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Possible thesis projects

Dive into research on human memory processes using event-related potentials (ERPs) as a method at the Institute of Psychology. Uncover the old-new effect, consolidation, and memory networks correlated with electrical activity on the scalp.

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Possible thesis projects

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  1. Possible thesis projects Anders M. Fjell / Kristine B Walhovd – main research interests • Related to the use of event-related potentials (ERPs) • Especially targetet at human memopry processes • Other themes using ERP as a method are negotiable

  2. ERP at the institute of psychology

  3. ERP: The method • Superior temporal resolution relative to fMRI og PET, but poor spatial resolution • The only metyhod (besides MEG) that is assumed to measure neural activity directly

  4. Kildelokalisering med Neuroscan Curry 5.0

  5. ERP

  6. Networks, sequences of activation Saggital view Coronal view

  7. Networks, sequences of activation Parallell distributed processing Saggital view Coronal view

  8. Memory predicted by ERP (event-related potentials) • Is a stronger electrophysiological activation to repeated stimuli associated with superior memory?

  9. The old-new effect • Previously presented stimuli elicit a stronger electrophysiological activity than new stimuli • This is termed the old-new effect • The old-new effect is assumed related to memory processes

  10. Example task

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

  12. Sample results from our lab: Age changes (Pz) Young Middle aged Old ----- new ______ old

  13. A measure of consolidation? • The old-new effect increases with number of repetition times • Some have speculated that the old-new effect may be an index of consolidation

  14. 20 – 30 yrs, block 1 – 4 mV Blokk 4 Blokk 3 Blokk 2 Blokk 1 milliseconds

  15. Distribution of electrical activity measured on the scalp correlates with memory (verbal recognition memory) in elderly (mean 75 years) Walhovd, Fjell, Reinvang et al., 2006, Cognitive Brain Research

  16. Ideas • Development of memory; mapping of the development of widely distributed memory networks in the brain • Studies of source vs. item memory, inclusion of confidence ratings • Use of extended retention intervals (days, weeks) • Dissociation of the brains and the minds memory abilities

  17. 1) Is there a parallell reduction in memory as assessed behaviorally and by the old-new effect across time? 2) Can distinct electrophysiological patterns be identified for familiarity vs recollection-based recognition?

  18. If you would like to work with ERP as a method, you need to • invest quite a bit of time and effort • be interested in cognitive processes that can be studied by ERPs, such as memory and attention (processes such as problem solving cannot so easily be studied by ERPs) • keep a positive attitude and not give up in the event of technical difficulties ☺

  19. If you do your thesis on ERP studies, you will be offered • Training in ERP registrations so that you can gather electrophysiological data on your own • Training in ERP analysis in a lab of international standard • Training in relevant SPSS statistics

  20. Contact information E-mail: andersmf@psykologi.uio.no/ kristine@walhovd.com Office: A 4.012/ A 4.011

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