Attention and executive functions after stroke

We live in an ageing society, which brings with it increasing challenges at the individual, interpersonal, clinical and societal levels. Increasing ageing also leads to an increase in the number of older adults suffering from neurological disorders, such as stroke. At the same time, our world is becoming increasingly complex: we constantly need efficient and flexible cognitive skills, including cognitive control. For example, we are constantly bombarded with sensory input. To achieve our goals, our cognitive system must select and process the relevant input, retain this input and at the same time suppress irrelevant input. However, exactly these cognitive control skills deteriorate with age, and even more so after stroke. The overarching goal of this project is to uncover the neural and behavioural mechanisms underlying cognitive control after stroke. Firstly, we want to disentangle the patterns of impairments in cognitive control in stroke survivors. Second, we want to map the lesion neuroanatomy of cognitive control disorders at the network level. To achieve these goals, we propose a multi-modal approach combining behavioural and brain imaging (structural and functional MRI) techniques and advanced statistical techniques (structural equation modelling, network and connectivity analyses). In summary, with this project we want to develop new diagnostic tools and understand the mechanisms underlying cognitive control deficits after stroke. These new insights are a fundamental step for the development of intervention protocols for treating these deficits.