitive control abilities. Studies in this focus area continues to yield insights into these same scientific questions, which then serve to guide our translational efforts in a more sophisticated and targeted manner.

Clapp, W., Rubens, M.T., Gazzaley, A. Mechanisms of working memory disruption by external interference. Cerebral Cortex 20(4): 859-72 (2009)
Wais, P., Rubens, M., Boccanfuso, J. & Gazzaley, A. Neural Mechanisms Underlying the Impact of Visual Distraction on Long-Term Memory Retrieval. Journal of Neuroscience (2010)
Zanto, T.P., Rubens, M., Thangavel, A. & Gazzaley, A. A causal role of the prefrontal cortex in top-down modulation of early visual processing and working memory. Nature Neuroscience 14: 656-661 (2011)
Chadick, J.Z. & Gazzaley, A. Differential coupling of visual cortical areas with the default network or frontal-parietal network based on task goals. Nature Neuroscience 14: 830-2 (2011)

Healthy Aging

Life expectancy has increased to an average of approximately 80 years of age as a result of extraordinary advances in medicine and healthcare. An unintended consequence of living such a long life is the near ubiquitous degenerative changes that occur throughout our bodies; and our brains are no exception. Even for healthy individuals, i.e., those that have avoided the devastating consequences of neurodegenerative disease, the aging process is associated with a decline in cognitive control abilities that adversely effect many aspects of daily living (e.g., driving, shopping, social interactions). Developing new approaches to understand the changes of the aging brain and maintain healthy cognitive function will enhance quality of life for older adults and is thus of paramount importance.

The Healthy Aging research focus of the Neuroscape Neuroscience Division is focused on studying how brain networks that underlie cognitive control change with aging to result in impaired function. The outcome of this research informs and guides our translational efforts to use closed-loop technologies to improve and maintain cognitive function across the lifespan.

Gazzaley, A., Cooney, J.W., Rissman, J., D’Esposito, M. Top-down suppression deficit underlies working memory impairment in normal aging. Nature Neuroscience 8(10), 1298-1300. (2005)
Gazzaley, A., Clapp, W., Kelley, J., McEvoy, K., Knight, R., D’Esposito, M. Age-related top-down suppression deficit in the early stages of cortical visual memory processing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA 105(35): 13122-13126. (2008)
Clapp, W., Rubens, M. & Gazzaley, A. Deficit in switching between functional brain networks underlies the impact of multitasking on working memory in older adults. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA 108: 7212–7217(2011)
Chadick, Z., Zanto, T.P., Gazzaley, A., Structural and functional differences in medial prefrontal cortex underlie distractibility and suppression deficits in ageing. Nature Communications 5(4223): 1-12 (2014)

Video Game Training

A major focus of the Neuroscience Division at Neuroscape is video game research. The majority of these studies are performed using our own closed-loop video games developed by our Technology Division, although we also conduct research on consumer-facing video games.

Studies are designed to determine the utility of this powerful form of interactive media as training tools for healthy adults of all ages to improve their cognitive function and better regulate their sleep, stress and mood.

Ongoing Video Game training studies in both younger and older adults include: Meditrain, BBT, Rhythmicity and consumer-available tablet games.

Berry, A., Zanto, T.P. Clapp, W., Hardy, J., Delahunt, P., Mahncke, H. and Gazzaley, A. The Influence of Perceptual Training on Working Memory in Older Adults PLoS ONE 5(7): e11537 (2010)
Anguera, J.A. et al. Video game training enhances cognitive control in older adults. Nature 501, 97-101 (2013)
Mishra J, deVillers Sidani E, Merzenich MM, and Gazzaley A. Adaptive training diminishes distractibility in aging across species. Neuron 84: 1091- 1103. (2014)
Anguera, J., Gazzaley, A. Video games, cognitive exercises, and the enhancement of cognitive abilities. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences 4: 160-165 (2015)
Mishra, J., Anguera, J. A., & Gazzaley, A. Video Games for Neuro-Cognitive Optimization. Neuron, 90(2), 214–218. (2016)

Non-invasive Brain Stimulation

There is a growing scientific literature that non-invasive brain stimulation can be used to improve cognitive abilities in diverse populations. This has been demonstrated with stimulation directed through the scalp using both magnetic fields (transcranial magnetic stimulation – TMS) and electrical currents (transcranial direct current stimulation – tDCS; transcranial alternating current stimulation – tACS).
The Neuroscience Division’s focus on Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation current aims are to assess if tDCS and tACS applied during engagement in video game training can be used to enhance positive learning effects.

Hsu W-Y, Anguera, J., Zanto, T., Gazzaley, A. Delayed enhancement of multitasking performance: Effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation on the prefrontal cortex. Cortex 69: 175-185 (2015)
Hsu W-Y., Ku Y., Zanto T., Gazzaley A. Effects of non-invasive brain stimulation on cognitive function in healthy aging and Alzheimer’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurobiology of Aging. 36(8): 2348-59 (2015)

Cognitive Brain Computer Interface (cBCI)

Brain computer interfaces (BCIs) enable seamless and dynamic interactions between neural processing and computerized digital environments. BCIs traditionally have been developed for the motor system, to allow individuals to drive screen cursors and robotic arms with great promise for physical rehabilitation. Much less effort has been directed at the potential for BCI to be used as a tool to enhance cognitive-neural processes.

Our new cBCI research focus is directed at designing, developing and testing novel approaches to precisely target neural networks that underlie cognitive control abilities using closed-loop systems, with the goal of accelerating learning attained from interactive experiences.

Mishra J., Gazzaley A., Closed-loop cognition: the next frontier arrives Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 19(5): 242-243 (2015)

Mobile Assessments

An exciting opportunity now exists to leverage the remarkable affordability and accessibility of mobile devices, such as tablets and phones, to have a positive impact on people’s minds on a global level.

The Neuroscience Division’s focus on Mobile Assessments is directed at validating new mobile tools created by our Technology Division, as well as integrations of new mobile technology with neuroscience-inspired applications. We evaluate both passive and active assessment tools to monitor cognitive performance in a more real-world and real-time manner than ever before.

Cognitive assessment apps are also coupled with physiological data collected from mobile devices, such as watches and EEG caps, to generate an even more comprehensive picture of a person engaged in either interactive media that we have developed (e.g., ACE, Rhythmicity) or in their daily lives.

Our highest goals for mobile assessments is to realize the potential of capturing data from hundreds of thousands, or even millions of individuals, both to assess baseline cognitive ability and as outcome measurements in massive, mobile, randomized control trials (RCTs) of our video game training technology.

Joaquin A Anguera, Joshua T Jordan, Diego Castaneda, Adam Gazzaley, Patricia A. Areán. Conducting a fully mobile and randomised clinical trial for depression: access, engagement and expense BMJ Innovations Vol 2 (1): 14-21 (2016).

Neuroscience

Cognitive Neuroscience

Healthy Aging

Video Game Training

Non-invasive Brain Stimulation

Cognitive Brain Computer Interface (cBCI)

Mobile Assessments

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