Lab News

Welcome Our New PhD Student: Niki Michalopoulou

/ / Lab News, PhD Theses

The SIPPRE Research Group is delighted to welcome Niki Michalopoulou as a new PhD candidate at the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Peloponnese.

Her doctoral research, supervised by Assoc. Prof. Athanasios Koutras, will focus on EEG-Based Neurofeedback and AI for Learning and Memory.

Niki’s work will explore how electroencephalography (EEG) can be combined with neurofeedback and advanced artificial intelligence techniques to enhance cognitive processes such as learning and memory. The project aims to develop intelligent closed-loop systems that personalize training, adapt in real-time to brain activity, and open new possibilities for cognitive enhancement in healthy individuals.

This research lies at the intersection of neuroscience, AI, and brain–computer interfacing, and aligns with SIPPRE’s mission to push the boundaries of signal processing and pattern recognition in biomedical applications.

We are excited to have Niki join our team and look forward to the innovative contributions she will bring to our research community.

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Welcome to Our Visiting Student – Teodora Cvijović

/ / Diploma Theses, Lab News

We are delighted to welcome Teodora Cvijović, a Master’s student from the University of Novi Sad (Serbia), who joins the SIPPRE Research Group as a visiting student.

Teodora will conduct her Diploma Thesis under the co-supervision of Assoc. Prof. Athanasios Koutras, focusing on “Advances in Automated EEG Analysis for Sleep Spindles, K-Complex Recognition, and Sleep Staging”

Her research will:

  • Provide a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art methodologies for automated sleep analysis, covering sleep spindles, K-complexes, and sleep staging.

  • Examine modern machine learning and deep learning approaches, including CNNs, RNNs, and Transformers, applied to EEG recordings.

  • Explore key datasets (Sleep-EDF, MASS, ISRUC-Sleep, SHHS, DREAMS, etc.) and their role in benchmarking automated systems.

  • Discuss the clinical and research implications of automated detection for sleep disorders, cognitive neuroscience, and neurodegenerative diseases.

  • Identify current challenges and future directions, with emphasis on explainable AI (XAI), multi-modal integration, and real-world clinical translation.

Through this work, Teodora will gain expertise in biomedical signal processing, literature synthesis, and critical analysis of cutting-edge algorithms, while contributing valuable insights into the fast-evolving field of automated sleep EEG analysis.

We warmly welcome Teodora to SIPPRE and look forward to her contributions during her research stay!

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New Equipment Acquisition: Meta Quest 3S Headset for VR/AR Research

/ / Equipment, Lab News

The SIPPRE Research Group has recently acquired the Meta Quest 3S headset, a state-of-the-art virtual and augmented reality device, to support ongoing and future research activities in immersive environments.

This new addition enables the development and evaluation of interactive experiments involving VR-based brain-computer interface (BCI) scenarios, augmented reality applications for signal visualization, and multi-sensory integration studies.

The device will also be used in the design of serious games and other interactive experiences developed in Unity, with a focus on biofeedback, emotional state monitoring, and cognitive load adaptation—bridging extended reality (XR) with real-time physiological signals such as EEG and EDA.

It will be available for use in student diploma theses and collaborative projects combining signal processing, human-centered computing, and immersive interaction.

Getting Involved

Students and researchers interested in utilizing the Meta Quest 3S for experimental or academic purposes are encouraged to contact the lab. Priority will be given to innovative proposals that integrate extended reality (XR) technologies with biosignal-driven interaction and adaptive system design.

Stay tuned for upcoming demos and project calls involving our new VR/AR and biofeedback setup!

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Invited Lecture: Signal Processing in the Epilepsy Presurgical Workflow – May 30, 2025

/ / Courses, Lab News

The SIPPRE Group is proud to welcome Dr. Vasileios Kokkinos, Research Assistant Professor at Northwestern Medicine, for an invited lecture in the framework of the EUNICE course “Decoding Life Signals.”

📅 Date: Friday, 30 May 2025
🕓 Time: 16:00 Greece time (15:00 EET)
📍 Platform: Microsoft Teams
🔗 Register here

In this talk, Dr. Kokkinos will present the epilepsy presurgical evaluation workflow, focusing on the critical role of signal processing in identifying the epileptogenic zone. The lecture will highlight the intersection of neurophysiology, neuroimaging, and advanced analytics in guiding surgical interventions and improving outcomes for patients with epilepsy.

