Research facilities
The Cognitive Neuroscience area in the School of Psychology at the University of Waterloo offers a broad range of research facilities that ensure students are trained in leading-edge methods for understanding brain-behaviour relationships. Below are some brief descriptions of the available research facilities. However, please note that other facilities are accessible via collaborations on campus, including TMS, fNIRS, CDTC.
Event-related potentials:
Several CNS faculty make use of the ERP technique using state-of-the-art EEG systems (Itier, Danckert) which allow the recording of neural activity alone or in conjunction with eye movements obtained from a remote eye tracking system.
Functional MRI:
Several CNS faculty make use of functional MRI in their work (Fernandes, Danckert). Data collection is currently available with collaborator sites (Sunnybrooke, Baycrest, Western), and large-scale open access data-bases (e.g., Human Connectome Project, the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development database).
Psychophysiology and eye-tracking:
The School of Psychology has multiple systems available for measuring galvanic skin responses and heart rate/heart rate variability metrics. In addition, several labs have eye tracking capacity that can be paired with these facilities to capture pupillometry as a metric of norepinephrine/arousal.
Virtual reality:
Several V.R. systems exist in the School of Psychology. Faculty use these systems to study spatial navigation and social cognition, among other things.
Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience (CTN):
Founded in 2006, the University of Waterloo's Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience (CTN) is dedicated to research and education, focusing on developing and deploying mathematical and computational tools for brain research and the discovery of robust explanatory theories of mind and brain. The CNS area of the University of Waterloo's School of Psychology is an integral player in the CTN. James Danckert was one of the CTNs founding members and Britt Anderson, a member since 2007, was the director for several years. Roxane Itier is also both a CNS faculty member and CTN affiliate. CNS graduate students are encouraged to attend the CTN's monthly seminars and annual Brain Day when internationally renowned speakers are invited to the campus for a day of lectures and informal meetings with students. For those seeking a credential, the CTN offers a graduate diploma in Theoretical Neuroscience.
Populations available for use in research studies:
Young adults are accessible for participation in our research studies. We have an active ‘Research Experiences Group’ which is a database of students taking psychology courses who are available for research studies.
Typically, aging older adults 60 to 100 years of age are accessible for research studies. The Waterloo Research in Aging Participants (WRAP) is a database of older adults from the local community. They have registered their interest in participating in research studies being conducted by University of Waterloo faculty. WRAP research projects explore cognitive aging, posture, user-interface design, reflexes, vision, and much more. View our video for more details.
Individuals living with mild cognitive impairment or probable dementia are also available for participation in research experiments through the University of Waterloo’s Research Institute of Aging. Faculty in CNS have also established connections with local retirement homes and long-term-care facilities to facilitate research.