Neuroscience, Models, and Methods in Cognitive Aging

描述(申请人提供)：老年学、心理学、认知科学和认知神经科学的实证研究越来越需要人类信息处理的正式模型和复杂的统计方法，以便更好地了解与认知能力变化(包括正常和疾病相关的)有关的过程。随着理论和方法的发展，不仅有必要获得新的统计方法和正式建模技术方面的专门培训，而且有必要探索将原本可能是不同的专门知识领域联系起来的方法。本提案通过为对认知老化感兴趣的研究人员提供一个机会，从他们的工作跨越统计方法、认知神经科学和认知和大脑状态的正式模型的专家那里获得经验，从而满足了这一需求。为此目的，这项提议涵盖在圣母大学举行的一系列会议和讲习班的第三年，在这些会议和讲习班中，量化方法方面的顶尖学者发表了一系列演讲，集中讨论统一方法论的核心主题或针对特定的实质性研究人员受众。拟议的会议将包括教程论文和结构化咨询会议，重点是评估大脑状态研究数据的统计方法，以及分析认知过程正式模型的结构、复杂性和预测的正式方法。其目的是为参与者提供将这种技术纳入他们自己的研究的能力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Empirical research in gerontology, psychology, cognitive science, and cognitive neuroscience is increasingly calling upon both formal models of human information processing and sophisticated statistical methodologies in order to better understand the processes associated with changes (both normal and disease-related) in cognitive abilities across the lifespan. As both theory and methodology evolve, it becomes necessary not only to acquire specialized training in new statistical methodology and formal modeling techniques, but also to explore methods for connecting what otherwise might be distinct areas of expertise. The present proposal addresses this need by providing an opportunity for researchers interested in cognitive aging to gain experience with specialists whose work spans statistical methodologies, cognitive neuroscience, and formal models of cognition and brain states. To this end, this proposal covers the third year in a series of conferences and workshops that are held at the University of Notre Dame in which top scholars in quantitative methodology present a series of talks focused on either a central unifying methodological theme or targeted to a particular audience of substantive researchers. The proposed conference will include tutorial papers and structured consulting sessions that focus on statistical methods for evaluating data from studies of brain states, and formal methods of analyzing the structure, complexity, and predictions of formal models of cognitive processes. The intent is to provide participants with the ability to incorporate such techniques in their own research.