Northeastern University's Brain Game Center For Mental Fitness and Well-Being
Aaron Seitz
Professor of Professor of Psychology, Physical Therapy, Art + Design, Northeastern University
Past Talk
Hybrid
Friday
Feb 21, 2025
Watch video
2:00 pm
EST
Virtual
177 Huntington Ave.
11th floor
Devon House
58 St Katharine's Way
London E1W 1LP, UK
Online
Register here
In this talk, I will discuss research that the Brain Game Center for Mental Fitness and Well-being has been doing to develop digital tools to better understand and train cognitive processes. The ubiquitous use of smart-phones, tablets and computers unlocks new opportunities to conduct cognitive research in at-home environments, as well as opportunities for tele-health using these systems. However, there are challenges as well to ensuring robust and rigorous results. This includes how to broadly and effectively measure the function of, and to train, brain networks that guide effective behavior and to personalize systems to optimally reach diverse individuals. Here, I discuss both tools that we are developing in this space, challenges that need to be overcome, and plans to share these tools to promote open science and world-wide research.
About the speaker
About the speaker
Seitz’s research program aims to understand mechanisms of cognitive processes and to apply this knowledge for public benefit. His academic training is diverse, with a BA in theoretical mathematics, PhD in computational neuroscience, postdoctoral work in systems neuroscience and neuroimaging. His research has led to new insights regarding the roles of reinforcement, attention, multisensory interactions, and different brain systems in learning, computational approaches to learning, translational neuroscience and perceptual/cognitive enhancement, among others. He utilizes psychophysical, physiological, imaging, pharmacological, genetic, and computational methods to study cognitively diverse populations, ranging from individuals with cognitive deficits (due to disease, injury, or development) to neurotypical individuals, to specialists (e.g., radiologists, athletes). As Director of the Brain Game Center for Mental Fitness and Well-being, he uses ambulatory tools (e.g., that run on mobile phones and tablets) to reach larger, more diverse, and traditionally underserved/understudied populations, to understand cognitive diversity (broadly defined) and to create tools to measure function and to personalize training based upon individualized needs.
Seitz’s research program aims to understand mechanisms of cognitive processes and to apply this knowledge for public benefit. His academic training is diverse, with a BA in theoretical mathematics, PhD in computational neuroscience, postdoctoral work in systems neuroscience and neuroimaging. His research has led to new insights regarding the roles of reinforcement, attention, multisensory interactions, and different brain systems in learning, computational approaches to learning, translational neuroscience and perceptual/cognitive enhancement, among others. He utilizes psychophysical, physiological, imaging, pharmacological, genetic, and computational methods to study cognitively diverse populations, ranging from individuals with cognitive deficits (due to disease, injury, or development) to neurotypical individuals, to specialists (e.g., radiologists, athletes). As Director of the Brain Game Center for Mental Fitness and Well-being, he uses ambulatory tools (e.g., that run on mobile phones and tablets) to reach larger, more diverse, and traditionally underserved/understudied populations, to understand cognitive diversity (broadly defined) and to create tools to measure function and to personalize training based upon individualized needs.