In spring 2023, a group of SCONe researchers decided on a common research project that soon focused on reviewing the literature, and potentially doing a meta-analysis, on the strength of alpha lateralisation. We picked this effect because it is well-documented and generally accepted. It should therefore make for a proving ground for our large-scale literature survey.

Our motivations were to check how effect sizes were usually reported, borne out of a move away from only reporting the existence of an effect towards how strong it is. It seems generally more interesting to know that cued shifts of attention (or other cognitive experimental manipulations) explain x% of variability in, rather than just knowing that they do (not) affect brain activity. Ultimately, we hope to provide a benchmark for effect sizes in cognitive neuroscience to compare novel or less established findings to. Moreover, we aim to assess how effect sizes for alpha lateralisation vary across different types of designs, modalities, or design factors (if our final set of papers includes enough relevant papers).

Screeners at work

After laying the groundwork, and researching approaches, we finally settled on using cutting-edge  systematic review tools. For the first stage of title and abstract screening, following a literature search that produced ~4500 results, we used an AI tool, ASReview, that helped massively by reducing the amount of work by about 90+% (only x abstracts were scanned by two screeners). The resulting 300+ eligible studies then underwent a full-text screening involving 10 screeners, and excluding studies using a fixed set of criteria. This and the following stage made/make use of Covidence, an online tool specifically designed to support screening efforts for systematic reviews.

We met in Dundee in early March 2024 for a titration screening and finalising the criteria for all screeners. With the screening nearing completion, we are currently finalising the data extraction process that will be followed by a data analysis stage to determine effect sizes.

Getting some fresh air at Loch Brandy, Glen Clova

Our progress has been hugely engaging and the learning experiences, discussions and meetings have been invaluable opportunities for exchange. The effect size project steering committee, including Lui Ka Yan (Troby), Laura-Isabelle Klatt and Christian Keitel, say huge thanks to everyone involved in the project so far: Karin Bakardjian, Chris Benwell, Emily K Cunningham, Anne Keitel, Martina Kopcanova, Manuela Ruzzoli, Linda Drijvers, Malte Wöstmann, Benedikt Zoefel, Søren K Andersen, Marlene Rösner, Philipp Ruhnau.

Please get in touch for questions and suggestions, and stay tuned for updates!

By Sümeyye Şen Alpay

As an international student, relocating abroad to pursue a master’s degree with demanding coursework during the pandemic was no easy feat. Looking back on those days, I realize that adapting to a new educational system while feeling isolated hindered my ability to fully embrace the academic delights, such as international travel, conference attendance, and meeting remarkable researchers in person. Now, after a year as a doctoral student, my journey has been filled with a multitude of opportunities that reignited my enthusiasm for my career in numerous ways. One of these remarkable experiences was my week-long visit to Prof Sonja Kotz’s Basic & Applied NeuroDynamics Laboratory at the University of Maastricht in October, which was generously sponsored by the Scottish-EU Critical Oscillations Network (SCONe). My expectations for the lab visit were quite modest, revolving around introducing my research on the relationship between emotional processes and naturalistic speech processing, soliciting feedback on planned studies, and acquiring new research methodologies. At the end of the week, I departed Maastricht with more than I initially anticipated—an experience well worth sharing in a blog post.

By a fortunate coincidence, my first day at the BAND Lab coincided with attending Anna Czepiel’s PhD defense. Despite the notable variations in doctoral dissertation defenses, not only between the Netherlands and Scotland but also within different institutions in each country, her defense provided me with invaluable insights. Her exceptional presentation and adept handling of the Q&A session served as a source of inspiration for navigating my own future doctoral defense. Additionally, it was enlightening to delve into the latest literature on the neural and physiological basis of naturalistic music listening and to gain a better understanding of the advantages and challenges that ecological approaches in psychological science and neuroscience studies offer to researchers. The following day, I had the privilege of engaging in an informal coffee chat with two of the lab’s doctoral students, Hanna Honcamp and Xanthate Duggirala, during which they shared their personal experiences as PhD researchers. I’m especially grateful for my conversation with Xanthate about gathering emotional responses to vocal stimuli, as well as her patience with me as I grumbled about the challenges of measuring emotions. Equally appreciative, I am of Antonio Criscuolo, who, despite being away during my visit, managed to arrange a Zoom meeting to introduce me to alternative methods for measuring the coupling between neural activity and speech while providing valuable statistical guidance. On my final day at the BAND Lab, a meeting with Sonja, Hanna, Xanthate, and Michael Schwartze provided the feedback and advice I had been seeking.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the lab team for their warm welcome. My time in Maastricht, especially my visit to the enchanting Boekhandel Dominicanen, one of the most beautiful bookstores I have ever seen, and the awe-inspiring spectacle of swallows’ migration, will forever hold a special place in my memories.

