Sara Assecondi

Title:  Development and validation of a self-administered cognitive screening
Project type: Thesis / Internship
Supervisor: Sara Assecondi
 

Description: Neuropsychological screenings usually require in-person administration by qualified personnel. The time available to the clinician, the inability to reach a large population, and the variability in the administration and scoring of screening tests, are factors limiting the widespread dissemination of campaigns for the early detection of cognitive pathologies. We have adapted  SATURN, a test designed for self-administration and automatic scoring, and validated on economic tablets, for use via online platforms. This project aims to evaluate the relation between dementia risk factors and cognitive capacity via an online self-administered approach.

Student role:  data management, statistical analysis
References:

• Bissig, D., Kaye, J., and Erten-Lyons, D. (2020). Validation of SATURN, a free, electronic, self-administered cognitive screening test. Alzheimers Dement (N Y) 6, e12116. doi:10.1002/trc2.12116.
• Tagliabue, C. F., Bissig, D., Kaye, J., Mazza, V., & Assecondi, S. (2023). Feasibility of Remote Unsupervised Cognitive Screening With SATURN in Older Adults. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 07334648231166894. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648231166894

Title:  Development of an app for self-administered cognitive screening
Project type: Thesis / Internship
Relatore: Sara Assecondi

Description: Neuropsychological screenings usually require in-person administration by qualified personnel. The time available to the clinician, the inability to reach a large population, and the variability in the administration and scoring of screening tests, are factors limiting the widespread dissemination of campaigns for the early detection of cognitive pathologies. We have adapted  SATURN, a test designed for self-administration and automatic scoring, and validated on economic tablets, for use via online platforms. This project aims to create an app (with easily editable content), compatible with tablets or phones to facilitate the adaptability and administration of SATURN in various languages. A version of SATURN in Python and one in Javascript for the web are already available, but they rely on specific servers (Pavlovia.org)

Student role:  programming

References:

Bissig, D., Kaye, J., and Erten-Lyons, D. (2020). Validation of SATURN, a free, electronic, self-administered cognitive screening test. Alzheimers Dement (N Y) 6, e12116. doi:10.1002/trc2.12116.

Tagliabue, C. F., Bissig, D., Kaye, J., Mazza, V., & Assecondi, S. (2023). Feasibility of Remote Unsupervised Cognitive Screening With SATURN in Older Adults. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 07334648231166894. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648231166894

Title: Graph theory in the study of individual differences
Type of project: Tesi / Tirocinio
Supervisor: Sara Assecondi

Description: In understanding the impacts of cognitive training, individual differences emerge as a crucial factor. Each individual's unique cognitive and behavioral traits exert a significant influence in shaping the outcomes of cognitive training protocols. Each individual possesses a distinct cognitive profile, shaped by the intricate interplay between various cognitive and behavioral domains, which ultimately influence her performance. This research project aims to leverage graph theory to delineate the interrelationships between cognitive domains, shedding light on how these individualized profiles contribute to the overall performance and effectiveness of cognitive training interventions.

Student role:  data management, statistical analysis

Title: The role of strategy in manipulating working memory with tDCS.

Project type: Internship / Thesis

Relatore: Sara Assecondi

Description: In recent years, a large number of researchers have studied the effect of non-invasive electrical stimulation (NIBS) to increase working memory capacity. However, to date it is not clear what role the use of efficient strategies for carrying out the cognitive task has in the modulation of working memory through electrical stimulation. This project aims to evaluate whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) specifically affects working memory capacity and / or strategic attitudes in young and elderly participants during a working memory task.

Student role:  subject recruitment, data collection and management, statistical analysis 

References: Assecondi, S. (2021). Impact of tDCS on working memory training is enhanced by strategy instructions in individuals with low working memory capacity. Scientific Reports, 11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84298-3 

Title: Neural correlates of cognitive training, combined with tDCS, in the young and the elderly

Project type: Internship

Relatore: Sara Assecondi

Description: Description: working memory is a part of the memory capable of maintaining and manipulating information, and is a fundamental component for carrying out daily life activities. However, this type of memory is subject to decay with age. Our project aims to study any changes in brain electrical activity, in response to cognitive training and electrical stimulation, in healthy elderly and young subjects. In particular, the use of stimulation techniques (transcranial direct current stimulation - tDCS) to enhance the effect of training and advanced electrophysiology methods (electroencephalography - EEG) will be explored to obtain a complete picture of changes in brain activity (biomarkers) due to training with or without electrical stimulation. 

Student role:  subject recruitment, data collection and management, statistical analysis 

References: N-back training and transfer effects revealed by behavioral responses and EEG. Brain and Behavior, 8(11), e01136. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1136.  Hoy, K. E., Emonson, M. R., Arnold, S. L., Thomson, R. H., Daskalakis, Z. J., & Fitzgerald, P. B. (2013). Testing the limits: Investigating the effect of tDCS dose on working memory enhancement in healthy controls. Neuropsychologia, 51(9), 1777–1784. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2013.05.018