Reading the Brain in Real-Time: The Future of Memory & Neurofeedback | Dr Megan deBettencourt

Despite our best efforts to stay focused, we all inevitably zone out. But what if a brain-computer interface could track your attention in real-time, predict your memory, and even intervene to stop you from losing focus? In this talk, neuroscientist and fMRI neurofeedback pioneer Dr. Megan deBannecourt dives into the dynamic fluctuations of human attention. She details her groundbreaking work at Princeton University, where she built a custom real-time neuroimaging system from scratch to decode fMRI brain data on the fly. By tracking cognitive states in real-time, Dr. deBannecourt explains how closed-loop neurofeedback can be used as a "cognitive prosthesis" to actually train and improve sustained attention. She also explores how tracking these peaks and troughs of focus allows us to predict working memory capacity and even control which long-term memories get encoded. Finally, the talk covers her current translational work at Ruby Neurotech, where she is utilizing multimodal recordings to develop a "cognitive vaccine" using the game Tetris to reduce intrusive memories for individuals with PTSD. #Neuroscience #BrainComputerInterface #fMRI #Neurofeedback #Attention #Memory #PTSD #CognitiveScience #mentalhealthtech Timestamp: 00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Megan de Bannecourt 02:14 - The Science of Zoning Out 07:50 - Decoding Brain Data in Real-Time 09:05 - Closed-Loop Neurofeedback to Train Attention 16:14 - Predicting Working Memory from Attention States 18:04 - Controlling Long-Term Memory Encoding 22:51 - Building a "Cognitive Vaccine" for PTSD 24:03 - Q&A