Download a complete conference program (PDF).

8:00-9:00 am	Registration Opens & Breakfast
9:00-9:15	Welcoming Remarks. Dr. Anthony R. McIntosh, Baycrest Research Division; University of Toronto
9:15-10:00	Keynote: Harnessing the power of neuroplasticity for intervention. Dr. Bryan Kolb, University of Lethbridge, Canada
	Session 1: Physiological interventions
10:00-10:30	Physiological interventions: Neurofeedback and neuroplasticity: rationale and clinical application. Dr. David Linden, Cardiff University, UK
10:30-11:00	Refreshment Break
11:00-11:30	Pharmacology. Dr. Dale Corbett, University of Ottawa, Canada.
11:30-12:00 pm	Physiological interventions: Neuromodulation. Dr. Clement Hamani, University of Toronto, Canada.
12:00-12:30	Moderated discussion. Meddling with neural function: from basic science to clinical interventions and back again. Dr. Sandra Black, Rotman Research Institute; Sunnybrook Research Institute
12:30-2:00	Lunch Break
	Session 2: Behavioural interventions
2:00-2:30	Mindfulness. Dr. Adam Anderson, University of Toronto, Canada.
2:30-3:00	Occupation. Dr. Elizabeth Skidmore, University of Pittsburgh, U.S.A.
3:00-3:30	Refreshment Break
3:30-4:00	Harnessing the power of the world wide web for cognitive assessment. Dr. Adrian Owen, University of Western Ontario, Canada.
4:00-4:30	Computerized. Dr. Torkel Klingberg, Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
4:30-5:00	Moderated discussion.  Science and sensibility: What's driving clinical practice in neurorehabilitation? Dr. Jennifer Ryan, Rotman Research Institute
5:00-6:30	Poster Session and Welcome Reception

Download a complete conference program (PDF).

8:00-8:45 am	Registration Opens & Breakfast
8:45-9:30	Keynote: Cortical plasticity within and across lifetimes: A comparative approach. Dr. Leah Krubitzer, University of California, Davis, USA
	Session 3: Change assessment
9:30-10:00	Neuroimaging microstructure. Dr. Jean Chen, Rotman Research Institute
10:00-10:30	Behavioural outcome measures. Dr. Richard Gershon, Northwestern University, USA
10:30-11:00	Refreshment Break
11:00-11:30	Population neuroscience. Dr. Tomas Paus, Rotman Research Institute
11:30-12:00 pm	Imaging markers of neuroplasticity. Dr. Mark D’Esposito, University of California, Berkeley, USA (TBC)
12:00-12:30	Moderated discussion. Taking aim at a moving target: Can we reliably measure noisy changes within noisy systems? Dr. Brian Levine, Rotman Research Institute
12:30-2:00	Lunch Break (not provided)
	Session 4: Mechanisms of change
2:00-2:30	Training to hear involves the whole dynamic auditory system from the ear to its cognitive influencers. Dr. Nina Kraus, Northwestern University, USA.
2:30-3:00	Stimulation-related focal changes. Dr. Alvaro Pascual-Leone, Harvard Medical School, USA
3:00-3:30	Refreshment Break
3:30-4:00	Injury-related systemic neurodegeneration. Dr. Robin Green, University of Toronto, Canada.
4:00-4:30	Harnessing prefrontal plasticity via cognitive training to remediate interference deficits in older adults. Dr. Adam Gazzaley, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
4:30-5:00	Moderated discussion: Where should we poke? Modular, systems and distributed mechanisms of change; Drs. Morris Moscovitch and Gordon Winocur, Rotman Research Institute
5:00-6:00	Poster Session
6:00-7:00	Public Lecture: Bilingualism, Brain and Behaviour:  Dr. Ellen Bialystok, York University and Dr. Fergus Craik, Rotman Research Institute. Register

Download a complete conference program (PDF).

