Cognitive Fitness: what, why, how? - Professor Murat Yücel

Abstract

The Cognitive Fitness Group uses cognitive neuroscience to create digital tools that measure, monitor and help optimise brain health. Professor Yücel will talk about his work developing innovative approaches to Digital Medicine. This includes:

• a gamified measurement tool for assessing cognitive and brain function for use in clinical research, aiming to comprehend the cognitive mechanisms of clinical dysfunction and guide mechanism-targeting interventions to enhance them;
• an ultra-brief tool for measuring cognitive fitness in clinical conditions, which can be used to build resilience against mental ill-health and improve performance in high-stakes situations, such as those faced by first responders, military professionals, and competitive athletes.

Bio

Professor Murat Yücel, is an AHPRA registered Clinical Neuropsychologist, and the Director of the Brain and Mental Health research program at QIMR Berghofer. His career boasts several prestigious NHMRC fellowships and leadership roles within Australia's top universities and medical research institutes, resulting in growth of the nation’s mental health and research capability.

He has pioneered many studies blending neuroscience with digital-, lifestyle-, and psychedelic-medicines, leading to the creation of novel assessments and interventions to improve brain and mental health.