Public defence in Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, M.Sc. Liia Merzon

Title of the thesis: From lab to everyday life: investigating attention and executive function deficits in a naturalistic paradigm

Thesis defender: Liia Merzon
Opponent: Prof. Alan Kingstone, The University of British Colombia, Canada
Custos: Prof. Lauri Parkkonen, Aalto University School of Science

Understanding attention and executive function deficits in real-world settings is crucial for improving diagnostics and interventions, particularly for conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is associated with a risk of significant challenges in daily life, potentially affecting academic performance, social interactions, and long-term well-being. Traditional neuropsychological tests, however, often fail to capture the complexity of cognitive challenges people face in daily life. This doctoral research addresses this gap by utilizing a novel virtual reality (VR) task, EPELI (Executive Performance in Everyday LIving), designed to simulate real-world situations and measure ADHD symptoms in situations where they typically manifest.

The study explored how ADHD symptoms unfold in naturalistic settings, how they can be objectively measured, and how they reflect to brain functioning. Through a series of experiments, eye-tracking technology, computational modeling, and functional brain imaging were used to analyze attention patterns in situations mimicking everyday life. The rich data obtained from the VR sensors provided an opportunity to analyze complex behavioral patterns and apply machine learning methods to obtain objective markers for ADHD symptoms with improved precision. The results demonstrated potential of naturalistic VR-based paradigms for providing an accurate and ecologically valid approach to advance understanding of ADHD. The findings contribute to a growing body of research that support the use of naturalistic experimental methods in studying neurodevelopmental disorders and open new possibilities for future research on attention regulation beyond controlled laboratory settings.

Beyond advancing research, this work has the potential to influence future ADHD diagnostics and treatment. The research supports the development of a VR-based digital tool that could be integrated into clinical practice to provide means for reliable and objective assessment of attention and executive functioning. This tool could enhance early-stage evaluations, improve communication with clients and families, and provide clinicians with valuable insights for more personalized assessments in a cost-effective and user-friendly format.

Keywords: ADHD, attention, ecological validity, eye movements, function-led paradigm, functional connectivity, intra-individual variability, naturalistic neuroscience, virtual reality

Contact information: liia.merzon@aalto.fi / https://www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-neuroscience-and-biomedical-engineering/translational-cognitive-neuroscience-lab-salmi-lab 

Thesis available for public display 10 days prior to the defence at Aaltodoc.