8:30-9:15 am	Registration Opens & Breakfast
9:15-10:00	Keynote: Principles of Cognitive Neurorehabilitation. Dr. Barbara Wilson, Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK.
	Session 5: Neuroplasticity and neurorehabilitation of specific cognitive domains
10:00-10:30	Neocortical plasticity and declarative memory formation. Dr. Asaf Gilboa, Rotman Research Institute, Canada.
10:30-11:00	Memory intervention: from theory to clinical practice. Dr. Eva Svoboda, Baycrest, Canada.
11:00-11:30	Refreshment Break
11:30-12:00	From neuroscience to neurorehabilitation of language. Dr. Friedemann Pulvermüller, Freie Universität Berlin, German.
12:00-12:30	Neuroplasticity and neurorehabilitation of language: findings from domain specific treatments. Dr. Elizabeth Rochon, University of Toronto, Canada
12:30-2:00	Lunch Break (not provided)
2:00-2:30	Cognitive domains- executive: Domain-specific functions. Dr. Don Stuss, Rotman Research Institute, Canada.
2:30-3:00	Executive: Cross-domain transfer. Dr. Sylvain Moreno, Rotman Research Institute, Canada.
3:00-3:45	Moderated discussion. Building bridges or filling up the pits: compensatory and restorative approaches. Dr. Jed Meltzer, Rotman Research Institute, Canada.
3:45-4:00	Closing remarks. Dr. Deirdre Dawson, Rotman Research Institute, Canada.

On Sunday, March 3, Baycrest will host four simultaneous workshop sessions addressed to clinicians, therapists and scientists. Three clinical workshops are below, and details of the scientific workshop are here. All pre-conference workshops will be held at Baycrest and lunch will be provided.

Registration, check-in and breakfast begins at 8:30 am and all workshops are scheduled to begin at 9:00 am and end at 5:00 pm.

Workshop A: The Memory & Aging Program™

This workshop will be led by Dr. Angela Troyer and Dr. Susan Vandermorris

The Memory and Aging Program™ is aimed at people of retirement age or older who are interested in learning about memory changes that normally occur with age and strategies to improve their everyday memory performance. This workshop provides clinicians with the necessary background information and experience to deliver an evidence-based memory intervention to groups of older adults experiencing normal age-related memory changes.

Objectives

During this workshop, participants will:

• Review memory changes associated with normal aging and how different factors (such as lifestyle and stress) can impact memory function
• Gain knowledge of the evidence base that supports the use of specific memory strategies
• Learn a session-by-session group-based memory intervention protocol for individuals with normal age-related memory changes
• Gain hands-on practice with training others in the use of memory strategies
• Appreciate common challenges to delivering a memory intervention protocol
• Understand evidence for the benefits of the Memory and Aging Program™ and what past participants have gained from this comprehensive intervention

Target Audience

This training workshop is open to licensed health care professionals including Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, etc.  All health care professionals must be registered with a professional body or be employed by a university or college so that there is an external organization to which the provider is professionally accountable.

Participant Guidelines This training workshop is interactive, and attendees are expected to participate actively. Participants should be comfortable with public speaking and working in small groups.

Program Format

The workshop will combine interactive lectures and hands-on practice to help participants learn and gain experience with the memory intervention protocol.

Workshop B: Smarter Aging (SA)

This workshop will be led by Dr. Sylvain Moreno, Dr. Aline Moussard and Barbara K. Byczko

Executive, or frontal lobe, functions are responsible for the control, direction, and regulation of cognitive and mental processes. Examples of executive functions include paying attention, managing goals, and forming strategies. These skills are often affected in the aging population. Smarter Aging (SA) provides participants with a validated, structured program, based on music lessons, for rehabilitation of executive function in seniors. This workshop will give you a solid foundation of the theoretical basis of SA and hands-on experience in delivering it.

Objectives

During this workshop, participants will:

• Learn what the executive functions are and their changes associated with normal aging;
• Learn about brain plasticity and how music making can change the brain and its connections;
• Learn how we can adapt the concept of brain plasticity to cognitive rehabilitation and the concept of “neuroeducation”;
• Learn the theory underlying SA and the evidence base that supports its use in the elderly population;
• Experience an SA session with the music teacher that led the program;
• Gain hands-on experience in administering the SA;
• Discuss some common challenges regarding the use of the SA program with clinical population (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke patients).

Target Audience

This training is open to licensed health care professionals including Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, Music-Therapist etc. Music teachers are also very welcome, as well as students in music, psychology, medical sciences, etc. All health care professionals must be registered with a professional body or be employed by a university or college so that there is an external organization to which the provider is professionally accountable. No musical background is required.

Participant Guidelines

This training workshop is interactive, and attendees are encouraged to actively participate. Participants should be comfortable with working in small groups.

Program Format

The workshop will combine theoretical lectures and hands-on practice to help participants learn and gain experience with the SA intervention protocol.

Workshop C: Learning the Ropes for Living with MCI™

This workshop will be led by Dr. Kelly Murphy, Dr. Gillian Rowe, and Ms. Renee Climans

Learning the Ropes for Living with MCI™ is aimed at community dwelling older adults experiencing Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and their close relative. The focus is on optimizing cognitive health through lifestyle choices, memory training, and psychosocial support. The immediate goals of the program are to improve healthy lifestyle behaviours in all participants, memory strategy knowledge and use in participants with MCI, and adaptive coping skills in close relatives (family/friend).  The overarching long term goals are to prevent or delay the onset of clinical dementia in persons with MCI and to prevent or minimize physical and mental health declines in their close relative. The content of this evidence-based program is crafted to meet the specific needs of people living with MCI based on the most current research.  This workshop provides healthcare professionals with an in-depth understanding of MCI and the necessary background and training to deliver an effective group intervention targeted to the specialized needs of those affected by MCI.

Objectives

During this workshop, participants will:

• Review how MCI differs from normal aging and dementia, and gain an appreciation of how cognitive processes are typically affected in these groups
• Acquire first-hand experience with utilizing practical strategies for improving everyday remembering and learn how to effectively communicate this knowledge to others
• Learn how to engage individuals in a group intervention in a manner that facilitates their ability to make behavioural changes targeted to promote positive cognitive health outcomes
• Gain an understanding of how lifestyle factors such as exercise, diet, and social involvement impact brain health
• Develop an appreciation for how MCI impacts the lives of people experiencing the condition AND about the impact of MCI on the lives of close relatives
• Understand how to capitalize on flexibilities built into the program protocol to facilitate skill in best meeting the needs of those served

Target Audience

This training workshop is open to licensed health care professionals such as; Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, Nurses, Social Workers, Doctors etc.  All health care professionals must be registered with a professional body or be employed by a university or college so that there is an external organization to which the practitioner is professionally accountable.

Participant Guidelines

This training workshop is best suited to health care professionals who have experience working with older adults and who are comfortable with public speaking.
Program Format: The workshop will utilize an interactive approach to promote the acquisition of the knowledge and skills required to effectively deliver the Learning the Ropes protocol.

On Sunday, March 3, Baycrest will host four simultaneous workshop sessions addressed to clinicians, therapists and scientists. Details of the scientific workshop are below and three clinical workshops are listed here. All pre-conference workshops will be held at Baycrest and lunch will be provided.

Registration, check-in and breakfast begins at 8:30 am and all workshops are scheduled to begin at 9:00 am and end at 5:00 pm.

Workshop D: Conducting Neurocognitive Intervention Research: Lessons from the field

Target Audience

This training is open to students, postdoctoral fellows, professors, scientists and clinicians-scientists. Those interested in the PLS component should have at least some experience and understanding of neuroimaging methods and neuroimaging data management. Those interested in the MEG/EEG component should have at least some experience and understanding of MEG/EEG methodology and data management.

Objectives

To learn new methodologies developed by Rotman Research Institute scientists as they apply to research designs that track intervention-related neural and behavioural changes.

Program Format

The workshop will combine interactive lectures and hands-on practice to help participants learn and gain experience with the different methodologies and techniques. Design and statistical considerations of conducting longitudinal intervention studies will initially be discussed. Participants will then participate in one of three 4-hour hands-on modules that will run in parallel (spaces limited, pre-registration is required).

1. Ecological behavioural/functional outcome measures

Towards ecologically valid assessment of cognition: While traditional tests of cognitive function have been (and continue to be) extremely useful, clinicians and researchers working in the rehabilitation field are increasingly advocating for the need for ecologically valid assessments as they recognize that traditional tests do not capture people’s abilities in the complex, rich environments in which they function.  This workshop will review the concept of ecological validity, the rationale for developing ecologically valid assessments and introduce participants to four tools at various stages of development: the Multiple Errands Test, the Slip Induction Task, the Breakfast Task, and the Virtual Week. The Multiple Errands Test is a naturalistic assessment of executive functioning based on multi-tasking during an exercise in which the participants shops, collects information, and has to meet up with the examiner at a specified time.  The Slip Induction Task (SIT) examines a participant’s ability to adapt to dynamic changes within a routine task.  Through measurement of speed and accuracy, participants with acquired brain injury exhibit unique response patterns on the SIT despite performing quite normally on standardized assessments of cognitive function.  The Breakfast Task is a computer game that simulates cooking breakfast and setting a table. It measures the involvement of executive functions in different components of this naturalistic task, including planning, prospective memory, and task switching. The Virtual Week is a computer board game that simulates going through a day with things to do and things to remember to do (e.g., take medication, run errands) at specific times or events that occur. It measures performance on different types of real world prospective memory tasks.

