Teodóra Vékony, Ph.D.

Featured Publications

Mind wandering enhances statistical learning, iScience

Mind-wandering (MW) occupies 30-50% of our waking hours, yet its purpose remains unclear. This study explored MW's role in predictive learning by measuring task performance and probabilistic information extraction during on-task and MW states. Results showed MW enhanced the extraction of hidden patterns, suggesting it plays a functional role in cognition and predictive processes. This highlights the adaptive potential of MW and its ability to enhance cognitive abilities.

Research Focus

My research investigates the intricate mechanisms of learning and memory, with a particular emphasis on skill acquisition and statistical learning. My work spans a range of cognitive processes, exploring how we learn new skills, both consciously and unconsciously, how we extract statistical regularities from our environment, and how these processes are shaped by neural activity. A core focus of my research is understanding the neural underpinnings of these abilities, utilizing techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to probe and modulate brain function. This approach allows me to investigate the causal role of specific brain regions, particularly the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), in learning and memory. My research delves into the complexities of skill learning, examining various facets from the influence of explicit instructions on skill development to the consolidation processes that solidify learned abilities. My work also examines the critical role of sleep and rest periods in consolidating newly acquired skills, revealing how these periods contribute to the stabilization and enhancement of learning. My work investigates the relationship between statistical learning and other cognitive functions, such as working memory and executive functions, exploring how these processes interact to shape our understanding of the world. By combining behavioral paradigms with neuroimaging and brain stimulation techniques, my research provides valuable insights into the neural architecture supporting statistical learning and its contribution to our cognitive abilities.

Curriculum Vitae

Researcher & Coordinatior of the Cognitive Neuroscience Research line of the Psychology Doctoral School
Universidad del Atlántico Medio, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
2024 - Present

Post-Doctoral Researcher
INSERM, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Lyon, France
2023 - 2024

Post-Doctoral Researcher
Claude Bernard Université de Lyon 1, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Lyon, France
2021 - 2022

Ph.D. Student
Doctoral School of Clinical Medicine, University of Szeged
2016 - 2020

Master of Cognitive and Neuropsychology
University of Szeged
2014 - 2016

Where to find me

Located in Gran Canaria at the Tafira Baja Campus of the University of Atlántico Medio, our lab at the Gran Canaria Cognitive Research Center specializes in cognitive psychology and neuroscience, focusing on implicit statistical learning and its implications.

Location

Ctra. de Quilmes, 35017 Tafira Baja, Las Palmas, Spain