Behavioral neuroscience, aging and dementia

The Research group in Behavioral Neuroscience, Aging and Dementia (BNAD) is led by Professor Claudia Rodríguez-Aranda and is pursuing active research in topics within the field of neuroscience, aging, mild cognitive impairment and dementia. The main topics are research in cognitive aging, its association with various motor functions and early diagnosis of dementia. As an ancillary area within behavioral neuroscience, a formal member of the group also conduct research in sexual motivation in mammals.  

Our group seeks to understand the relationship brain-cognition/ brain-behavior by applying a multidisciplinary approach based on detailed behavioral analyses of motor functions (speech, dexterity and gait) hearing, and cognition (neuropsychological assessments) in different aging populations. Likewise, we conduct projects where cognition and different biological aspects are addressed (e.g., respiratory function and language in the life-span). We use advanced imaging techniques (MRI, fMRI) and others (sound analyses/aerophone). Some of our members are part of the Dementia Disease Initiation (DDI) project, which is a national multicenter study for the early detection of the disease. 

Infrastructure. Our core area to conduct research is at the department of psychology where a number of laboratories are available for research with humans. In these areas the group is well-equipped for gait analyses, motion capture systems, audiometry, eye-tracking and speech analyses. In addition, neuroimaging is carried out at the University Hospital of North-Norway (UNN) where MRI facilities are available for research. Research for DDI project also takes place at UNN.