Workshop attendees will learn more regarding the construction of each of these tests, their administration, their psychometric properties, and the characteristic response patterns associated with older adults and/or individuals with brain injury or stroke (not each population will be covered with each task).  Participants will also have some opportunities to interact with the tasks.

2. Brain outcome measures

Network analysis of fMRI using Partial Least Squares: PLS is a multivariate statistical method that is used to describe the relations between two matrices by modeling their covariance structure. It is especially appropriate when the matrix of predictors has more variables than observations and when there is multicollinearity and so is particularly suited for analysis of neuroimaging data. First introduced to neuroimaging by Randy McIntosh, director of the RRI, it has proven a robust and relatively intuitive method for extracting distributed signal changes as they relate to task demands, behavior and connectivity between brain regions. Freeware packages for applying PLS to various neuroimaging modalities (PET, structural and functional MRI, ERP, MEG) are available on the RRI website.
At the workshop, participants will:

• Learn hands-on how to perform group analyses of fMRI using PLS
• Analyze data derived from an intervention study that includes:
  • Three groups (intervention and two controls)
  • Two measurement time points (pre- and post- intervention). 
• They will learn how to relate distributed BOLD signal patterns to changes in performance and changes in inter-regional connectivity.
• They will learn how these may be specifically related to the cognitive intervention applied.
• Important emphasis will be placed on how to correctly interpret the results of PLS analyses.

3. Brain outcome measures

Tracking neuro-physiological changes using MEG/EEG: Although EEG and MEG have existed for decades, analysis techniques have greatly advanced in the past decade, due to influence from fMRI and greater availability of user-friendly software. These techniques play an important role in basic and clinical cognitive neuroscience. Participants will be introduced to contemporary methods in advanced EEG and MEG research, as applied to disorders including stroke and traumatic brain injury. The workshop will include a lecture component as well as hands-on demonstrations on the application of analysis techniques to real data from healthy controls and patients. Participants will be introduced to open-source analysis software packages such as EEGLAB, Fieldtrip, and AFNI.

Lecture topics include:

• Pros and cons of EEG and MEG compared to each other and fMRI
• Different aspects of the signal and their properties, such as time and frequency domain phenomena
• Approaches to estimation of neural connectivity
• Approaches to source localization.

The hands-on workshop will include:

• Dealing with special challenges of non-standard brains (e.g. lesions, degeneration, etc.)
• Statistical analysis, within and between subjects
• Time-frequency analysis and beamforming.

Schedule

8:30-9:00 am	Registration and Refreshments Baycrest Hospital
9:00-9:30 am	Symposium: Drs. Deirdre Dawson, Jed Meltzer and Gary Turner How do we know change has occurred? Brain, behavior and functional outcomes What does the brain data add? Do we need behavioural/neuropsychological outcomes?
9:30-10:10 am	Designing and conducting longitudinal interventional studies: Beyond repeated measures ANOVA Dr. Malcolm Binns
10:10-10:30 am	Coffee Break
10:30 am-12:30 pm	Training Workshops The following hands-on 4-hour training workshops will run parallel to each other and participants will choose only one. 1. Behavioural/functional outcome measures - Dr. Deirdre Dawson, Dr. Amanda Clark and Dr. Nathan Rose               Neuropsychological assessment of intervention-related cognitive changes Measuring functional changes over time 2. Brain outcome measures: Using PLS to track system changes over time - Drs. Natasha Kovacevic and Gary Turner 3. Brain outcome measures: Tracking neuropsychological changes using MEG/EEG - Drs. Jed Meltzer and Bernhard Ross
12:30-1:45 pm	Lunch (provided)
1:45-3:45 pm	Behavioral/functional outcome measures: Neuropsychological assessment of intervention-related cognitive changes  Measuring functional changes over time Brain outcome measures: Using PLS to track system level changes over time Brain outcome measures: Tracking neuro-physiological changes using MEG/EEG
3:45-4:15 pm	Coffee break
4:15-5:00 pm	Tracking and understanding behavioral, functional and neural changes in a multi-variate space - Dr. Randy McIntosh