The Cognitive Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (CNN) research team is dedicated to understanding the neural basis underlying cognition and behaviour, and applying these insights to neurotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI). These are investigated through multiple lines of inquiry.
The team studies a range of cognitive functions, including sensory perception, decision-making, working (short-term) memory, long-term memory, learning, motor imagery, cognitive control, social cognition, and metacognition. Additionally, the team explores how these cognitive abilities can be affected by factors such as mental fatigue, arousal, alertness, mood, and emotion, as well as disorders of the nervous systems such as stroke, dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, epileptic seizures, and depression.
Methodology
To dissect specific cognitive processes, the team designs novel experimental tasks for participants or observe them in a resting state. Behavioural data collected include task performance accuracy, response times, and self-reported information. Concurrently, the team conducts non-invasive neural recordings like electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG), and structural or functional magnetic resonance imaging (s/fMRI). To facilitate this, the team operates the Northern Ireland Functional Brain Mapping (NIFBM) facility which utilises state-of-the-art cryogenic MEG to measure brain activity. In collaborating with partners, the team also analyses stereo or intracranial EEG (s/iEEG), local field potentials (LFPs), and multi-neuronal and single-neuronal activities. Additional physiological data may include electromyography (EMG), eye movements, pupil size, and limb movements.
The large and complex datasets the team gathers require advanced analytical techniques. The team develops and employs methods in signal processing, statistical analysis, machine learning, and computational modelling within the subfields of computational neuroimaging and (neural) data science. To gain deeper mechanistic and theoretical insights, the team uses biologically based cognitive computational modelling and mathematical analyses like dynamical systems theory – areas within cognitive computational neuroscience. Our unifying goal is to understand how neural circuits give rise to specific brain functions or dysfunctions.
Due to high computational demands, the team often utilises the Northern Ireland High Performance Computing facility (NI-HPC), featuring 8,000 AMD-based CPU cores and 32 GPU nodes with a high performance 2 petabyte of scratch storage interconnected via high-speed network.
Practical Applications
Beyond fundamental research, the team focuses on practical applications such as developing brain-computer interface (BCI) systems for neurorehabilitation, assistive technologies, gaming, and collective cognitive systems. BCI systems enable real-time translation of voluntary brain activities from e.g. EEG or MEG into commands to control devices, providing communication and control options for individuals who are severely paralysed due to disease, spinal cord injury, or brain damage. Through neurofeedback, BCI systems can act as neurorehabilitation technology to enhance independence and improve quality of life of people with disabilities due to old age, injury or disease. BCI systems can also be used for cognitive augmentative technology, in personalised computing environments, computer games, virtual reality, and group communications. The team runs a comprehensive BCI laboratory to support this work.
Another key focus is neuro-inspired AI through the development and application of cognitive-based algorithms. Examples of the team’s published studies include developing artificial neural networks (e.g. deep learning) with decision confidence quantification for clinical decision support to enhance trust, energy-efficient signal detection using cognitive model embedded in computing hardware, cognitive model inspired robotics, and applying predictive coding principles in deep learning algorithms.
Research Facilities
Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Laboratory
Our comprehensive BCI lab is equipped with:
- An electromagnetic field shielded room
- A state-of-art BCI experimental setup with 56 EEG channels, and 8 EMG channels (g.BSamp system)
- 4/8 EEG/EMG channel mobile unit (g.MOBIlab)
- A state-of-art 16-channel USB amplifier-based EEG/EMG/ECG/EOG mobile unit (g.USBamp)
- Multiple electrode systems: passive, active and dry electrodes
- A comprehensive bio-signal acquisition and processing system for measuring respiration, heart rate, galvanic skin response, skin temperature, oxygen saturation and eye-gaze
- A computerised smart wheelchair system for mobility control test
Northern Ireland Functional Brain Mapping (NIFBM) Facility
Funded by Invest Northern Ireland and Ulster University, the functional brain mapping (FBM) facility at the ISRC is equipped with the latest whole head 306 channels Elekta Neuromag MEG TRIUX system. This is the only such facility on the island of Ireland. MEG is a relatively modern non-invasive neurophysiological technique for measuring magnetic fields generated by neuronal activities inside the brain. Since the signal from the brain is much weaker than the ambient magnetic noise in the environment, the MEG facility is housed in a special magnetic shielded room. The Northern Ireland FBM is part of a synergistic collaboration among the ISRC, School of Medicine (Personalised Medicine Centre), and Clinical Translational Research and Innovation Centre (C-TRIC).