Our team
Faculty
Aaron Seitz, Ph.D
Principal Investigator at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Department of Psychology
Dr. Seitz is a Professor of Psychology and the Co-Director of the Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory. He is internationally recognized for his research on mechanisms of perception, learning, and multi-sensory processing and aims to create accessible tools and personalized training that measure and improve cognitive performance within larger, more diverse, and traditionally underserved populations. He conducts his research using psychophysical, physiological, brain imaging, psychopharmacological, genetic, and computational approaches.
Susanne Jaeggi, Ph.D
Principal Investigator at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Department of Psychology
Dr. Jaeggi is a Professor of Psychology and the Co-Director of the Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory. As a Cognitive Neuroscientist and Experimental Psychologist, she has a broad interest in general processes of working memory and related higher cognitive functions, and within that domain, the investigation of cognitive training and transfer is one of her current major foci of research. She strives to determine what training regimens and training conditions result in the best transfer effects, investigate the underlying neural and cognitive mechanisms, and finally, investigate for what populations and individuals cognitive training is most effective.
Anja Pahor, Ph.D
Affiliate Assistant Professor at Northeastern University Department of Psychology in the College of Science
Anja Pahor is an Assistant Professor at the University of Maribor Department of Psychology and an Affiliate Assistant Professor at Northeastern University Department of Psychology in the College of Science. Her research centers on deciphering the mechanisms governing higher-level cognitive functions, with a particular focus on memory and reasoning. She designs and implements cognitive training studies and develops tests that are valid towards assessing potential learning effects. Anja’s ultimate ambition lies in exploring the transformative role of technology in enhancing learning outcomes and overall well-being.
Project Contributors
Martin Buschkuehl, Ph.D.
Co-Investigator at the SoundMind Collaboratory
Martin Buschkuehl’s main interest lies in cognitive training, especially working memory training where he looks at performance transfers of trained tasks to untrained ones. Besides behavioral investigations, he also looks into the neural aspects of such transfers as investigated by means of fMRI. He is interested in investigating the theoretical foundations of transfer but also in applied aspects of working memory training. In his work he not only focuses on healthy young adults, but also on old adults, typically developing children, and children diagnosed with ADHD. He is the Director for Education Research at the MIND Research Institute.
Elnaz Vafaei, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Researcher at the Center for Cognitive and Brain Health at Northeastern University & SoundMind Collaboratory
Elnaz Vafaei joined as a postdoctoral researcher after completing her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering with a focus on computational neuroscience at AZAD University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran. Her research revolves around EEG signal processing, neuromodulation techniques, and the application of machine learning for data analysis, with a special emphasis on developing cognitive training methods. Proficient in Python scripting, she actively contributes to the creation of brain training tools and excels in data visualization and cognitive data analysis, significantly contributing to the exploration and understanding of the human brain.
Domenic Tullo, Ph.D
Post-Doctoral Fellow at the SoundMind Collaboratory
Domenico Tullo is a Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Santé research fellow. He completed his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at McGill University Canada and a postdoctoral fellowship in Psychology at l’Université de Montréal. His research focuses on developing methods to measure attention skills in neurodivergent populations and designing and evaluating effective cognitive training programs for these individuals. Through his work, he aims to improve the quality of life for neurodivergent youth and promote inclusivity in the field of cognitive science.
Esteban Sebastian Lelo de Larrea-Mancera, Ph.D
Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
E. Sebastian Lelo de Larrea-Mancera is a postdoctoral research associate at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory specialized in auditory perception cognition and action. Sebastian is an international scholar from Mexico that has been key in fostering collaborations with some of the main national institutes for mental and brain health there. Sebastian is a master (MSc.) in cognitive systems and interactive media, has lectured Psychology and Neuroscience courses for a number of years, and has received his PhD in cognitive neuroscience under the supervision of Aaron Seitz. Sebastian is also interested in the design and development of interactive media applications that closely resemble aspects of real world auditory challenges for improved perceptual evaluation and training.
e.lelodelarrea@northeastern.edu
Freya Joëssel, Ph.D
Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Freya Joëssel is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory as well as the Learning and Transfer Lab at UW-Madison. After a master’s in physics from EPFL in Switzerland, she wandered off to graduate with a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Geneva. She is interested in the factors that make cognitive learning effective in real life settings. After looking at the mechanisms of cognitive trainings (specifically Action Video Games) that lead to greater attentional control, she is currently investigating how expectations toward a training task may impact the outcome of said training task on various cognitive measures. When she is not doing behavioral research, she is also looking at the neural and physiological bases of the state flow using various peripheral physiological measures, fMRI and EEG.
