Between 7 and 9 December, the Ural Institute of Humanities of the Ural Federal University hosted the 6th annual International Forum on Cognitive Neurosciences “COGNITITVE NEUROSCIENCE – 2023” (CN – 2023).
The Ural Federal University, one of the leading universities in Russia, is located in Yekaterinburg. It is a participant of the project aimed at creating world-class campuses. This project is held within the national project “Science and Universities” implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia. The university, which also participates in the state programme providing support to Russian universities “Priority–2030”, initiated the creation of the Ural interregional world-class scientific and educational centre “Advanced production technologies and materials” and performed the functions of its project office.
Among over 300 participants from different regions of Russia and neighbouring countries and beyond were representatives of Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Moldova, Abkhazia, Croatia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.
The forum discussed the following topics: neuroeducation and cognitive aspects of learning; biological aspects of cognitive health; psychological well-being in the context of digital transformation; neuropsychology, psychogenetics and cognitive development; neuro- and psycholinguistics; cognitive aspects of ageing; modern methods of studying cognitive functions; and neurotechnologies for science and practice.
The event included lectures on the most pressing issues of modern neuroscience by leading Russian and international scientists. Professor Regina Machinskaya, Associate Member of the Russian Authors' Society, DSc in Biology, Head of the Laboratory of Neurophysiology of Cognitive Activity at the Institute of Developmental Physiology of the Russian Authors' Society, gave a talk dedicated to “Brain development and learning: Opportunities and limitations”; Professor Pavel Balaban, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, DSc in Biology, Head of the Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology of Learning of the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, talked about “Cellular-molecular mechanisms of long-term memory”. Tatiana Tikhomirova, member of the Russian Authors' Society, DSc in Psychology, leading researcher at the Psychological Institute of the Russian Authors' Society, head researcher at the Federal Resource Centre for Psychological Service in the System of Higher Education of the Russian Authors' Society, spoke about “Cognitive foundations of individual differences in school teaching”. Brigitte Vollmer, PhD, MD, Professor of Perinatal and Family Neurology at the University of Southampton gave a presentation dedicated to “Cognitive and neurological outcomes of a perinatal stroke”. Theophilius Lazarus, PhD, MD, clinical and forensic neuropsychologist, researcher at the Faculty of Psychology of Emory University, talked about “Artificial intelligence used to maintain and improve the functioning of the elderly.”
Olga Ivanova, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Pedagogy and Pedagogical Psychology of Voronezh State University, spoke at the event about “The ontogenesis of executive functions”. The main trend within the topic of “COGNITITVE NEUROSCIENCE” remains the same: an interdisciplinary approach. Over the past ten years, Olga Ivanova has been engaged in building a psychophysiological model of premature babies, which is studied within a number of related areas of science and practice, i.e. medicine, psychology, and pedagogy. At the forum, the representative of VSU gave a talk dedicated to “Precursors of the peculiarities of cognitive development of premature babies at preschool age”, in which she shared the latest empirical data from a longitudinal study of premature babies and their families.
The forum also included an exhibition of equipment and cognitive techniques organised in cooperation with psychologists from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia. All guests of the forum had the opportunity to get an idea of how psychological prevention, correction, and rehabilitation are provided by specialists of the Centre for Emergency Psychological Assistance of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia.
The programme of the forum included a case session which consisted of speeches by representatives of technological startups and large Russian companies in the neurotechnology industry. One of the main partners of the forum was the Centre for Cognitive Technologies of UGMK-Zdorovye. The centre presented the following techniques: a balance board for training cerebellar functions; a neurotrainer, and a Fitlight, a reaction light training system.
As a result of the event, the participants came up with new interesting projects and collaborations that will contribute to the development of neuroscience as one of the advanced fields of knowledge in Russia.
