Ashley Manley
Cognitive Neuroscience • Digital Health • Wearables

Ashley Manley

Wearable Neurotechnology & EEG Researcher

Ph.D. candidate in cognitive neuroscience specializing in wearable device validation, EEG biomarkers, human-subject research, and signal processing. I study how rigorous laboratory measures can be translated into scalable, real-world wearable applications.

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About

My work sits at the intersection of cognitive neuroscience, wearable technology, biomarker validation, and scalable human research.

Wearable Validation

Comparing wearable EEG with research-grade systems to assess biomarker convergence and real-world feasibility.

Signal & Biomarker Science

Developing EEG preprocessing, artifact rejection, quality-control, ERP, and statistical analysis workflows.

Human-Subject Research

Designing and executing studies spanning cognition, executive function, sleep, and ambulatory neurophysiology.

Selected Research

Current projects emphasize validation, remote assessment, and the translation of neuroscience into scalable technology.

BrainVision × EMOTIV Validation

Lead a cross-system validation study evaluating convergence of executive-function EEG biomarkers between research-grade BrainVision and wearable EMOTIV systems.

PART + Wearable EEG

Collaborate on integrating EMOTIV with the Portable Adaptive Rapid Testing platform to support synchronized cognitive assessment and remote EEG acquisition.

Wearable Sleep EEG

Experience with ambulatory DREEM sleep EEG in older adults, linking sleep physiology with cognition and memory outside the laboratory.

Experience

A progression from developmental neuroscience and neuroimaging to wearable EEG, biomarker validation, and digital research.

2023–Present
Boston, MA

Doctoral Researcher — Cognitive Neuroscience & Wearable Technology

SoundMind Collaboratory, Northeastern University
  • Lead wearable EEG validation research comparing EMOTIV with 32-channel BrainVision EEG.
  • Develop MATLAB/EEGLAB pipelines for acquisition, preprocessing, artifact rejection, quality control, and ERP analysis.
  • Design and conduct human-subject studies of executive function, cognitive control, and emotional modulation.
  • Support EMOTIV integration with PART for synchronized and scalable cognitive + EEG assessment.
2022–2023
Irvine, CA

Graduate Researcher — Cognitive Neuroscience

Working Memory & Plasticity Lab, University of California, Irvine
  • Led a human-subject study combining 32-channel BrainVision EEG with DREEM wearable sleep EEG in older adults.
  • Managed recruitment, research protocols, multimodal data collection, EEG acquisition, preprocessing, and quality control.
  • Mentored undergraduate researchers and supported scientific communication and poster development.
Earlier Research
San Diego, CA

Research Assistant — Developmental Neuroscience & Neuroimaging

San Diego State University
  • Supported NIH-funded studies of brain development in autistic and typically developing children and adolescents.
  • Assisted with multimodal MRI, neuropsychological assessment, recruitment, REDCap database development, and NDAR data submissions.

Selected Research Output

Selected manuscripts and presentations highlighting wearable EEG, validation, sleep, and cognitive assessment.

In Progress
Wearable EEG

Assessing the Feasibility and Validity of EMOTIV Wearable EEG for Measuring Attentional Control

Manley, A., Farrell, E., Seitz, R. A., Jaeggi, M. S., & Munneke, J.

Cross-system validation of wearable and research-grade EEG for executive-function biomarker measurement.

In Progress
Wearable Sleep

Dreem On: Evaluating the Feasibility of Home-Based Wearable EEG for Sleep Assessment in Older Adults

Manley, A., Quynh, T. D., Seitz, R. A., & Jaeggi, M. S.

Ambulatory sleep EEG research examining the feasibility of scalable neurophysiological measurement outside the laboratory.

2024
Psychonomic Society

Validation of the University of California Matrix Reasoning Test Standard (UCMRTs) for Children and Adolescents

Manley, A., Pahor, A., Seitz, A., & Jaeggi, S.

Scientific presentation on validation of a digital cognitive assessment for children and adolescents.

2023
Psychonomic Society

Audio-Visual Stimulation During Eyes-Closed Rest in Older Adults to Increase Memory Recall

Manley, A., Quynh, T., Do, J., Mander, B., & Jaeggi, M.

Presentation of EEG and memory research in older adults.

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Skills

Technical, analytical, and research methods relevant to wearable technology and digital health.

MATLAB R EEGLAB BrainVision EMOTIV DREEM EEG Acquisition EEG Preprocessing Signal Processing Artifact Rejection Biomarker Validation Statistical Analysis Experimental Design Human-Subject Research Wearable Neurotechnology Scientific Communication Project Leadership REDCap

Education & Recognition

Academic training complemented by leadership, mentorship, and translational research experience.

Ph.D., Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience) Northeastern University • Expected Apr. 2027
M.S., Psychology Northeastern University • Mar. 2026
B.A., Child & Adolescent Development California State University San Marcos • 2017
President, Psychology Graduate Student Association Northeastern University • 2025–Present
Undergraduate Research Mentor SoundMind Collaboratory • 2025–Present
R Workshop Teaching Assistant UC Irvine • 2023
Winner — Research-to-Product Pitch Competition Northeastern Connected Science Community • 2025
Research Translation Experience communicating scientific work through posters, presentations, mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration.