Newsletter. Going Global!!!

Transcription

1 Newsletter May 2013 Neuropsychophysiology Lab IN THIS ISSUE Message from lab director Message from lab Lab Presentations Lab Rotations Recently in Press Citations Research symposium UM Traveling around Visiting the lab Interview Telling their stories Going Global!!! One of the most exciting things that you may witness while moving around our labs is the growing diversity of nationalities of our researchers. United by the new creole language of scientific English people from a great variety of backgrounds bring an enriched diversity to our daily academic life. Less than a decade ago we were still a very homogeneous cultural community. But not anymore! At the Neuropsychophysiology Lab, during this academic year we had researchers staying with us for extended periods from countries like USA, Spain, France, Brazil, Thailand and Indonesia. Our first group of French graduate students from Lille is about to be director leaving our lab after a semester of gratifying collaboration. We are all going to miss them! But as we dry our tears, another researcher is joining us from Ireland and in the next few months about 16 colleagues from Indiana (USA) joining us for an intense summer lab training and research. Research is about knowing what we yet don t know and being where we ve never been before with an international networking process being an inherent part of this discovery. Let s get GLOBAL! Reading Suggestions

2 2 Lab Presentations Jorge Leite, Post Doc Researcher Several studies have already suggested that the right (RH) and left (LH) hemisphere pre frontal cortices process information distinctively (i.e. moderator and interpreter role), thus suggesting specific functional asymmetry. This specific functional asymmetry has also been found to be associated with the approach (LH>RH) as well as withdrawal (RH>LH) motivation, and even to general decision-making processes. Implications of the neuromodulation of this functional asymmetry and its possible impact on emotional processing were discussed in this presentation. Catarina Fernandes, PhD student Related to her doctoral project, Catarina s presentation under the title Language and semantic processing in Williams syndrome referred to brain areas associated with semantic processing and language deficits in individuals with WS pathology. Luciana Gomes, PhD Student Luciana presented her preliminary data on the relationship between white matter integrity and fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients, focusing on corpus callosum (CC). The results point to some evidence of CC damage in early-diagnosed MS patients. Patricia Silva, PhD Student In Patricia s study a priming paradigm was applied in investigating whether priming participants with their own parents faces versus other s parents faces, biases the reaction time or accuracy in identifying sexual stimuli. Results support the hypothesis stating that parents faces paired with sexual stimuli do influence the perceptual identification of a sexual context.

3 Lab Rotations 3 First year PhD students have been going around during a special training in several research methodologies within our lab. - Event Related Potentials with Alberto Crego; - Psychophysiology (ECG, GSR and RR) with Patricia Silva; - Neuromodulation (tdcs) with Jorge Leite and Sandra Carvalho; Their opinions Passage through NPL under laboratory rotation has been a very enriching experience, allowing me to learn new research methodologies. I give a special thanks to everyone who welcomed us in this laboratory, by sharing their knowledge and experiences! (Magda Saraiva, PhD Student) The rotation in NPL was very interesting, since knowing these research methodologies is extremely useful for my PhD project, plus the learning experience was hands on, which was great! (Sónia Sousa, PhD Student) I really liked NPL lab rotations. It was well structured and quite useful. I m pretty sure that I m going to put some of the acquired knowledge into practice! (Dominic Noy, PhD Student) This rotation in NPL has been a very positive experience because the issues are essential to my course as a PhD student and classes were very practical and interactive which facilitated learning. (Catarina Fernandes, PhD Student) This module showed both the versatilities and difficulties operating with neuropsychophysioloy equipment such as an EEG, and demonstrated how amazing EP experiments can be. Alberto s hands-on approach was also great, mixing lectures with lab work in just the perfect balance. (André Silva, PhD Student)

4 4 Recently in Press A meta-analysis by Jorge Alves (PhD student) as first author, is the first systematic review of neuropsychological and brain morphometric studies comparing posterior cortical atrophy to typical Alzheimer s disease. Alves, J., Soares, J. M., Sampaio, A. & Gonçalves, O. F. (2013). Posterior cortical atrophy and Alzheimer s disease: A metaanalytic review of neuropsychological and brain morphometry studies. Brain Imaging and Behavior. DOI /s Another accepted article in Brain and Behavior Journal, presents research Joana Coutinho (Post Doc Researcher) has been carrying out in the field of personality traits. The results of this study suggest that prosocial personality traits seem to be associated with a decline in grey matter density in more frontal regions for Extraversion, and in more posterior regions for Agreeableness. This data confirm the hypothesis of a specific grey matter phenotype associated with a pro-social orientation. Coutinho, J.F., Sampaio, A., Ferreira, M., Soares, J.M. & Gonçalves, O.F. (2013). Brain correlates of pro-social personality traits: a voxelbased morphometry study. Brain Imaging and Behavior. DOI / s

