BBSLab

The BBSLab is a research laboratory linked to the Neuropsychology Research Group of the University of Barcelona. The general objective of our studies is to better understand the brain stimulation effects on cognitive function and mental health. By brain stimulation, we understand the effects related to participation in cognitive, physical and social or stimulating activities the possibility of modulating (stimulating) brain activity with non-invasive techniques. In this way, our research focuses on better understanding how the cognitive reserve is associated with greater plasticity or cerebral resilience. Our group is involved in projects with an international dimension that investigate whether the modification of adult life styles may have a protective effect on the development of neuropsychiatric diseases. Also, our group performs experimental investigations using electrical or magnetic stimulation techniques, in order to better understand the nexuses between the induced changes in the cerebral activity and cognition.

Members

David Bartrés-Faz

David Bartrés-Faz

Full Professor of Medical Psychology at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Barcelona.

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Full Professor of Medical Psychology at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Barcelona. Trained in Neuropsychology, Neuroimaging, and Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation. Recipient of a ‘Ramón y Cajal’ fellowship and two consecutive ICREA Academia awards. Completed postdoctoral stays at INSERM and Harvard Medical School. Honorary Professor at University College London (UCL). Principal Investigator of the Barcelona center in consortium projects within the European Framework Programmes FP7 and H2020. Principal Investigator of eight consecutive national competitive projects, and Principal Investigator of the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative (BBHI). He has published more than 200 scientific articles and supervised 15 doctoral theses.

Cristina Solé-Padullés

Cristina Solé-Padullés

Postdoctoral researcher – Neuropsychology and brain health.

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During her PhD studies, she investigated the effects of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) on memory performance amongst elders with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), proving a transient improvement of memory function along with an underlying reorganization of brain networks. She also studied the relationships between variables of cognitive reserve and brain structure and function in healthy elders, MCI and Alzheimer’s patients. She has worked on the European project Lifebrain as a postdoctoral researcher and she is currently involved in the project that focuses on the psychological protective and risk factors for brain health during aging, funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades.

María Cabello-Toscano

María Cabello-Toscano

Postdoctoral researcher – MRI, brain connectivity and statistical analysis.

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Postdoctoral researcher in neuroimaging and brain health, specializing in connectomics through MRI. Her research examines how brain connectivity impacts well-being and resilience, integrating psychosocial factors and lifestyle habits. Her doctoral thesis focused on resilience to stress, and she currently collaborates on the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative (BBHI), a broad initiative on brain health, providing technical support and neuroimaging analysis.

Georgette L. Argiris

Georgette L. Argiris

Postdoctoral researcher – Task-based and resting-state fMRI.

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Associate research scientist at Columbia University Irvine Medical Center and a visiting researcher at the University of Barcelona. Her primary focus is on investigating how brain network organization, functional connectivity, and task-based functional activation relate to cognitive performance and aging, using both task-based and resting-state fMRI across the adult lifespan. Her research applies a range of analytic approaches—including multivariate analyses, topological data analysis, and network resilience modeling—to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive reserve, brain maintenance, and longitudinal cognitive change.

Rachel Morse

Rachel Morse

PhD student – Neuroimaging and memory maintenance in aging.

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She is currently conducting PhD research focusing on the maintenance of memory in later age using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). She also contributes to the project “Risk and Protective Psychological Factors in Relation to Cognition, Lifestyles and Measures of Brain Integrity and Functionality Amongst Older Adults” (PSI-AGE-BRAIN). Her background in global health and clinical psychology has provided her with opportunities to work on projects involving child TB in South Africa, cervical cancer in Peru, and dementia prevention in the UK.

Oriol Perera-Cruz

Oriol Perera-Cruz

PhD student – Translational biomarker analysis.

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Currently he works as a predoctoral researcher on the project “Risk and protective psychological factors in relation to cognition, lifestyles and measures of brain integrity and functionality amongst older adults” (PSI-AGE-BRAIN), in which he collects, organizes, processes and analyzes data for the project. Specifically, his thesis is focused on brain integrity and functionality measures using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and transcranial stimulation (tDCS) with older adults. He is a Biomedical scientist (UAB) and has a master’s degree in Neurosciences (UB), with a final master’s thesis focusing on diffusion measures to characterize cortical microstructure.

Arnau Güell-Brugués

Arnau Güell-Brugués

Technician – Neuroimaging and interoperability.

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As a graduate in Biomedical Engineering (UB), he works as a specialized technician in Neuroimaging for various labs at Institut de Neurociències – UBNeuro. His main task is the standardization and optimization of image preprocessing and processing, as well as the harmonisation of large, multi-cohort datasets. He also works on the implementation of novel quality control and signal processing techniques.