Ola Pres, Neuropsychology

01/07/2019

Summer is here☀️, I am in my last month of testing in the lab before I have to submit my Master thesis in August, aannd I am out 🐥.
My time as an Ambassador for Neuropsychology has come to an end. I really enjoyed keeping you up-to-date with my everyday life at Maastricht university and would like to express a THANK YOU for your support 🙏. In October a new ambassador will take over my account.

Until the new academic year in September there won't be any post coming anymore. If you happen to have more questions during the summer vacations you will be still able to contact me via this email address: [email protected]

You probably wonder what is going to happen next. Yeah me, too 😂✌️. I still want to do a PhD as a first next step. However, without any pressure. Maybe I would go travelling for a couple of months to let my mind settle before I go through the application jungle. For now France is on the top of my list for a PhD. But who knows. My plans change every day and I come up with new things. At least the place where I want to spend the next 3-4 years changes constantly 🤓

As I mentioned earlier, a new ambassador will take over. This ambassador doesn't exist, yet 😂 Therefore, I would like to make a call for a position as a student ambassador for Neuropsychology:

**Are you familiar with social media, are passionate about what you study and want to earn some extra money? Then I highly recommend this position. Are you interested this great opportunity? Or would like to have some more information? Then send us an email: [email protected] **

Looking forward hearing from you.

And now I am out. I wish you a great summer and all the best during you Master in Neuropsychology. Kick asses, don't get too stressed out and enjoy the beautiful city of Maastricht. 🧠 May all of you be happy!

09/05/2019

Are there any passionate Meditators out there? Then continue reading...🤓

There are quite some studies that show that meditation has positive effects on your emotional well-being, the mind, and a healthier body.
Meditation was found to be as effective to treat anxiety and depression as antidepressant drug therapy. Second generation cognitive therapies like mindfulness-based cognitive therapy that last 8 weeks showed that measures of psychological distress, risk of burnout, self-compassion, anxiety, worry, mental well-being, and compassion to others all showed significant improvements after completing the program.

If you come to Maastricht and wonder where you could continue you meditation practice in a group or just want to try it out if you never did it before, there are plenty of places where meditation sessions take place almost every day. I myself love to go to the The InnBetween. They have weekly Monday Morning Meditation which last 30 minutes (09:30-10:00) and on Wednesday's for one hour from 12:00-13:00.

With Metta,
Ola

01/05/2019

Hi there! Today we did a little pilot study on me. As you can see we used an EEG cap this time. This will save us some time as we won’t have to measure out every spot where the single electrodes have to be placed. Further, we got us some cups 3D-printed to attach the stimulation to them (if you zoom in you can see them on the top of my head). I honestly think that it’s more comfortable than the ring. But maybe that’s just me. Have you ever participated in an EEG or tACS study? If so, what were your experiences? If not, do you want to? We would love to have you as our participant. Enjoy the rest of the week 🧠 💥 🎛

23/04/2019

Dear all,
Finally, the project is about to become real.
Flyers are ready, lab's are booked, scripts are written, tACS and EEG are set up, the task is programmed, and the computer shows a WIFI connection...

But wait, one things is still missing.. YES we need you!
No participants= No data= No Thesis= Disaster.

Do you happen to be around Maastricht, struggle to pay for your groceries, and want to help science? Then contact me and let me tickle your brain 🧠 !

From the 20th of May we start testing. Have a look in your calendar and check in with us.
More questions? Contact me!

With Metta,
O.

12/04/2019

Dear Follower,
Last time you heard from me, I introduced you to tASC which Jasmin and I are going to use to modulate the natural cortical oscillations with a current that is chosen by us. This way we can combine the brains natural oscillations with the current that we induce.
However, at the same time as we stimulate the brain, we have a second neuroimaging technique. 🧠Electroencephalography (EEG). EEG records the electrical activity in the brain and will give us a better insight of the neuronal processes that are going on. We will only use 8 electrodes which are placed around the motor cortex, supplemental motor area (SMA), inferior frontal cortex and the eyes (to detect eye movements. Next week, I will show you a picture of the combined techniques.

On this picture, I tried the EEG Recordings on Jasmins scalp earlier this week.

Have a great weekend ✌️

25/03/2019

As most of you know during the second half of the Master an internship is conducted. Although I chose a Master in Neuropsychology there is the possibility to do the internship at another department.
That is what Jasmin and I did. Both of us do the Master in Neuropsychology but swapped over to Cognitive Neuroscience for the internship.
During the past weeks I already introduced you to our project on facebook and instagram. However, the experts at the cognitive neuroscience department also had to agree with our project. Therefore, there are lab meetings every Tuesday morning in which researchers present their projects, results, and discuss matters in regard to the lab's.
This picture captures Jasmin presenting the pathways that are involved in Parkinson diseased patients during our project proposal.

20/03/2019

Are you curious about the career paths that a graduate of the Master's in Neuropsychology can follow? In just 60 seconds I will tell you more about my future ambitions and how I want to realise them.

Do you aim for a career in the field of Neuropsychology? In which field would you like to start working? Share your thoughts with me in the comments section below! I am happy to think along with you.

14/03/2019

Will you go the extra mile?

Master’s Open Day on 16 March 2019. Experience Maastricht University: find out more about one of the most international universities in Europe, immerse yourself in our programmes, and explore our beautiful city.

Make sure to sign up here: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/events/master%E2%80%99s-open-day-16-march-2019

08/03/2019

**NEUROPSYCHOLOGY** is the master I study. Do you consider to do the same this or next year? Or are you not sure, yet? Maybe you also like cognitive neuroscience or developmental psychology... Or something completely different like work and organisational psychology?.....
Then I advise you to come and visit us at the masters open day. Each master will be represented by current students who will give you a better idea about what it is like to live in Maastricht, the topics that will be covered during the master and more.
This way you will be able to choose for a master that covers you interests best...
When? Where? .
📍16th of March, 10:00-16:00
📍Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience ...
Don’t forget to sign up for this event
https://events-sr.maastrichtuniversity.nl/defaultnew?campaignID=U-00008986&TemplateURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.maastrichtuniversity.nl%2Fevents%2Fmod

21/02/2019

Last week I introduced you to tACS. This week, I would like to tell you more about what I am going to do during the internship.
The general idea is that we would like to understand inhibitory control better. Inhibitory control can be better understood in terms of a stopping network. Whether it is thoughts, actions or emotions. Our brain brain enables us to stop an action when needed (Imagine you cross a road and suddenly a car appears. A certain area in your brain which is responsible for response inhibition will command your body to stop).
This inhibition network is particular interesting in individuals with Parkinson's disease, OCD or Tourette syndrome in which deficits with inhibition are present.
In order to develop new neuromodulatory treatment in inhibitory control disorders it is therefore beneficial to find out atypical cross-frequency coupling to explain the deficits.

With low frequency altering current we will investigate the relationship between beta oscillations and other frequency bands. Particularly, gamma bands. This will look like on the picture. There will be a beta wave in which a gamma bust will be superimposed to the peak of a beta cycle. This is called cross-frequency coupling.

Next week I will tell you more about oscillations and its related cognitive functioning.
STAY TUNED...

Picture copied from: Alekseichuk, I., Turi, Z., Amador De Lara, G., Antal, A., & Paulus, W. (2016). Spatial Working Memory in Humans Depends on Theta and High Gamma Synchronization in the Prefrontal Cortex. Current Biology,26(12), 1513-1521. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2016.04.035

15/02/2019

Dear followers,
I hope you have a great sunny day as we do here in Maastricht. Today, I would like to introduce you to tACS (transcranial altering current stimulation). As I already mentioned in previous posts, during the Master in Neuropsychology you will conduct an internship. You can choose whether you prefer a clinical or research internship. I decided for the research variant. This means that I will be working on a project in which I will conduct tests on participants and gather data which is the basis for the Master Thesis. I will be working together with the cognitive neuroscience department and work with tASC. Now you probably wonder (or not) what it is. .

tACS is an established, safe, and comfortable neuromodulatory technique, in which tASC oscillates a sinusoidal current at a chosen frequency to interact with the brain’s natural cortical oscillations. Generally, a large electrode is placed over an area of interest which applies stimulation while a reference electrode is placed in a neutral location. When a single, consonant frequency is applied the exogenous oscillation can synchronize with the brain’s endogenous frequency. When several oscillations are pulsated, desynchronization of cortical oscillations can occur.
This brain stimulation method in suitable for clinical and research applications, inducing temporary effects on regional brain excitability. There are no known constant side- or after- effects. .
I think this is enough information for one post. Next week I will tell you what exactly we are going to do with it and what we want to find. .. I wish you a great remaining week and you hear from me next week. .
BTW, don’t miss the Masters fair if you are a UM student and about to graduate. You can find the details in my previous post.

29/01/2019

Hey FPN bachelor's students. Do you already know which master's programme you want to follow after your degree in Psychology?

Find all the options that you have at Maastricht University and meet me at the Master's Fair on Tuesday 19 February from 16.00 - 19.00hrs at the MECC Maastricht.

You can register via this link: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/events/masters-fair-2019

Are you a Bachelor's student at FPN and do you already know if you want to pursue a master's degree afterwards? Have you already thought about which master's programme you want to follow?

On Tuesday 19 February, Maastricht University organises a Master's Fair at the MECC Maastricht! During this event you can explore all UM master's programmes in one location. Entrance is free! The only thing you have to do is to register for the event. See you there! https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/events/masters-fair-2019