Marcello Maniglia, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Brain Game Center
Lakshmi Kannan, Ph.D
Post-Doctoral Researcher at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Lakshmi Kannan joined as a postdoctoral fellow after pursuing her PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences. Her research interests involve cognitive-motor interference, cognitive fatigue on physical function, and developing therapeutic design to promote independent functioning among neurocognitive disorders and the elderly. She is currently engaged in multiple research projects involving diverse populations like pediatric age individuals with Autism, individuals with mild concussion, older adults with and without HIV, and older adults with and without cognitive impairment or dementia. She works on data visualization and analysis of cognitive, vision, and hearing performance data, utilizing MATLAB, Python, and R. Lakshmi adeptly presents these data at various cross-functional team meetings. She contributes to explore study endpoints, defining study hypotheses, and preparing data analysis methods for the involved projects.
Jaap Monneke, Ph.D
Jaap Munneke is a Research Assistant Professor at the SoundMind Collaboratory. After obtaining his PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Italy, followed by tenured PI positions in Turkey and the UK. A main theme of his research examines the link between attention and visual perception, aimed towards a better understanding of the behavioral and neural correlates of attentional control mechanisms driven by prior experience and lingering selection biases. An additional line of research concerns the fate and function of visual information that is not attended and does not get processed into conscious experience. The overarching goal of his work is to better understand the interplay between attention and multi-level visual processing.
Graduate Students
Ashley Manley, B.A.
Graduate Student of the at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Ashley is a graduate student enrolled in Northeastern University’s Ph.D. program for Psychology. As a member of the SoundMind Collaboratory and Brain Game Center, she passionately explores the fascinating realms of cognitive psychology. Prior to her Ph.D. pursuit, she earned a B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development from Cal State San Marcos. Ashley’s research interests center around strength-based approaches tailored to neurodivergent populations. Her work delves into the realm of improving cognitive outcomes by leveraging the potential of cutting-edge technology. Through her diligent efforts, she aims to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those with unique cognitive profiles.
Morgan Gomez, B.S.
Graduate Student of the at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Morgan Gomez is a 4th year graduate student at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory. Her research focuses on understanding the variations in cognition among individuals and exploring cognitive training methods tailored to older adults. Currently, she is investigating the individual differences between people aging with HIV and those aging without HIV. Her aim is to gain insights into these distinctions in order to develop more targeted cognitive interventions that effectively support older adults. She hopes to use her research to better, support, and address the needs of the community.
Mohammad Dastgheib, M.S.
Graduate Student of the at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Mohammad Dastgheib is a graduate student at the department of psychology at the University of California, Riverside. He is a member of both the Perception and Learning Lab and the Laboratory of Aging and Neurocognitive Imaging. He received his Hons. B.Sc. in Biology and Psychology from York University in Toronto and obtained his M.Sc. in psychology from Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada. Mohammad’s main focus is investigating how aging influences the role of Locus Coeruleus (LC) in cognitive processes. He takes a multifaceted approach, integrating behavioral data and advanced neuroimaging techniques to comprehensively characterize LC integrity’s impact on perceptual processes in the aging population.
Mariya (Masha) Vodyanyk, M.A.
Graduate Student of the at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Masha (Mariya) Vodyanyk is a graduate student working with Dr. Susanne Jaeggi at the SoundMind Collaboratory. Masha received her B.S. in neurobiology at University of Wisconsin, Madison and her M.A. in Education at University of California, Irvine. Over the years, Masha has explored the effects of activity engagement on cognition and wellbeing. During her graduate career, she studies the effects of learning representational drawing on attention, visuospatial reasoning, and mindfulness of older adults. She developed a drawing course that successfully teaches people to draw representationally and changes the way one views their environment. She is interested in understanding the cognitive and perceptual changes that occur as a result of gaining expertise in representational drawing. In her free time, Masha enjoys plein air painting as a way to exercising both her creativity and knowledge of the psychology of art.
