Cognitive Neuroscience Research

Cognitive neuroscience is the study of human mental functions such as remembering, attending, decision making, reading and speaking, problem solving, etc., and the computational processes and neural mechanisms underlying these functions in the human brain. The cognitive neuroscience revolution has led to a significant increase in our understanding of the workings of the human mind and brain. Our research in this domain primarily involves investigations of the neural mechanisms of attention and working memory, and the changes in these functions with aging.

The major goal of the research is to identify the spatiotemporal properties of neural networks underlying selective and sustained attention, using both event-related brain potentials (ERPs) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Another focus is to examine how these networks change with both healthy aging and in persons at risk for the development of Alzheimers disease (AD). Using molecular genetic methods, we are also examining genetic polymorphisms that influence the activity of neurotransmitters that innervate these brain networks, both in healthy individuals and in persons at risk for AD.

Event-related brain potentials (ERPs). See also ERP Systems Lab

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Transcranial Doppler Sonography (TCD)

Molecular genetic assays of single nucleotide polymorphisms

Eye movement analysis

MRI-guided Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

In addition, we are developing neuroscience methods that can be used to examine issues of human performance in complex tasks and environments outside the laboratory.  See Neuroergonomics Research.

Current Funded Projects

2007-2009       Principal Investigator, Army Research Laboratory Contract DAAD-19-01-C-0065 (Task Order 91), “Neuroergonomics of Attention, Action Recognition, and Action Performance Applied to Uninhabited Vehicles,” $370,000

2004-2007         Principal Investigator, National Institute of Aging Grant R01 AG19653, "Apolipoprotein E, Cognition, and Alzheimer's Disease," $810,563.

Recent Cognitive Neuroscience Publications

Greenwood, P. M., Lin, M.-K., Sundararajan R., Fryxell, K. J., & Parasuraman, R. (2009). Synergistic effects of genetic variation in nicotinic and muscarinic receptors on visual attention but not working memory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), 106,  3633-3638.

Greenwood, P. M., Sundararajan, R., Lin, M.-K., Fryxell, K. J., &  Parasuraman, R. (2009). Both a nicotinic SNP and a noradrenergic SNP modulate working memory performance when attention is manipulated. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, in press.

Jiang, Y., Luo, Y., & Parasuraman, R. (2009). Neural correlates of age-related reduction in visual motion priming. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 16,  164-182.

Negash, S., Greenwood, P. M., Sunderland, T., Parasuraman, R., Geda, Y., Knopman, D. S., Boeve, B., Ivnik, R., Petersen, R. C., &. Smith, G. E. (2009). The influence of Apolipoprotein E genotype on spatial attention dissipates after age 80. Neuropsychology, 23, 81-89.

Fu, S., Zinni, M., Squire, P. N., Kumar, R., Caggiano, D. M., &  & Parasuraman, R. (2008). When and where perceptual load interacts with voluntary visuospatial attention: An event-related potential and dipole modeling study. Neuroimage, 39, 1345-1355.

Helton, W. S., Hollander, T. H.,Warm, J. S., Tripp, L. D., Parsons, K., Matthews, G., Dember, W. N., Parasuraman, R., & Hancock, P. A. (2007). The abbreviated vigilance task and cerebral hemodynamics. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 29, 545–552.

Parasuraman, R., & Espeseth, T. (2007). Genetic and neuroimaging studies of cholinergic and neurotrophic modulation of visual attention. Progress in Natural Science, 17, 7-18.

Caggiano, D., Jiang, Y., & Parasuraman, R. (2006). Aging and repetition priming for targets and distracters in a working memory task. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 13, 1-22.

Espeseth, T. Greenwood, P. M., Reivang, I., Fjell, A. M., Walvhold, K. B., Westlye, E., Lundervold, A., Rootvelt, H., & Parasuraman, R. (2006). Interactive effects of APOE and CHRNA4 on attention and white matter volume in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Cognitive, Behavioral, and Affective Neuroscience,6(1), 31-43.

Fu, S., Caggiano, D. M., Greenwood, P. M., & Parasuraman, R. (2005a). Event-related potentials reveal dissociable mechanisms for orienting and focusing visuospatial attention. Cognitive Brain Research,23, 341-353.

Fu, S., Greenwood, P. M., & Parasuraman, R. (2005b). Brain mechanisms of involuntary visuospatial attention: An event-related potential study. Human Brain Mapping, 25, 378–390.

Greenwood, P. M., Fossella, J., & Parasuraman, R (2005a). Specificity of the effect of a nicotinic receptor polymorphism on individual differences in visuospatial attention. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 17, 1611-1620.

Greenwood, P., Lambert, C., Sunderland, T., & Parasuraman, R. (2005b). Effects of Apolipoprotein E genotype on spatial attention, working memory, and their interaction in healthy, middle-aged adults: Results from the National Institute of Mental Health’s BIOCARD Study. Neuropsychology, 19, 199-211.

Greenwood, P. M., Sunderland, T., Putnam, K., Levy, J., & Parasuraman, R. (2005c). Scaling of visuospatial attention undergoes differential longitudinal change as a function of APOE genotype prior to old age: Results from the National Institute of Mental Health’s BIOCARD study. Neuropsychology,19, 830-840.

Parasuraman, R., Greenwood, P. M., Kumar, R., & Fossella, J.  (2005). Beyond heritability: Neurotransmitter genes differentially modulate visuospatial attention and working memory. Psychological Science, 16(3), 200-207.

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