Gallos University Campus, Rethymno, ΤΚ 74100
secretary@keme.uoc.gr
Laboratory of Neuropsychology
The Laboratory of Neuropsychology focuses on the advancement of research and training in Neuropsychology. To this purpose, the Lab develops research protocols and Lab members are consistently involved in independent research projects or projects in collaboration with other labs, research and academic institutions in Greece and abroad. The Lab also organizes or co-organizes training programs, symposia, conferences, lectures and other scientific events aiming to knowledge transfer on cutting-edge topics in Neuropsychology to the scientific community and the public.
Current Research Projects
1. The Duration of Near- and Far-Transfer Gains of Executive Working Memory Training in Man and Mice: Interactions with Anxiety and Schizotypal Traits
PI: Stella Giakoumaki, Funding body: Special Account for Research Funds of the University of Crete
Executive working memory training, a form of cognitive training, has been suggested as an effective method for improving executive working memory per se (near transfer) as well as other cognitive functions sharing neuroanatomical substrates with executive working memory (far transfer). In our previous study we found that executive working memory training significantly improved cognitive flexibility in healthy young adults and in mice and enhanced the functional and structural synaptic plasticity of the brain. The present study examines (a) the duration of transfer effects, (b) potential effects of anxiety and schizotypal traits on transfer effects and (c) differences between age-groups on the transfer gains of executive working memory training.
2. The association of schizotypal personality traits with cognitive and emotional functioning in groups at increased risk for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders
PI: Stella Giakoumaki, Funding body: Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation
The study focuses on the exploration of the effects of schizotypal personality traits on cognitive and emotional functioning in groups at increased risk for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. The central aim is to investigate the associations between cognitive-perceptual, paranoid, negative and disorganized schizotypy with endophenotypic markers of the schizophrenia-spectrum in certain groups (i.e. different groups with increased schizotypal traits in exclusively one of the aforementioned schizotypal dimensions). The study comprises (a) a follow-up sub-study which has been completed and examined the stability of neuropsychological deficits in the aforementioned groups over 4 years and (b) a cross-sectional sub-study, which explores the effects of the different schizotypal dimensions on emotion recognition and laterality of function, whether the effects of the different schizotypal dimensions are directly comparable in analogous hot and cold cognitive functions and the analogy of cognitive-perceptual schizotypy with “healthy” schizotypy.
3. Memory Function and Schizotypal Traits: Deficits in Context Memory and Reconsolidation, Neural Correlates, and Informed Intervention
PI: Despina Antypa, Funding body: University of Crete
The study aims to describe specific neuropsychological parameters of individuals from the general population with increased schizotypal traits, as defined with the four-factor model of schizotypy. The study focuses on (a) the assessment of memory functions, such as contextual memory and reconsolidation, (b) the development of experimental paradigms for the investigation of neural correlates of the potential deficits in the aforementioned memory functions and (c) designing a pilot study of informed intervention for individuals at the early stages of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.
Research Projects
Members
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