Possible thesis projects Anders M. Fjell / Kristine B Walhovd – main research interests Related to the use of event-related potentials (ERPs) Related to.

Possible thesis projects

Anders M. Fjell / Kristine B Walhovd – main Anders M. Fjell / Kristine B Walhovd – main research interestsresearch interests

• Related to the use of event-related potentials Related to the use of event-related potentials (ERPs)(ERPs)

• Especially targetet at human memopry processes Especially targetet at human memopry processes

• Other themes using ERP as a method are Other themes using ERP as a method are negotiablenegotiable

ERP at the institute of psychology

ERP: The method

Superior temporal resolution relative to Superior temporal resolution relative to fMRI og PET, but poor spatial resolutionfMRI og PET, but poor spatial resolution

The only metyhod (besides MEG) that is The only metyhod (besides MEG) that is assumed to measure neural activity directlyassumed to measure neural activity directly

Kildelokalisering med Neuroscan Curry 5.0

ERP

Saggital view Coronal view

Networks, sequences of activation

Saggital view Coronal view

Networks, sequences of activation

Parallell distributed processing

Memory predicted by ERP (event-related potentials)

Is a stronger electrophysiological activation Is a stronger electrophysiological activation to repeated stimuli associated with superior to repeated stimuli associated with superior memory?memory?

The old-new effect

Previously presented stimuli elicit a Previously presented stimuli elicit a stronger electrophysiological activity than stronger electrophysiological activity than new stimulinew stimuli

This is termed the old-new effectThis is termed the old-new effect The old-new effect is assumed related to The old-new effect is assumed related to

memory processesmemory processes

Example task

Activity to new (blue) versus old (red) stimuli

Sample results from our lab: Age changes (Pz)

Young Middle aged Old

----- new ______ old

A measure of consolidation?

The old-new effect increases with number The old-new effect increases with number of repetition timesof repetition times

Some have speculated that the old-new Some have speculated that the old-new effect may be an index of consolidationeffect may be an index of consolidation

mV

milliseconds

20 – 30 yrs, block 1 – 4 Blokk 4

Blokk 3

Blokk 2

Blokk 1

Distribution of electrical activity measured on the scalp correlates withmemory (verbal recognition memory) in elderly (mean 75 years)

Walhovd, Fjell, Reinvang et al., 2006, Cognitive Brain Research

Ideas

Development of memory; mapping of the Development of memory; mapping of the development of widely distributed memory development of widely distributed memory networks in the brainnetworks in the brain

Studies of source vs. item memory, inclusion of Studies of source vs. item memory, inclusion of confidence ratingsconfidence ratings

Use of extended retention intervals (days, weeks) Use of extended retention intervals (days, weeks) Dissociation of the brains and the minds memory Dissociation of the brains and the minds memory

abilitiesabilities

1) Is there a parallell reduction in memory 1) Is there a parallell reduction in memory as as assessedassessed behaviorally and by the behaviorally and by the old-new effect across time?old-new effect across time?

2) Can distinct electrophysiological 2) Can distinct electrophysiological patterns be identified for familiarity vs patterns be identified for familiarity vs recollection-based recognition?recollection-based recognition?

If you would like to work with ERP as a If you would like to work with ERP as a method, you need tomethod, you need to

• invest quite a bit of time and effortinvest quite a bit of time and effort

• be interested in cognitive processes that can be be interested in cognitive processes that can be studied by ERPs, such as memory and attention studied by ERPs, such as memory and attention (processes such as problem solving cannot so (processes such as problem solving cannot so easily be studied by ERPs)easily be studied by ERPs)

• keep a positive attitude and not give up in the keep a positive attitude and not give up in the event of technical difficulties event of technical difficulties ☺☺

If you do your thesis on ERP studies, you will be offered Training in ERP registrations so that you Training in ERP registrations so that you

can gather electrophysiological data on your can gather electrophysiological data on your ownown

Training in ERP analysis in a lab of Training in ERP analysis in a lab of international standardinternational standard

Training in relevant SPSS statisticsTraining in relevant SPSS statistics

Contact information

E-mail: E-mail:

andersmf@psykologi.uio.no/andersmf@psykologi.uio.no/

kristine@walhovd.comkristine@walhovd.com

Office:Office:

A 4.012/A 4.012/

A 4.011A 4.011