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TOPICAL COLLECTIONS

Decoding the Mind: Brainwave-Based Innovations in Psychological Assessment and Treatment
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Sandhya Basu

Sandhya Basu

Azim Premji University

Dr. Sandhya Basu received her PhD in Cognitive Psychology from BITS Pilani (Goa Campus) in 2023. During her PhD, she was also a researcher at IIT Bombay for interdisciplinary collaboration. Her research interests include children’s cognition, mental health, psychotherapeutic interventions, and caregiving burden in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders. Her latest work explores innovative methods to enhance attention and memory in children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders. Her work has been recognized with the Best Thesis Award at BITS Pilani, and she was selected for the Emerging Psychologist Programme (EPP) at the International Congress of Psychology in Prague (2024). A researcher at heart, Dr. Basu aims to develop innovative psychotherapeutic interventions that improve children’s mental health and cognitive performance in clinical and non-clinical settings.

Collection Overview

Advancements in neuroimaging have fostered an improved understanding of the underlying neurological mechanisms of human cognition. The current state of research suggests a well-established literature on the prominence of brainwaves during different cognitive stages. For instance, brainwaves, with their related parameters and location in the brain, have been found to regulate attention, memory, vigilance, and sensory processing. Moreover, these oscillations also serve as biomarkers for various psychological disorders. For instance, atypical alpha band activity has been associated with impairments in selective attention, a common underlying mechanism for children with ADHD. 

Given the critical role of brainwaves in cognitive functioning and their potential as biomarkers, researchers are also exploring their therapeutic applications. This shift has led to the emergence of brainwave-based interventions as promising tools for cognitive enhancement and symptom management in neuropsychological disorders. Entrainment is a method of synchronizing brainwave oscillations and includes techniques such as transcranial methods, deep stimulation, sensory stimulation, and neurofeedback. While these techniques have shown promise in improving cognition and managing neuropsychological symptoms, their generalizability and long-term efficacy require further empirical validation. 

Thus, despite the growing body of research on brainwave dynamics, robust empirical evidence is required to link oscillatory patterns to diagnostic and therapeutic applications in diverse populations. This Methods Collection aims to advance theoretical understanding and practical applications of brainwave-based diagnostics and interventions, fostering innovation in neuroscience and mental health. We invite submissions on brainwaves as neurological markers for diagnostic purposes and brainwave entrainment techniques as interventions for neurocognitive challenges.