Get Involved
Help us help others. Read below to find out how you can get involved in our world-class research.
Information for Research Volunteers
The ultimate aim of our research is to understand and develop ways to enhance cognitive health and recovery. To do this, we have a number of ongoing projects looking at different aspects of attention and memory and potential ways to improve it. Different studies will get you involved in different ways. We invite you to take part and work with us on our mission!
We are currently looking for research volunteers that are:
- Healthy, young adults.
- Healthy seniors.
- Individuals who have experienced a stroke.
- Individuals who have Parkinson’s.
Developing a Tool to Provide a Report Card of Attention and Memory
To help attention and memory, we first need to know what the problems are and what needs to be improved. We have created a tool for this, called the Dalhousie Computerized Attention Assessment Battery (DalCAB) and we are looking to see if it works correctly by giving it to a large group of individuals with and without problems. When finished, the DalCAB will be used by therapists to guide rehabilitation and to monitor recovery.
Parkinson’s Study
Movement difficulties are not the only symptoms of Parkinson’s. Some people with Parkinson’s have trouble paying attention or holding information in their minds in order to do a task, such as reading, or listening to a conversation. In this study we want to see if doing daily mental exercises can improve thinking and daily activities.
Take part in the Parkinson’s Study.
Improving Attention with Prism Adaptation
Individuals with a stroke or injury to the right side of the brain often have trouble with paying attention to the left side of the world and are diagnosed with “spatial neglect”. Individuals with spatial neglect often bump into objects on their left, they may leave food on the left side of their plate or forget to wash or dress the left side of their face or body. Unfortunately, treatments for neglect are limited and this study is trying to understand and improve on a treatment using glasses that helps direct attention leftward.
Understanding and Improving Working Memory
Working memory is the ability to hold information in mind so that you can “work” with it – it is like your “mental scratchpad.” You are using it when you read, have a conversation, do math in your head, or try to solve a problem. Aging or brain disease/injury commonly affects working memory, and there are a number of ongoing projects trying to understand our working memory is affected and how to make it better.
For more information about any of these studies, or if you would like to participate please call 902-494-4033 or email EskesPsychLab@gmail.com
Information for students
Working in our Cognitive Health and Recovery Laboratory provides hands-on skills and in-depth training that can further your education and advance your career. Dalhousie graduate students studying psychiatry, psychology, neuroscience and medicine may be eligible. Please contact us to explore your options. Be prepared to follow up with a completed application form, your resume and your transcript(s).
Information for collaborators
We are always seeking ways to expand and improve what we’re doing. If you have ideas for the development and application of the Cognitive Repair Kit, please contact us.
Information for industry
Our goal at the Brain Repair Centre is to build upon our research success by taking the Cognitive Repair Kit from the lab to the marketplace, to help improve the quality of life for patients around the world. If you are with a medical, pharmaceutical, technology, biotechnology, or test publisher company and are interested in helping bridge the gap, please contact us.