Acquired brain injury (ABI) frequently results in difficulties in cognitive functions such as memory, concentration, planning, and problem solving. There is a pressing need to develop more effective interventions to remediate such cognitive deficits. Neuropsychological rehabilitation interventions developed in a clinical setting have shown some beneficial effects, but clinical interventions may be more effective if informed by findings from cognitive neuroscience. Research into cognitive training using methods such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has contributed to an understanding of factors that promote changes in brain function, but this approach seldom includes patients with cognitive deficits. Its potential for application with clinical populations is therefore uncertain, meaning that people who may benefit do not have access to interventions that may improve their health and wellbeing.

This studentship project brings together methods from neuropsychological rehabilitation and cognitive neuroscience to investigate 1) the effects of neuropsychological rehabilitation interventions on neuroimaging outcomes following ABI (systematic review), 2) the feasibility of combining an existing clinical intervention targeting mental strategies with an adaptive training programme targeting core cognitive processes, and 3) whether the novel treatment combination promotes changes in brain function that are detectable using fMRI.

For details of this project with Prof Jonathan Evans, Dr Kristin Flegal, and Dr Satu Baylan at the University of Glasgow, go to https://www.findaphd.com/search/ProjectDetails.aspx?PJID=97817

The deadline for application is 15 June 2018