Cognitive Health and Recovery Research Lab

Brain function is critical to all we do – it underlies our physical abilities as well as our mental processes that allow us to think, remember, multi-task and problem solve. Our work concerns how changes to the brain during normal aging or after injury or disease affect attention and memory in order to develop new interventions to help. Right now, we are developing a Cognitive Repair Kit, which is

a suite of computer “brain training” exercises to target attention and working memory problems. These exercises are built upon current knowledge of how the brain works, and how it changes with different experiences. We are putting this together to create game-like exercises that adapt to the level of each individual, provide feedback, and make it fun to “take your medicine”. Ultimately, we hope that these exercises will enhance daily living and improve quality of life. Our research laboratory is greatly indebted to many individuals, different organizations and groups. We collaborate with researchers in a variety of disciplines, including Kinesiology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Neurology, Physiotherapy, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. provides the game software programming expertise. In addition, we could not continue to operate without the volunteer spirit of the many individuals who have participated in our studies. Thanks to the following groups for providing support in recruitment for our many studies:

Acute Stroke Team, Halifax Infirmary
Rehabilitation Team, Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre
Dartmouth Stroke Club

Our research is supported by the following agencies:

Canadian Institutes for Health Research
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia
Parkinson Society of Canada
Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation
Capital Health Research Fund
Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation
Dalhousie Psychiatry Research Fund