5 Recently in Press 5 Accepted article in PlosOne Soares, M., Sampaio, A., Ferreira, L., Santos, N., Marques, P. Marques, F., Palha, J., Cerqueira, J. & Sousa, N. Stress impact on resting state brain networks. PlosOne Also accepted is this new article in Williams Syndrome research with 3 of our lab investigators as co-authors, proposing an integrative conceptual framework that underscores the dynamic developmental interplay between genes, endophenotypes, and environment. Soares, I., Belsky, J., Mesquita, A.R., Osório, A. & Sampaio. A. (in press). Insights from the Study of Williams Syndrome. Child Development Perspectives.

6 6 Citations In a recent article Psychophysiological Response Patterns to Affective Film Stimuli two of our lab publications were cited with Sandra Carvalho as first author. To know more about our Emotional Movie Database (EMDB) click the images below:

7 Research symposium, 7 School of Psychology, UM May 21st & 22nd Some of our lab members participated in the 4th edition of the research symposium in our home university. Oral presentation by Rosana Magalhães under the title Is cognitive intervention effective for cognitive deficit in MS patients? Oral presentation by Jorge Alves under the title Is there evidence for cognitive intervention in Alzheimer s disease? A systematic review of efficacy, feasibility and cost-effectiveness. Margarida Vasconcelos & Marcelo Dias (interns) were awarded with the prize for the best poster presented, under the title Understanding how the brain processes vocal emotional information: an ERP study with musicians.

8 8 Traveling around April 18th-21th Participation in congress Society for Research in Child Development SRCD Biennal Meeting Poster presentation by Sara Cruz under the title Physiological Markers of Neurobehavioral Profiles Evidence from Visual and Auditory Evoked Potentials. Oral Communication by Ana Osório under the title Neuroimaging correlates of fusiform gyrus in Williams syndrome a combined MRI and DTI study. Oral presentation by Ana Mesquita under the title Understanding the neural processing of face familiarity in institutionalized children with and without attachment disordered behaviors: an ERP study. April 29th Oral Presentation by Óscar Gonçalves (PhD) in Northeastern University Bouvé College of Heath Sciences under the title From Life Chances to Emotional Choices: Narrative and Research Snapshots.

9 Traveling around 9 May 16th-18th Society of Biological Psychiatry Annual Meeting Oral Presentation by Ana Pinheiro under the title Investigating the Role of Emotion in the Differentiation Between Self-Generated and Alien Speech: A Window Into Auditory Hallucinations in Schizophrenia? May 22th-24th Workshop at Lille III University in France Several members of our Lab, Óscar Gonçalves (PhD), Adriana Sampaio (PhD), Ana Osório (PhD), Sara Cruz (PhD Student) and Helga Miguel (PhD Student), attended a training workshop on functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fnirs) at the Research Unit in Cognitive and Affective Sciences (UReCA). In this workshop our Lab members had the chance to learn the basic background theory behind this technique as well as to have some hands-on experience from paradigm preparation, to data collection and analysis. Many thanks to Professor Yann Coello and his team!

10 10 Visiting the lab From University of Madrid Elena Garayzábal (PhD) joins us to work in Williams Syndrome project. Elena is a Professor at University of Madrid, with an academic background in language, namely in Clinical Linguistics. While collaborating with Adriana Sampaio (PhD), Elena is cooperating in the Williams Syndrome research, primarily related to language deficits presented by WS patients, which is an important research topic within our lab.

11 Interview 11 This month with Alberto Crego new post-doc researcher What prompted your decision for applying to a Post-doctoral position at NPL in University of Minho, Portugal? My decision was mainly prompted by the high level of diversity of the NPL lab in neurosciences, particularly in neuroimaging techniques. Additionally, I had very good references about the way people work at NPL lab by my colleague of University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago Galdo. What are your expectations in terms of things to be learned and experienced at NPL? At the personal level, I consider my stay at NPL lab a good chance to know another culture, learn another language and meet new people in the world of neurosciences. Also, this postdoctoral stage in Braga will be a great opportunity to observe different learning and research approaches. Specifically, at the professional level, I hope to learn and increase my experience in the processing and analysis of neuroimaging data (both structural and functional) and expanding my knowledge to other topics of the neuroscience, such as language or emotional processing. Could you identify some similarities and differences between your home lab in University of Santiago de Compostela and NPL? At NPL lab I found a very cohesive group with young researchers who are always ready to help as much as possible, similarly to my home lab, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Lab at the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain). However, the working style is slightly different in both places, since in NPL people work in the same workspace together (in my home lab, people work in small offices with 4 or 5 researchers who work in the same topic) being a multidisciplinary research group what facilitates interaction and learning from each other. Another big difference is the use of English in the lab meetings, helping in enhancing the knowledge of the language, which is a great handicap among members of my home lab. Did you have difficulties in adapting to your current new environment? So far, everything has been very easy thanks to the kindness and availability of the lab members. I only have some difficulties with English, but I believe that they will soon disappear. What did you find, so far, most enjoyable in your new environment, be that the people, overall culture, gastronomy, or educational settings? Undoubtedly, people are the most enjoyable aspect of this experience and I mainly appreciate the working environment in the lab. However, I also love and greatly enjoy Portuguese gastronomy.

