Cortical thickness and neuropsychological applications: morphometric differences in cortical thickness associated with cognitive variances in ageing and circadian chronotypes

Ruprai, Denise ORCID: 0000-0003-0502-2869 (2022). Cortical thickness and neuropsychological applications: morphometric differences in cortical thickness associated with cognitive variances in ageing and circadian chronotypes. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Although rapidly emerging, the field of Neuroscience is still in its infancy. With in-vivo imaging rapidly emerging and novel analysis methods being developed and improved all the time, the neural substrates of behaviour and cognition can be observed like never before. A relatively new method in the anatomical analysis of neuroimaging is cortical thickness analysis. A sensible and intuitive measure of brain morphology and cytoarchitecture, the thesis explores which role cortical thickness measurements can take, when combined with neuropsychological methods. This thesis examines several approaches to neuropsychology with traditional face to face assessments like the Wechsler Scales, to more modern computerised testing, like CANTAB, through to novel approaches and psychometric testing. Whilst combining neuroimaging with neuropsychological methods, this thesis will also account for two of the most inevitable confounding factors in neuropsychology - Ageing and diurnal sleep preference.
Though cortical thickness, much like comprehensive neurocognitive batteries like the WAIS and its overall summary score FSIQ, is often expressed through a single composite measure (e.g., global cortical thickness, or mean cortical thickness), this thesis will examine the complexities in developmental trajectories and differences across the brain, when interpreting cortical thickness analysis and explain why the key is really in the detail. This thesis closely examines possible new modulating factors in neuroscientific research, namely circadian chronotype, the role of neuropsychology as a gold standard in the evaluation of cognition, the importance of choosing the correct assay, and how caution must be exercised as brain imaging methods and their measurements are more dynamic than previously thought.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):