Introducing the “Cognitive Neuroscience & Neurotechnology” group: Advancing insights into human high-level cognition
- Date: Apr 5, 2024
- Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM (Local Time Germany)
- Speaker: Dr. Romy Lorenz, Cognitive Neuroscience & Neurotechnology, MPI for Biological Cybernetics
- Location: MPI for Intelligent Systems, Max-Planck-Ring 4
- Room: Seminar Room + Zoom
- Host: Peter Dayan (Wenting Wang & Kevin Shen)
- Contact: wenting.wang@tuebingen.mpg.de
Frontoparietal brain networks are integral to
high-level cognition, influencing diverse cognitive processes such as working
memory, reasoning and cognitive control. Yet, despite extensive research
efforts, important insights into the mechanisms governing frontoparietal
network function remain elusive. In this talk, I will trace the trajectory of
my research journey, spanning past, present, and future research efforts aimed
at deepening our understanding of frontoparietal brain network mechanisms in
human high-level cognition.
Drawing from my doctoral studies, I will introduce Neuroadaptive Bayesian
Optimization – a novel brain-computer interface combining real-time fMRI and a
branch of machine learning called active sampling. This closed-loop framework
provides a powerful strategy to efficiently explore many more experimental
conditions than is currently possible with standard neuroimaging methodology. I
will showcase its applications, from elucidating the unique functional role of
frontoparietal networks in healthy individuals to mapping cognitive dysfunction
in aphasic stroke patients and personalizing non-invasive brain stimulation
parameters.
Additionally, I will share insights from ongoing research investigating
frontoparietal network function layer-specifically using fMRI at ultrahigh
field strengths. Specifically, I will present three studies where we use
layer-fMRI (GE-BOLD and VASO) to probe the laminar circuitry of the prefrontal
cortex during working memory.
I will conclude my talk by giving an overview of my future research plans here
at the MPI for Biological Cybernetics.