To achieve the objectives of the project, 200 healthy young adults participated in the study. Participants were volunteers recruited from the community through advertisements. Participants’ attention and memory skills were assessed with a computerised experimental task, designed and programmed by the fellow, while their neural activity was recorded via Electroencephalography (EEG). Participants also donated blood samples, from which we isolated their genomic DNA and measured its concentration using a spectrophotometer. Subsequently, we genotyped the participants for specific genetic variants in the DAT1 and COMT genes. For this purpose, we designed specific oligonucleotide sequences (primers) and performed a PCR reaction for the targeted genetic variants of both genes. PCR reactions were evaluated by agarose gel electrophoresis and genotypic analysis was carried out by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) and sequencing-based methods. EEG analysis was performed to generate ERP components, time-locked to events of interest. Finally, we carried out statistical analyses to investigate whether specific alleles of DAT1 and COMT genes are associated with encoding and maintenance of information and working memory capacity. Results so far have suggested a risk allele for DAT1 and low working memory capacity. Results have been presented at international conferences and two manuscripts are currently in preparation for publication.
Exploitation, dissemination, and public engagement:
Shimi, A., Fanis, P., Neocleous, V., Newbury D., Phylactou, L., & Papacostas, S. (2018). DAT1 gene modulates individual differences in visual working memory capacity. Poster presented at the 16th European Workshop on Imagery and Cognition (EWIC), Padova.
Shimi, A., Fanis, P., Neocleous, V., Newbury D., Phylactou, L., & Papacostas, S. (2018). DAT1 gene modulates individual differences in visual working memory capacity. Poster presented at the 59th the Annual Meeting of the Psychonomic Society, New Orleans.
Shimi, A. (2018). Attention and Memory limitations. Talk to high school students as a Marie Curie Ambassador, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Shimi, A. (2016). The limits of human working memory. Presentation to public audience at the Researcher’s Night, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Shimi, A. (2016). Opportunities and obstacles of young scientists in the early stages of career development. Marie Curie Ambassador at the Researcher’s Night, Nicosia, Cyprus.
