MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences UnitA new paper, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of American (PNAS) explains why and how a commonly used training method helps people with cochlear implants to understand speech. In the research, Ed Sohoglu and Matt Davis used brain imaging (combined magneto- and electro-encephalography, i.e. M/EEG) […]
No long-term improvements in children’s academic achievements with working memory training
Working memory, the capacity to store information for brief periods, has been suggested to play a critical role in learning such as reading and mathematics. It has been claimed that this capacity is enhanced by intensive training. New findings indicate that the benefits of training do not extend to children’s long-term academic achievements. A randomised […]
Elizabeth Byrne awarded Fellowship to study in Japan
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 […]
CALM Workshop on emotion and learning in children
A workshop on understanding and supporting problems in emotion and learning in children was held at the CBU on Saturday 16th April 2016. It was attended by professionals who work with children with problems with emotion and learning. To see the full programme click here For more information contact calm@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk
New ultrahigh field MRI scanner has arrived
The new ultrahigh field MRI scanner, called the “7T”, has arrived. The 17 tonne magnet lies at the heart of a world leading centre for brain imaging. The innovative Terra MRI system from Siemens will transform the ability to see in detail inside the working human brain, its structure, its function, its chemistry and the […]
Semantic and emotional content of imagined representations
A collaboration between and Daniel Mitchell at the CBU and Rhodri Cusack at Western’s Brain and Mind Institute used a new type of real-time fMRI scanning to compare brain activity patterns when volunteers imagined objects to the activity patterns when they actually saw many different objects. They found that when something is imagined, volunteers didn’t […]
Time-series analysis to mood fluctuations in bipolar disorder to promote treatment innovation?
A paper on research by Emily Holmes and her team on using applications of time-series analysis to mood fluctuations in bipolar disorder to promote treatment innovation has been published in Nature. The findings offer preliminary support for a new imagery-focused treatment approach. They also indicate a step in treatment innovation without the requirement for trials […]
Following instructions in a virtual school depends on working memory
Some children are much better than others at carrying out instructions, but why? Working memory – the capacity for storing information over short periods of time – appears to play an important role. Using a virtual reality environment of a school, a research team headed by Jaroslawska has shown that children with greater working memory […]
