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UK: Ph.D. in EEG/fMRI
Written by Administrator
Friday, 05 December 2008
A Ph.D. position in EEG/fMRI is available at the University of Dundee, under the direction of Douglas Potter.
Spatial and temporal imaging of attention reorienting mechanisms
A collaborative project between the Universities of Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow
As part of the Scottish Imaging Initiative - SINAPSE (www.sinapse.ac.uk/studentships)
Background: Fox et al. (Fox et al., 2005) hypothesize that a dorsal ‘goal-driven’ attention network controls environmentally directed processes (perception and action) and a ‘default network’ controls internally directed processes (memory and introspection). Within this model it is hypothesised that a ventral ‘stimulus-driven’ network facilitates reorientation in goal-driven attention as well as between internally and externally directed processing modes. We have demonstrated abnormal patterns of brain activity in both the goal-driven and stimulus-driven networks in individuals with a history of mild concussion (Potter et al., 2001) and in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (Potter et al., 2008). These abnormalities may result from reduced effectiveness of frontal control caused by diffuse neurotransmitter imbalances (Rolls et al., 2008). The planned research will extend our previous work by providing a better understanding of the role of the stimulus-driven system in switching between goal-driven and default processing modes.
Aims: To better characterise the function of the stimulus-driven system by determining the effects of task load and distractor contingency on the temporal relationships between the components of the stimulus-driven system. To better characterise the function of the stimulus-driven system by inducing more explicit switching and maintenance of processing modes.
Method: Combine fMRI and EEG to visualise selective activation or suppression of posterior and anterior components of the ‘stimulus-driven’ control system while participants perform a number decision paradigm in which the temporal and spatial relationship of goal elevant and distractor stimuli are systematically manipulated.
Outcome: The development of optimised, inexpensive (EEG), measures of cognitive control for use in the assessment of pharmacological efficacy in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, depression and mild cognitive impairment.
Deadline for final electronic submission via the primary supervisor January 31st 2009
Address informal enquiries to the first supervisor: Dr Douglas Potter School of Psychology, University of Dundee Email:
phone: 01382 384632 http://www.dundee.ac.uk/psychology/ddpotter/
Co-supervisors: Dr Cyril Pernet Division of Clinical Neurosciences, SFC Brain Imaging Centre Western General Hospital, University of Edinburgh Email:
phone: 01315373661
Dr Guillaume Rousselet Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging (CCNi) & Department of Psychology University of Glasgow Email:
phone: 01413306652
