Center for Applied Neuroscience

Labs

A female researcher connecting an experiment's participant with an EEG.

Neurocognitive Research Lab

Lead: Prof. Fofi Constantinidou 

Scope: The team investigates cognitive aging and acquired brain conditions such as traumatic brain injury, stroke,  mild cognitive impairment, dementia and more recently, post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, using neuroscience and neuropsychological research methodologies. 

Activities: Understanding the neurophysiological underpinnings of conditions affecting brain health and the development of valid assessment and effective neuropsychological treatment methodologies integrating neurobehavioral, neuropsychological and brain stimulation paradigms.   

Technologies & Methods: The group implements technologies to image the human brain including MRI (rFMRI, DTI, Structural) and EEG along with technologies to identify novel biomarkers such as FNIRs in activity and at rest. Non-invasive brain stimulation (tDCS, TES) is implemented to stimulate the human brain in conjunction with neuropsychological and behavioral measures and improve neuropsychological functioning. 

Technology transfer includes the development of CAT-BRAIN, an innovative software rehabilitation platform based on the Categorization Program ©, a theory-based, established rehabilitation program designed to improve cognitive functioning in patients with acquired brain conditions. 

Innovation spotlight: The Neurocognitive Study on Aging (NEUROAGE project, est. 2009), is the first longitudinal study on aging in Cyprus designed to identify predictors for healthy and pathological cognitive ageing. Implements advanced structural imaging studies to determine brain-behaviour relationships, genetic, biological, and health biomakers, along with demographic, sex/gender variables to examine modifiable and unmodifiable factors that contribute to neurobehavioral performance and cognitive health. NEUROAGE has recruited more than 1000 study participants to date tested every two years. Currently, the lab conducts a 12-year follow up.

A large room with a lot of moving people

Clinical Psychology and Psychophysiology Lab

Lead: Prof. Georgia Panayiotou  

Scope: Emotion processes and emotion regulation and coping in psychopathology, health and life.  

Activities: Studies compatible with trans-diagnostic conceptualizations of psychopathology, focusing on the multimethod examination of basic neurobehavioral systems involved in the aetiology of disorders. Valence, arousal and regulatory processes are examined among others.  

Technologies & Methods: Psychophysiology methods assess emotion, especially the startle reflex, autonomic physiology and facial EMG, various paradigms to induce emotion, such as imagery, VR, pictures and films. EEG, eye-tracking, and biological markers of stress are used in addition to peripheral psychophysiology and self-report methods. Randomized Control Trials, informed by qualitative investigations are also used to test new interventions, especially focused on prevention and the development of socio-emotional skills.  Interactions among emotion, cognition (attention biases, inhibition) and personality are also addressed.   

Innovation spotlight: Examines individual differences in emotional reactivity, implicit and explicit emotion regulation processes and how these contribute to internalizing and externalizing disorders, as well as social problems like substance addition, gambling, school aggression and risky driving. More recently we have examined how socio-emotional skills, like emotion regulation, values clarification and communication skills can contribute to mental health and prevent difficulties. 

For more information please visit Clinical Psychology and Psychophysiology Lab’s website. 

Sitting child reading a book

Learning Disabilities Group

Lead: Prof. Timothy C. Papadopoulos  

Scope: The Learning Disabilities Group (LDG) investigates the neurodevelopmental risk factors and optimal predictors for prevalent pediatric conditions such as reading difficulties, attention deficit, and language impairments. 

Activities: 

  1. The LDG analyzes various reading, language performance, executive functions, and intelligence concepts. It also measures these constructs to understand better how they relate to one another.
  2. The LDG combines neurophysiological and eye-movement data to examine how young learners process information when they read.
  3. The LDG develops and tests different intervention methods to help treat reading difficulties and attention deficits.

Technologies & Methods: The Learning Disabilities Group uses innovative methods to diagnose and treat relevant conditions. It has established the reliability and validity of primary cognitive and linguistic batteries to assess various skills related to identifying Specific Learning Disorders (SLD). The LDG also investigates the possible neurological basis of children with language and reading disabilities using eye-tracking and electrophysiological methodologies (event-related potentials; ERPs / fixation-related potentials; FRPs). Finally, the Learning Disabilities Group examines the relationship between fluid intelligence and language ability by recording the ERPs of childhood populations varying in age and ability. 

Person holding a globe infrond of their face.

Language and Cognitive Development Research Group

Lead: Prof. George Spanoudis 

Scope: The Lab bridges ideas and methods generated within developmental, cognitive and differential psychology. Areas of interest include language development and understanding, and cognitive development in typical and atypical populations. 

Technologies & Methods: Exploration of the neural bases of language and cognitive development from 4-18 years of age, combining cross-sectional and longitudinal cognitive research with neural imaging (EEG/ERPs). 

Activities: Studies on typical and atypical cognitive and language development, language processing and learning, theory of mind development, and cognitive correlates of developing intelligence.  

Innovation spotlight: Develops new theoretical models of cognitive development and relates them with evidence coming from neuroimaging data. 

Two people, a female and a male, wearing virtual reality glasses. The virtual room is seen in their background.

Experimental Psychology Lab

Lead: Prof. Marios Avraamides 

Scope: 

Activities: Basic and applied research on cognitive mechanisms, with emphasis on memory, attention, perception, and, as of recent, on the role of cognition in sports. The lab employs post-docs, technicians, and several Ph.D./MA and undergraduate students that work on a variety of projects.   

Technologies & Methods: Virtual Reality , Eye-tracking, and Electroencephalography 

Innovation spotlight: Research from the lab has inspired the formation of 3 startups, namely Silversky3D Virtual Reality Technologies Ltd, MentisVR Ltd, and Immerseav Ltd. All three companies carry out research and the development related to Virtual Reality and human cognition. 

For more information visit the EPL’s website.