12 12 Telling their stories by Ana Osório, Post Doc Researcher Which was your main motivation in applying to this professor position in Brazil? This position offers me a unique opportunity to pursue research and teaching two things I really enjoy doing. I ll be able to combine teaching and supervising activities, while at the same time I ll be investing a substantial amount of time and effort on scientific research, thus sharing and receiving information and knowledge with students as well as other researchers. Furthermore, the Mackenzie Presbyterian University (MPU) and more specifically the Post-Graduate Program on Developmental Disabilities are endowed with impressive resources and a dynamic and ambitious approach that really make a difference when it comes to making basic and applied science. Do you think your background as a researcher in the Neuropsychophysioloy lab has contributed to achieve the position? Absolutely! My PhD training in typical development was complemented by experience with neurodevelopmental disorders (namely Williams syndrome) and various neuroimaging research techniques, therefore contributing to the profile MPU were looking for. In addition, the high level of performance that collaborators of the Neuropsychophysiology Lab are expected achieve has also pushed me to work even harder and to commit even more to this field. Do you mind sharing with us about how you felt when you received the news of acceptance to the post-doctoral position at Mkenzy University? It was a wonderful moment, in which I felt the immense satisfaction of achieving an important professional and personal goal, coupled with the excitement of the brand new challenges to come. What are your future perspectives? I truly hope to contribute to the already high level of research and teaching at MPU, and to help promote further collaborations between MPU and the School of Psychology a relationship that has been proved fruitful for both parts!

13 Reading Suggestions 13 Guitar Z ero Few years ago a scientist Gary Marcus decided to investigate an idea of adults brains no longer being as plastic as children s brains are. Without any musical background or talent, he decided to spend his sabbatical year learning to play on a musical instrument. This time he was his own guinea pig - testing whether his brain was plastic enough for learning to play on a guitar. In his book titled Guitar Zero he shares his 18-month long experience of six-hour a day guitar practices. Readers are presented with an entertaining endeavor that alternates between the details of his learning how to play on a guitar and an up to date scientific review of brain plasticity. He unveils a great deal of information concerning human ability to learn new skills, presenting studies conducted with children or adults. Dr. Marcus believes that immersion fosters learning after the critical period since it enforces more practice. The essence of this book goes beyond learning how to play on a guitar. Indeed this book can be a good companion to those who hope to become a musician or simply plan to learn a new skill. by Gary Marcus For all those who have ever set out to play an instrument or wish that they could Guitar Zero is an inspiring and fascinating look at the pursuit of music, the mechanics of the mind, and the surprising rewards that come from following one s dreams. - Amazon.com

14 Lab Team Adriana Sampaio, PhD (Researcher) Ana Ganho, MSc (PhD Student) Ana Mesquita, PhD (Researcher) Ana Osório, PhD (Post-Doc) Agavni Petrosyan, PhD (Researcher) Ana Pinheiro, PhD (Post-Doc) Ana Ramos (Intern) Catarina Fernandes, MSc (PhD Student) Fernando Macedo (Lab Technician) Génesis Santos (Intern) Helga Miguel, MSc (PhD Student) Joana Coutinho, PhD (Post-Doc) Jorge Alves, MSc (PhD Student) Jorge Leite, PhD (Post-Doc) Júlia Egito (Visiting Student) Liliana Maia, MSc (Collaborator) Lucas Marques (Visiting Student) Luciana Gomes, MSc (PhD Student) Miguel Soares, MSc (Collaborator) Patrícia Oliveira-Silva, MSc (PhD Student) Rosana Magalhães, MSc (PhD Student) Sandra Carvalho, PhD (Post-Doc) Sónia Sousa, MSc (PhD Student) Sara Cruz, MSc (PhD Student) Sara Fernandes (Intern) Tatiana Magro, MSc (PhD Student) Teresa Silva, MSc (Intern) NEUROPSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY LAB, School of Psychology, University of Minho Campus de Gualtar, Braga Portugal Phone: