
Irina Baetu
Senior Lecturer
School of Psychology
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
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Cognitive Neural Sciences Laboratory 
We are broadly interested in cognition and emotion and their neural underpinnings. We investigate how we learn from our experiences and how this learning guides our choices, as well as how we are able to exert cognitive control. These abilities are critical to our everyday functioning since making optimal decisions based on past experience ensures that we maximise positive outcomes and minimise aversive consequences. We study how these abilities change during ageing and in Parkinson’s disease. We are especially interested in discovering genetic variation that may help us preserve these abilities, as this might help the development of new treatments for cognitive decline. We are also interested in emotion, both negative and positive. For example, we study how learning from negative experiences influences feelings of anxiety, and how music can be tailored to optimise positive emotions.
Members
Dr Irina Baetu
Prof Nick Burns
Nathan Beu
Lauren Heidenreich
Salvatore Russo
Brittany Child
Nathan Jones
Collaborators
Dr Lyndsey Collins-Praino
A/Prof Sarah Cohen-Woods
Dr Oren Griffiths
Prof Mark Jenkinson
A/Prof Ahmed Moustafa
Current projects
Learning and decision-making changes over the course of healthy ageing and in Parkinson’s disease
Our genome makes each of us unique, which means we have different strengths and different weaknesses. Because of this, our cognitive abilities are impacted differently as we age, or if we are affected by a brain disorder such as Parkinson’s disease. As a result, we may require different treatment approaches if we experience cognitive dysfunction. But our knowledge of genetic influences on cognition is still in its infancy, which limits our capacity to tailor our treatments to each individual. Therefore, we investigate the relationship between people’s genetic makeup and their cognitive abilities. We focus in particular on healthy ageing and Parkinson’s disease. We investigate not only how genetic mutations influence the extent to which people’s cognition is affected by ageing or by the disease, but also, in the case of patients, how they respond to medication. This gives us important clues for developing more effective treatments for cognitive dysfunction that take into account individual differences, and we hope this knowledge will be useful for treating other brain disorders too.
Mechanisms underlying response inhibition and cognitive control
We also investigate motor functions, including action selection and inhibition. The ability to inhibit prepotent responses, in particular, is considered a core executive function that seems to be compromised in a number of disorders. We investigate cognitive processes that contribute to response inhibition, such as fluctuations in attention associated with error processing, which allows us to gain a deeper understanding of individual differences in performance and the factors that contribute to suboptimal performance.
Beu, N., Burns, N., & Baetu, I. (2019). Polymorphisms in dopaminergic genes predict proactive processes of response inhibition. European Journal of Neuroscience, 49(9), 1127-1148. We show that slowing response speed after an error, a potential compensatory strategy when response inhibition fails, can be predicted by age, intelligence, and genetic variation in dopaminergic genes.
Learning processes and individual differences
Learning from past experience is one of our most fundamental abilities: We detect regularities in our environment, which enables us to predict future events, plan actions, and guide our attention to the most relevant stimuli in our environment. Although everyone seems to be capable of such learning, there are known differences in the way people learn associations. For instance, genes that affect the expression of certain chemicals and receptors in the brain seem to influence the ability to form new memories. The ability to learn associations also depends upon basic stimulus processing abilities, which are typically measured in the field of intelligence and psychometric testing. Furthermore, people who suffer from certain clinical disorders, such as schizophrenia and anxiety, differ in the way they learn new associations. We use computational models to simulate individual differences in learning, with the aim to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that generate differences in memory performance.
Baetu, I., Pitcher, J., Cohen-Woods, S., Lancer, B., Beu, N., Foreman, L., Taylor, P., & Burns, N. (2018). Polymorphisms that affect GABA neurotransmission predict processing of aversive prediction errors in humans. NeuroImage, 176, 176-192. Our results suggest that genetic variation in GABAergic genes influences learning from negative experiences by affecting the processing of aversive prediction errors.
Laing, P., Burns, N., & Baetu, I. (2019). Individual differences in anxiety and fear learning: The role of working memory capacity. Acta Psychologica, 193, 42-54. We show that working memory capacity moderates the relationship between fear learning and anxiety.
Individual differences in motor sequence learning
We recently developed a new motor sequence learning task that assesses learning via both changes in reaction time and accuracy (Urry, Burns & Baetu, 2015), potentially overcoming some of the drawbacks of the serial reaction time task, the typical test used to assess sequence learning. Using computational modelling, we demonstrated that learning from prediction errors (the discrepancy between the experienced versus anticipated feedback) in this task correlates with polymorphisms in the dopamine D1 and D2 receptor genes (Baetu, Burns, Urry, Barbante & Pitcher, 2015), providing a potential mechanism through which the dopamine system might contribute to sequence learning. We are now using this task to further explore how genetic variation influences motor learning during the course of healthy ageing and in Parkinson’s disease, as well as to investigate which aspects of motor learning are affected by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the motor cortex.
Urry, K., Burns, N., & Baetu, I. (2015). Accuracy-based measures provide a better measure of sequence learning than reaction time-based measures. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1158-1-1158-14. Paper describing our new motor sequence learning task.
Baetu, I., Burns, N., Urry, K., Barbante, G., & Pitcher, J. (2015). Commonly-occurring polymorphisms in the COMT, DRD1 and DRD2 genes influence different aspects of motor sequence learning in humans. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 125, 176-188. We show that dopamine D1 and D2 receptor genes influence learning to select versus inhibit action plans, consistent with the classical basal ganglia model of action selection.
Urry, K., Burns, N., & Baetu, I. (2018). Age-related differences in sequence learning: Findings from two visuo-motor sequence learning tasks. British Journal of Psychology, 109(4), 830-849. Our results suggest that motor sequence learning does decline with age, but the more typically used reaction time measures may fail to detect this decline because of their poorer reliability.
Learning-driven changes in attention
Learning to associate a neutral stimulus with an important event often results in changes in the way the neutral stimulus is processed and attended to. This project investigates learning-related changes in attention to stimuli that signal important outcomes. Although this is a well-established phenomenon, the mechanism(s) that drive these changes in stimulus processing are still debated. The aim is to test theories of attention (Esber & Haselgrove, 2011; Le Pelley, 2004; Mackintosh, 1975; Pearce & Hall, 1980) using both behavioural indices and event-related potentials that reflect changes in stimulus processing.
Russo, S., Burns, N., & Baetu, I. (in press). Mackintosh, Pearce-Hall and time: An EEG study on inhibition of return. Biological Psychology. New study showing that attention may dynamically change over time, with reliable predictors attracting attention before stimuli that have unpredictable consequences.
Music and emotion
More recently, we have begun investigating positive emotion (deviating ‘slightly’ from our more traditional study of fear learning and anxiety!). We are particularly interested in non-invasive and cost-effective ways to improve emotion and wellbeing, such as music. We are creating new music for this purpose, which enables us to independently manipulate different features, such as the valence of the lyrics. Measuring emotion is also an important aspect of this project and we are attempting some innovative measures such as analysing voice patterns using machine learning algorithms and brain activity recorded via EEG.
Media
Linking genetics to individual differences in fear learning (Australian Genome Research Facility - client story)
New funding to study Parkinson’s disease (NeuroSurgical Research Foundation and University of Adelaide links)
New research from Nathan Jones showing that the effect of music on emotion and wellbeing depends on lyrics (The Advertiser)
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2015 - ongoing Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide 2014 - 2017 ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher University of Adelaide 2011 - 2014 Lecturer University of Adelaide 2010 - 2011 Postdoctoral Researcher, funded by the Fonds Québécois de la Recherche sur la Nature et les Technologies University of Cambridge -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2010 Award New Investigator Award American Psychological Association, Division of Experimental Psychology United States - -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2010 McGill University Canada PhD in Psychology 2001 McGill University Canada BSc (Major in Psychology, Minor Concentration in German Studies) -
Research Interests
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Journals
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Book Chapters
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Conference Papers
Year Citation 2023 McNamara, A., Ellul, B., Baetu, I. -I., Lau, S., Jenkinson, M., & Collins-Praino, L. (2023). Utility of Baseline Pathological, Neuroimaging and Clinical Markers for Progression Prognosis and Subtype Classification in Early Parkinson's Disease: Implications for Cognitive Impairment. In Accepted for publication in Alzheimer's & Dementia Journal in June 2024 (pp. 2 pages). Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Alzheimer's Association. 2016 Baetu, I., Pitcher, J., Urry, K., & Burns, N. (2016). Polymorphisms in the dopamine receptor D1 and D2 genes contribute to individual differences in sequence learning. In INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY Vol. 51 (pp. 824). ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. 2010 Baetu, I., & Shultz, T. (2010). Development of prototype abstraction and exemplar memorization. In S. Ohlsson, & R. Catrambone (Eds.), Proceedings of the 32nd Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (pp. 814-819). www: Cognitive Science Society.
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Conference Items
Year Citation 2023 McNamara, A., Ellul, B., Baetu, I. -I., Lau, S., Jenkinson, M., & Collins-Praino, L. (2023). Predicting progression of Parkinson’s disease motor outcomes using a multimodal combination of baseline clinical measures, neuroimaging and biofluid markers. Poster session presented at the meeting of Abstracts of the 6th World Parkinson Congress, as published in Journal of Parkinson's Disease. Barcelona, Spain: IOS Press.
DOI2023 Ellul, B., McNamara, A., Baetu, I., Lau, S., Jenkinson, M., & Collins-Praino, L. (2023). Predicting longitudinal cognition and mood changes in newly diagnosed Parkinson's Disease from substantia nigra imaging (Oral Presentation). Poster session presented at the meeting of ACNS Conference Sydney 2023. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Ixovo4O6LZNfSrf4S0Ds6vkbmyayHHEt. 2022 McNamara, A., Ellul, B., Baetu, I., Lau, S., Jenkinson, M., & Collins-Praino, L. (2022). Predicting Progression of Parkinson’s Disease Motor Outcomes Using a Multimodal Combination of Baseline Clinical Measures, Neuroimaging and Biofluid Markers in Early PD. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australasian Neuroscience Conference 2022. Melbourne. 2022 Ellul, B., McNamara, A., Baetu, I., Lau, S., Jenkinson, M., & Collins-Praino, L. (2022). The role of the substantia nigra in predicting longitudinal cognitive and mood changes in newly diagnosed Parkinson’s Disease. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australasian Neuroscience Conferences 2022. Melbourne, Australia. 2019 Child, B. D., Baetu, I., Collins-Praino, L., Salamon, J., & Burns, N. (2019). Reinforcement learning in Parkinson's disease: Do motor symptoms predict performance?. Poster session presented at the meeting of Florey Postgraduate Research Conference. Adelaide, Australia. 2019 Child, B. D., Baetu, I., Collins-Praino, L., & Burns, N. (2019). Reinforcement learning in Parkinson’s disease: Do motor symptoms predict performance?. Poster session presented at the meeting of 28th Annual Meeting of the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society. Cairns, Australia. 2018 Beu, N., Burns, N., & Baetu, I. (2018). Polymorphisms in dopaminergic genes predict proactive inhibition in a Go/No-Go task. Poster session presented at the meeting of Conference programme: 48th Behavior Genetics Annual Meeting 2018. Cambridge, USA: Behavior Genetics Association. 2018 Beu, N. D., Burns, N. R., & Baetu, I. (2018). Polymorphisms in dopaminergic genes predict proactive inhibition in a Go/No-Go task. Poster session presented at the meeting of Forum for European Neuroscience Societies Forum of Neuroscience. Berlin, Germany. 2018 Child, B. D., Baetu, I., & Burns, N. (2018). Watch and learn: Identifying optimal conditions for learning. Poster session presented at the meeting of The University of Adelaide Undergraduate Research Conference. Adelaide, Australia. 2018 Child, B. D., Baetu, I., & Burns, N. (2018). Watch and learn: The effects of time delays and interfering events on our ability to learn. Poster session presented at the meeting of Florey Postgraduate Research Conference. Adelaide, Australia. 2018 Child, B. D., Baetu, I., & Burns, N. (2018). Individual differences in working memory capacity predict performance on an associative learning task. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australian Psychological Society Congress. Sydney, Australia. 2017 Beu, N. D., Burns, N. R., & Baetu, I. (2017). Polymorphisms in dopaminergic genes predict proactive inhibition in a Go/No-Go task. Poster session presented at the meeting of Experimental Psychology Conference. Newcastle, Australia. 2016 Baetu, I., Pitcher, J., Urry, K., & Burns, N. (2016). Individual differences in sequence learning correlate with polymorphisms in dopaminergic genes. Poster session presented at the meeting of Personality and Individual Differences. Elsevier BV.
DOI2016 Burns, N., Baetu, I., & Urry, K. (2016). Implicit learning: the Serial Reaction Time Task and intelligence. Poster session presented at the meeting of Personality and Individual Differences. Elsevier BV.
DOI2016 Burns, N., Baetu, I., & Urry, K. (2016). Implicit learning: the Serial Reaction Time Task and intelligence. Poster session presented at the meeting of Personality and Individual Differences. Elsevier BV.
DOI2016 Beu, N. D., Burns, N. R., & Baetu, I. (2016). tDCS differentially modulates response inhibition processes disturbed by disease. Poster session presented at the meeting of Florey Postgraduate Conference. Adelaide, Australia. -
Theses
Year Citation 2010 Baetu, I. (2010). Associative and inferential accounts of extinction and blocking in causal learning. (PhD Thesis, McGill University).
Grants and Funding
2020-2023 | Forecasting Impairment and Neurodegenerative Disease risk following Traumatic Brain Injury (FIND-TBI): A computational neurology-driven method to predict long-term prognosis | Collins-Praino L; Jenkinson M; Baetu I; Wells A; Gandy S; Turner R; Corrigan F; Helmy A; Mittinty N | Medical Research Future Fund | $1.98M |
2019-2022 | The evolution of decision-making impairment in Parkinson’s disease: Prediction and prevention | Collins-Praino L; Baetu I; Cohen-Woods S; Burns N; Griffiths O | James and Diana Ramsey Foundation | $220K |
2019-2021 |
Investigating differences in decision-making ability in older adults: Computational modelling and neurogenetics of the basal ganglia |
Baetu I; Collins-Praino L; Cohen-Woods S; Moustafa A; Burns N | Discovery Project, Australian Research Council | $443K |
2014-2017 | Associative learning and fluid intelligence: Computational and neurogenetic analyses | Baetu I. | Discovery Early Career Researcher Award, Australian Research Council | $395K |
Current teaching
Psychology 1A - Learning module |
Foundations of Health & Lifespan Development |
Learning & Behaviour |
Honours in Psychology |
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2022 Principal Supervisor Development of a New Cognitive Reserve Measure: Implications for Parkinson’s Disease and Traumatic Brain Injury Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Isaac Calvin Saywell 2021 Co-Supervisor “Utility of Inflammatory Biomarkers to Predict Brainstem Imaging Changes in Parkinson’s Disease and TBI” Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Angus McNamara 2019 Principal Supervisor The Impact of Music and Lyrics on Emotion Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Nathan Leigh Jones 2018 Principal Supervisor An Exploration of the Role of Working Memory in Associative Learning Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Miss Brittany Dorothy Amelia Child 2017 Principal Supervisor COVID-19 related cognitive impairment: Underlying mechanisms and protective factors Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Lauren Mary Heidenreich -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2021 - 2025 Co-Supervisor Prediction of cognitive and mood trajectories and clinical awareness of neurodegenerative disease risk following traumatic brain injury Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Benjamin Paul Ellul 2020 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Investigating the impact of individual differences and stress on decision-making performance under threat Master of Philosophy (Medical Science) Master Part Time Mr Manuel Salazar 2017 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Investigating the Temporal Dynamics of Covert Visual Spatial Attention: Exploitative and Explorative Attentional Mechanisms Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Salvatore Simone Russo 2016 - 2020 Co-Supervisor A Dual-Process Model of Response Inhibition: Insights from a Neurocognitive Perspective Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Nathan Daniel Beu 2014 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Seeing Reason: Visuospatial Ability, Sex Differences and the Raven's Progressive Matrices Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Nicolette Amanda Reed Waschl
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Community Engagement
Date Title Engagement Type Institution Country 2018 - ongoing Research story Public Community Engagement Australian Genome Research Facility Australia -
Editorial Boards
Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country 2015 - ongoing Consulting Editor Learning & Behavior - -
Connect With Me
External Profiles