CORTEX is a research lab at the University of Victoria, Department of Psychology, dedicated to the analysis of human behavior and cognitive processing that is “executive” in nature. Currently, we have a number of related areas of research:
INTERACT: derivation of an executive functions theory
We are interested in developing a theoretical framework for executive functions, known as INTERACT. With this theory in mind, we are engaging in the development of ecologically valid and reliable methods to assess executive functions. Our first project included the analysis of the psychometric characteristics of a behavioral screener derived from Reynold’s and Kamphaus’ Behavioral Assessment System for Children, BASC (Garcia-Barrera, Kamphaus & Bandalos, 2011). We are looking at how reliable and valid a behavioral rating scale is in measuring executive behaviors in children from the USA, Colombia, and Spain, and in collaboration with Randy W. Kamphaus, Ph.D. at Georgia State University, David Pineda, M.D., at the Neurosciences Group of the University of Antioquia in Colombia, and Elena Pérez-Hernández, Ph.D., at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain. The second project following this, in collaboration with Dr. Jeff Frazer, includes creating a set of computer tasks that tap into the five individual components of INTERACT, allowing us to investigate the functionality of these components in a wide variety of individuals.
Prefrontal cortex and other neural markers of executive functioning
At CORTEX, we recently completed a series of studies examining structural patterns of a number of functional divisions of the prefrontal cortex, including the orbitofrontal, dorsolateral, and ventromedial areas, the Anterior Cingulate Cortex, and other components of the fronto-striatal circuitry, in relationship to executive behaviors, and in children with developmental disorders (e.g., dyslexia, ADHD). For this purpose, we are manually tracing structural MRI scans of children and their families. As well, in collaboration with Drs. George W. Hynd, Natalia Trujillo, and Elena Pérez-Hernández, we are measuring the physiological (e.g., ACC originated N200 as marker for inhibitory control), structural, and volumetric differences in children with and without ADHD. We are also interested in neural plasticity of the prefrontal networks. With Drs. Colette Smart and Adam Krawitz at UVic, we are investigating the neural markers of PFC plasticity associated with mindfulness based meditation. We are investigating the role of rehabilitation and neural growth of a single case study with traumatic brain injury with Drs. Brian D’Arcy at Dalhousie University, Canada, and Stephen Lindsay at the University of Victoria by manually tracing the affected neural regions at a number of time points during rehabilitation.
Development and aging of executive control functions
Committed to understating executive functions across the lifespan, we started a team-collaboration with Drs. Ulrich Mueller, and Kimberly Kerns at the University of Victoria, and Dr. Ida Sue Baron, Professor of Pediatrics at The University of Virginia School of Medicine, looking at behavioral patterns of executive control in typical early development, in full-term and pre-term preschoolers. With Dr. Stuart MacDonald at the University of Victoria, we obtained a five-year NSERC grant to examine both intra-individual variability in executive control performance and neural markers of cognitive control decline during typical aging.
Athlete’s executive functions and mild traumatic brain injury
Another area of research includes the investigation of the relationship between executive function and concussions. It has been suggested that concussions have a negative impact on executive functions, especially later in life. However, it has also been suggested that physical exercise has a beneficial impact on executive functioning. Therefore, in collaboration with the University of Victoria athletes, we are investigating the interaction of exercise and concussions by using performance and neurophysiological measures of executive functions.
Executive functions and language interactions
A final line of research involves the interaction of executive functions and language networks. First, we are developing and empirically testing a theoretical framework of anticipation in developmental stuttering; anticipation is the ability for individuals who stutter to predict that they are about to stutter. In collaboration with Drs. Jason Davidow, from Hofstra University in Long Island, NY, and Clay Holroyd at the University of Victoria, we have embarked on investigating the neurophysiological markers of anticipation, such as the feedback error-related negativity, using event-related potential (ERP) techniques. Second, we are investigating the role of the ‘bilingual advantage,’ which suggests that individuals who speak a second language demonstrate better executive functioning on a range of tasks compared to their monolingual peers. This advantage has been strongly documented in young children and older adults, suggesting an enhancement effect in children and a buffering effect in older adults. Using performance outcomes and ERPs to measure executive functions, we are investigating the bilingual advantage across the lifespan.