Quentin Coppola, B.A.
Graduate Student of the at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Quentin Coppola is a graduate student working with Dr. Aaron Seitz at the SoundMind Collaboratory. Quentin received his B.A. in Psychology at the University of San Francisco. Quentin is currently exploring alternative modeling techniques to create improved cognitive health assessments in clinical older adult populations. He is interested in pursuing alternative methodologies to traditional cognitive health diagnostic tools and cognitive training paradigms via the implementation of technological and data-driven approaches.
Raymond D. Villareal, MEd, EdS
Graduate Student in Neurobiology and Behavior in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of California Irvine
Raymond D. Villareal is a Phd Student in Neurobiology and Behavior in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of California Irvine. Ray received his MEd and EdS in School Psychology from the College of William and Mary and an MA in Education from the University of California Irvine. He is interested in the mechanisms related to hippocampal volume reduction, and the functional connectivity associated with the hippocampus and various brain structures, such as the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, thalamus, and anterior cingulate cortex in individuals with PTSD. Using these interests and previous work experiences as a foundation, Raymond hopes to understand how all of these impacts lead to externalizing behaviors such as violence and aggression in people with PTSD or similar pathologies.
Kamryn Mattingly
Graduate student at UC Riverside Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Kamryn Mattingly is a PhD student at UCR under the supervision of Professor Aaron Seitz. Kamryn specializes in the measurement of inhibitory control and impulsivity in humans, and how understanding the structure of distinct underlying factors can better inform how such tools are used clinically. Other experience includes exploring the function of the locus coeruleus using fMRI and how it may mediate cognitive function in older adults.
Lab Management
Audrey Carrillo, M.A.
Lab Manager of the Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Audrey Carrillo is the Research Manager at the University of California, Riverside Brain Game Center. Audrey received her B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in Psychological Research at California State University, Long Beach (go beach!). She has worked at the Brain Game Center since 2019 and has played a large role in managing the center’s research and administrative operations. In her free time, Audrey enjoys running marathons, listening to Taylor Swift, and hanging out with her three dogs, Jackie, Lexie, and Oreo.
Vy Ngo, M.S.
Research Technician at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Vy Ngo is a Research Technician at the the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory. Vy received her B.A. in Psychology and International Relations at Lawrence University, and her M.S. in Learning Sciences and Technologies at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Vy’s first experience in research was being a Research Assistant at her college’s developmental psychology lab, where she saw the need for additional support for students and teachers in the form of tangible educational tools and assistance in classrooms and at home. Vy is also interested in intersectional identities and their effects on one’s cognition and performance in social, specifically educational, settings. At the Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory, she hopes to contribute her experience in research project coordination, foster a supportive lab environment, and continue to pursue her research passion in creating tangible support for diverse communities.
Giancarlo Arzu, B.A., PBC
Research Technician at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Giancarlo earned his bachelor’s degree from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in 2018 as a Jazz Bass Performance major with minors in Digital Arts and Music Theory. He joined the Working Memory and Plasticity Lab at UC Irvine under the direction of PI Susanne Jaeggi during January 2022 while completing a post-baccalaureate program in psychological science. Upon completion of the program, Giancarlo transitioned into a role as a research fellow where he created stimuli for a music-based intervention and interacted with older adult participants for data collection involving neuroimaging. Giancarlo is excited to take on his latest role of research technician at the SoundMind Collaboratory where he will continue to contribute his knowledge of art and education to the Collaboratory’s ongoing studies.
Jessica Yee, B.S.
Research Technician at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Jessica Yee is a Research Technician at the Northeastern Brain Game Center and SoundMind Collaboratory. Jessica received her B.S. in Psychology and Neuroscience at University of Massachusetts Amherst. During her undergraduate studies, she was a Research Assistant in the Learning Lab and the Human Performance Lab where she worked with child participants and young drivers with and without ADHD respectively. Her interest now lies in developmental neuroscience, specifically using cognitive training tasks and neuroimaging techniques, such as EEG and MRI, to understand cognitive processes and to predict mental health risk across various communities.
