With a decade of experience in the field of cognitive neuroscience, and particularly during my Ph.D. studies, I had the possibility to investigate how cognitive functions, specifically memory and learning, are related to neural oscillations and to explore this process by using EEG-Neurofeedback. Therefore, I developed a strong interest in this field and in general, in the context of clinical and applied research. A topic that fascinates me most is aging and dementia, so which mechanisms are involved in cognitive decline and how can we improve cognitive functioning?
Based on the well-known effect of reward-anticipation and alpha-suppression on working memory (WM), the aim of my recent research work was to improve WM by combining neurofeedback-training (NF) of alpha-suppression while performing a monetary-rewarded delayed match-to-sample task. In addition to alpha, I also considered the neighbouring theta and beta frequency bands and transfer effects on unrelated cognitive tasks were also explored. In addition, based on the experience gained from this research study and results, I extended the developed NF-training method into a research protocol proposal to improve dysfunctional alpha and theta oscillations in preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease (pAD). In response to the lack of standard NF protocols and procedures in the context of dementia and AD, the aim of this research method proposal was to provide an initial method to be tested and further improved with the goal of establishing a standard procedure to regulate dysfunctional oscillations, consequently cognitive performances, in pAD.
Lastly, I extended my knowledge and interest in the context of exponential technologies, digital transformation, and healthcare innovation, becoming specialized in the field of “HealthTec Innovation Design”. Through a series of different research works and educational projects, my team and I developed several project ideas leading to health-tech innovation by approaching advanced methods to identify, invent, and implement solutions to unmet clinical needs, and to evolve an early-stage into a purpose-driven idea. Thus, my research interest expands to the development of disruptive, exponential, and innovative solutions to generate healthcare innovation based on (neuro)technological advances, cognitive assessments, and through a patient-centric, personalized, and outcome-based approach while revolutionizing the concept of healthcare worldwide.