The project has demonstrated that the metrics derived through the developed real-time neuroimaging paradigm, are sensitive to memory processes, as well as biological, clinical, genetic and neuroanatomical processes. Most importantly, the project’s findings suggest:
a) That the designed experimental paradigm, as implemented in the developed software, offers a valid method for probing brain function to obtain subtle metrics that correspond with well-established cognitive and biological processes.
b) That the developed methods can be used to provide novel, sensitive metrics of memory function that are based on neuroimaging and are therefore unbiased with regards to the self-reporting limitations of standard questionnaires for measuring memory performance.
c) That the developed methods are promising for identifying early alterations in brain function due to Alzheimer’s disease and therefore hold potential for scalable prognostic screening.
d) That genetic factors associated to a neurodegenerative disease, can impact neurofeedback performance of the brain areas that are most vulnerable to that neurodegenerative disease. This opens new avenues for further research applications quantifying and monitoring disease progression in other neurodegenerative diseases, as well as in psychiatric disorders with established genetic risk factors and established patterns of functional aberrancy (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, etc.).
The complete list of conferences attended and dissemination activities performed, including outreach activities, is the following:
1) Invited talk at ‘ESOF 2018 - MSCA Satellite event’, 7th-8th July 2018, Toulouse, France.
2) Invited talk at ‘MCAA Annual Conference and General Assembly’, 2nd-3rd February 2018, Leuven, Belgium.
3) Invited talk at ‘MEP-scientist pairing scheme’, 28th November 2017, Brussels, Belgium.
4) Invited talk at ‘1st International Conference on Cognitive Reserve in the Dementias (ResDem); 24th November 2017, Munich, Germany.
5) Poster presentation at ‘1st International Conference on Cognitive Reserve in the Dementias (ResDem); 24th-25th April 2017, Munich, Germany. (Best poster award)
6) Double poster presentation at ‘Real-time functional imaging and neurofeedback conference’; 29th November -1st December; 2017; Nara; Japan. (Meritorious abstract award)
7) Video poster presentation for ‘EU4facts conference’; 26th September; 2017; Brussels; Belgium.
8) Invited talk at ‘Researcher’s Night’, National Center for Scientific Research Demokritos; 29th September; 2017; Athens; Greece.
9) Poster presentation at Alzheimer's Association International Conference, 16th-20th July 2017, London, UK.
10) Attendance of ‘22nd Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping’; 26th‐30th June 2016; Geneva; Switzerland.
11) Deposition of 3 Scientific Papers, 4 Scientific Posters and 2 Scientific Software Applications in open access repositories.