Spencer Deng, B.A.
Research Technician at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Spencer Deng is a Research Technician at the Northeastern Brain Game Center and SoundMind Collaboratory. Spencer received her B.A. in Psychology and Neuroscience at Vanderbilt University in 2021. During her undergraduate studies, Spencer was a research assistant at the Mood, Emotion and Development Lab, working on research that focuses on how alteration in emotion and social processing contribute to mood disorders in teens and young adults. Prior to joining the team, Spencer was a Clinical Research Coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital where she worked with adults with bipolar disorder. She is now interested in better understanding how aspects of cognitive functioning influence health and mental health outcomes in diverse populations, and how we can leverage this information to develop individualized intervention and assessments.
Diego Jacuinde, B.A
Research Coordinator at the Brain Game Center
Diego received his B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Riverside and subsequently began working as a research coordinator for the UCR Brain Game Center. He specializes in implementing inclusive recruitment and outreach practices in research. He is interested in dementia prevention related projects that promote cognitive assessment accessibility and early detection of the disease. Additionally, he volunteers for the Alzheimer’s Association where he spreads dementia awareness and connects local community members to dementia related resources. When outside of the lab, Diego enjoys working with electronics, playing music with his friends, and exploring new sounds with synthesizers.
Phoebe Tat, B.A.
Research Coordinator at the Brain Game Center
Phoebe Tat is a joint Research Coordinator at the University of California, Riverside Brain Game Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. They graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Psychology in August 2022, and have worked with diverse populations including children, young adults, and seniors across various cognitive studies. Currently, Phoebe assists with project and lab management, recruitment, design, and general data entry. In the near future, they aim to research cognitive disorders in marginalized populations through higher education.
Programmers
David Clamage
Technical Director at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
David Clamage is the Technical Director at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of California, San Diego. His professional journey began in the field of AAA games, collaborating with several notable game studios. He later extended his expertise to the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry, using his knowledge of game mechanics to create practical solutions. Currently, David applies these skills to develop applications that support cognitive and audiology research. Continually open to new challenges, David remains focused on using technology and game design to contribute to advancements in neuroscience.
Katherine Acevado
Senior Programmer at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Katherine Acevedo is a Creative Director and developer at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory. She comes to the lab with decades of design and development experience for toys, games, interactive, simulation, medical, and enterprise for big and small companies such as Disney, Microsoft, Mattel, Stryker, and Abbot. In addition to her work at the lab, her own company is developing software for first responder training and health monitoring, and veteran PTSD treatment.
Shawn Kiewel
Programmer at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Shawn Kiewel is a Senior Backend Developer at the Northeastern Brain Games Center & SoundMind Collaboratory. His primary focus is designing and building systems that will allow for the data collected by the Center to be readily shared with researchers.
Bryant Zhang
Programmer at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Richard Manzano
Programmer at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Tamara Lizotte
Interactive Designer at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Kyra Holmes (She/Her)
Kyra Holmes is an RA at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory. Kyra is a 2nd year majoring in Computer Science and Cognitive Psychology. She is interested in researching the various integrations and interactions between technology and cognitive functioning.
Anisha Patel (She/Her)
Anisha Patel is an RA at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory. Anisha is a second-year majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience. She is interested in learning about specific markers of cognitive decline in older populations, as well as understanding the susceptibility of certain age groups to improving brain function.
Tsambika Rizas (She/Her)
Tsambika is an RA at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory. Tsambika is a third-year majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience. She is interested in neurocognitive disorders and psychopharmacology.
Erika Yacharn (She/Her)
Erika Yacharn is an RA at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory. Erika is a current 3rd year at Northeastern majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience. She is interested in exploring methods to help mitigate age-related cognitive decline in older adults, which she hopes to learn more about during her time as an RA.
Seher Abbasi (She/Her)
Seher Abbasi is an RA at the Northeastern Brain Game Center & SoundMind Collaboratory. Seher is a 3rd year student on the premed track majoring in the Behavioral Neuroscience and minoring in health psychology. Seher started learning about the brain and behavior as a freshman in high school and has been interested in research since. Currently, she is interested in learning about neurodegenerative diseases and markers of cognitive decline as individuals age.