Syanah C. Wynn

Introduction
I am a cognitive neuroscientist, which means that I measure and/or manipulate brain activity of people while they perform tasks on a computer in the lab. To perform these tasks, participants need to use specific cognitive functions, like memory and decision making. In this way I can investigate the brain activity involved in these functions. My work focuses on the brain processes involved in memory-related decision-making and optimal learning. For instance, what determines the confidence we have in our memories: Why are some memories strong and vivid, while others are weak and vague? But also, how do we inhibit irrelevant processes and adapt after making mistakes to optimize our learning? The main method I use to measure brain activity related to memory confidence and other cognitive functions is called electroencephalography (EEG). In an EEG measurement, a cap with small electrodes is placed on the head of participants and through these electrodes, brain signals are recorded. For the manipulation of brain activity I use harmless brain stimulation methods, which work in various ways. For instance, some non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) methods work by using a very small electrical currents to slightly increase or decrease brain activity.
On this website you can find my publications in scientific journals and a news section where I keep you informed about ongoing projects and various updates.

Background
After a bachelor’s in Psychology at Leiden University and a research master’s in Cognitive Neuropsychology at VU Amsterdam, I started my PhD in 2015 at the Donders Institute. With Dennis Schutter, Sander Daselaar, Marc Hendriks, and Roy Kessels, I did research on the role of the parietal cortex in memory confidence, using EEG, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) (Dissertation). During my time at the Donders Institute, I also collaborated on projects that focused on attention, decision making, and movement, using EEG, TMS and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Thereafter, I worked as a postdoctoral research associate at Bowdoin College with Erika Nyhus. My work there focused on the role of specific oscillations in brain networks underlying memory retrieval, utilizing EEG and tACS. Then I moved to Ole Jensen’s Neural Oscillations group at the University of Birmingham, examining how the brain accomplishes rapid object recognition. Currently, I work at the Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center in Mainz, where I work on my DFG-funded research on the role of the parietal cortex in memory-related decision-making.