Elizabeth Byrne, a PhD student at CBU has been awarded a Fellowship from the British Council of Japan to take part in the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Summer Programme. The aim of this programme is to foster young researchers and promote scientific collaboration between Japan and other countries.

Elizabeth will spend 2 months working in Dr Satoru Saito’s group at Kyoto University this summer. Her current research investigates methods of improving working memory, our ability to store and process information in the mind for short periods of time. Working memory is important for many everyday activities, including learning and following instructions. Dr Saito’s lab has expertise in studying the underlying mechanisms involved in working memory tasks. Working together on a project provides a unique opportunity for Elizabeth and Dr Saito to combine their expertise to develop our understanding of the specific processes that are important for learning and that are amenable to practice.