From 16-19th Oct, we hosted a local “garden” of the global CuttingEEG 2023 conference in Dundee. It’s time for a huge appreciation post for everyone who helped us made it happen: First, props to our fantastic venue who gave us shelter and kept us nourished – visit the DCA if you are in Dundee!

Next, we’d like to give a huge round of applause to our stellar tutorial speakers, Philipp Ruhnau @pruhnau.bsky.social (Fieldtrip), Tanja Atanasova @tanjucka.bsky.social (Microstates), Anastasia Klimovich-Gray (Mne_python), and Robin Ince @robince.bsky.social (Bayesian Prevalence) who couldn’t have done it any better.

Microstates’ tutor Tanja Atanasova was also involved in the local organisation together with the ever resourceful Bryony Buck and Rosanne Timmerman. We somehow failed to take a picture of the crew, Christopher Benwell @chrisbenwell.bsky.social, and Anne Keitel @annekeitel.bsky.social so here’s a replacement shot instead:

We will also keep in fond memory our city walk led by UoD Psychology’s own Dr Anne Scrimgeour, and our conference social at vegan pub Loco Rita, where our poster prizes went to Martina Kopcanova @mkopcanova.bsky.social and Maria Carmen Garcia de Soria Bazan.

We remain in absolute awe about the herculanean effort of putting together the global part of the conference by the @cuttingeeg.bsky.social team. Having our conference cut short by the (atypically) severe weather shows that this conference format is the future! Visit cuttinggardens2023.org to find out more.

Further huge thanks go to our sponsors and benefactors: The School of Social Sciences, Law and Humanities (home of UoD Psychology), our own HoD Prof Alissa Melinger, and our industry sponsor mBrainTrain mbraintrain.com.

Finally, another big thank you to speakers Danying Wang, James Dowsett and @mkopcanova.bsky.social for presenting their research at our mini-symposium sponsored by the Scottish-EU critical oscillation network (SCONe) – recording available soon.

Dear SCONe members,

With a few days of a delay due to the unique, outstanding experience of the Body-Brain Waves meeting in Salerno, please find below an update on SCONe activities:

Small SCONe gathering at the ancient Greek temples of Paestum. Body-Brain Waves organisers Antonio Criscuolo & Sonja Kotz with Daniel Kluger and Christian Keitel (right to left).

COST action

The time is drawing near where we’d have to put together the application for a COST action. We have identified potential partners (and some funding to visit them, if necessary), we have rough ideas for the application, a wealth of further information on how the COST funding can be used (and how it cannot), and we have an existing network that this can build on. The one thing we do not have is someone who will act as the primary applicant. For several reasons, we had to concede and can’t take it on ourselves. However, we’d be more than happy to do our parts for a successful application. Please do get in touch if you are interested in leading a bid for a COST action and we’ll give you a full account of our current “intel”. (In brief, it’s a huge pot of money for network, exchange and conference activities, up to 150k EUR pa over 4 yrs – does not generally pay for research or salaries though.)

Paper

Progress in some areas is slower than expected. We are still waiting on a couple of initial drafts (but we know they are coming). Once we have content for every section, we will do a final check and highlight where things have to be amended (e.g. shortened). Work on the Three Big Challenges has started too, and we are looking forward to a draft at the end of July.

Datasets

We’d like as many of us as possible to contribute to is compiling a list of openly available datasets from experiments that look into some aspect of brain rhythms  – see here, and click on ‘Open Datasets’. In order to have your dataset listed, you will need to fill in this form. (Note that the data will not appear immediately but only after a content check.)

SCONe RA Karin Bakardjian

Soon after SCONe started last year, we were lucky enough to get Karin onboard. She’s been assisting us in many, many ways and SCONe wouldn’t be the same without her. She’s now moving on to a Masters course at Maastricht, but not without taking with her the “Ivana Markova price for Wider Achievement” in her Undergraduate studies at the University of Stirling. Congratulations Karin, and all the best for your Masters! (This is not goodbye though, as Karin will still be involved.)

Summer

We’ll keep working on all things SCONe but as summer usually means holidays for most at some point, we wish everyone some relaxing time off with friends and families. Expect the next newsletter at the end of Aug.

Best wishes, SCONe Steer Com