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Invited Lecture: EEG-Based BCI Systems in Frontier Research – May 22, 2025

/ / Courses, Lab News

As part of the EUNICE course “Decoding Life Signals: Innovations in Biomedical Signal Processing,” the SIPPRE Group is pleased to host Dr. Nyi Nyi Tun for an invited lecture on the future of EEG-based Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) systems.

📅 Date: Thursday, 22 May 2025
🕓 Time: 16:00 Greece time (15:00 EET)
📍 Platform: Microsoft Teams
🔗 Register here

In this session, Dr. Tun will explore how modern EEG-based BCIs are enabling non-invasive therapies in neurorehabilitation and discuss the role of AI techniques in advancing classification accuracy and system performance. The talk will bridge fundamental signal processing concepts with cutting-edge BCI applications aimed at improving the lives of people in need.

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PlayStation Joins the SIPPRE Lab – Gaming Meets Research

/ / Equipment, Lab News

We’re excited to announce that the SIPPRE Lab has acquired a PlayStation console—transforming a popular gaming platform into a powerful research and teaching tool. Far beyond entertainment, the PlayStation will support interdisciplinary research, student projects, and diploma theses in fields such as signal processing, affective computing, and human–computer interaction.

Research & Educational Use

Our PlayStation setup will be used to explore:

  • BCI-controlled gameplay using EEG and EMG signals.

  • Emotion-adaptive games, where gameplay evolves based on real-time affective responses.

  • Multiplayer neural synchrony studies using EEG during cooperative or competitive gaming.

  • Psychoacoustic research and real-time analysis of sound environments in games.

  • Visual attention tracking using eye-tracking integrated with FPS/VR game mechanics.

  • Exergaming for rehabilitation and cognitive-motor training.

  • Neurophysiological immersion and flow assessment using HRV, GSR, and EEG.

  • Benchmarking biosignal hardware with structured, game-based protocols.

Getting Involved

  • Students: If you’re interested in conducting research using this setup, submit a 1–2 page proposal outlining your research question, methodology, and timeline.

  • Deadline: Proposals for the upcoming academic term are now being accepted. Priority will be given to innovative projects that explore human–computer interaction and emotional response in interactive environments.

For inquiries or to discuss potential projects, please contact Prof. Athanasios Koutras at koutras@uop.gr.

Let’s redefine gaming—as a gateway to next-generation research!

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Special Issue Call for Papers: Explainable AI in Medical Imaging

/ / Lab News

The SIPPRE Research Group is pleased to announce a Special Issue on “Explainable AI in Medical Imaging: Toward Transparent and Trustworthy Diagnostic Systems” in the journal Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417).

About the Special Issue

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers tremendous potential for improving medical imaging diagnostics. However, the “black box” nature of many AI models—particularly deep learning systems—presents significant challenges for clinical adoption. This Special Issue focuses on the rapidly evolving field of explainable AI (xAI), which aims to enhance transparency, interpretability, and trust in automated diagnostic systems.

Topics of Interest

We welcome submissions on various aspects of explainable AI in medical imaging, including but not limited to:

  • Novel methods and frameworks for interpretable AI in medical imaging
  • Theoretical foundations of explainable AI for medical applications
  • Algorithmic developments that enhance model transparency
  • Evaluation strategies for explainable medical imaging systems
  • Clinical validations of xAI techniques
  • Approaches balancing high performance with meaningful insights for clinicians

Guest Editors

  • Dr. Athanasios Koutras – University of the Peloponnese, Greece
  • Dr. Dermatas Evangelos – University of Patras, Greece
  • Dr. Ioanna Christoyianni – University of Patras, Greece
  • Dr. George Apostolopoulos – University of Patras, Greece

Important Information

  • Submission Deadline: November 20, 2025
  • Journal Section: Biomedical Engineering
  • Submission Types: Research articles, review articles, and short communications

How to Submit

Manuscripts should be submitted through the MDPI submission system. Please visit the Special Issue website for detailed submission instructions.

All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal and listed together on the Special Issue website.

Contact

For questions related to this Special Issue, please contact any of the Guest Editors or the SIPPRE Research Group.

Applied Sciences is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by MDPI. The journal has a CiteScore of 3.7 (2023) and is indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science), Scopus, and other databases.

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Research Participants Needed: Music & Brain Activity Study

/ / Brain Computer Interface, Experiments, Lab News

The SIPPRE Group at the ECE Department, is seeking volunteers to participate in our innovative NeuroRock EEG study.

The Experience
  • Listen to carefully selected instrumental rock music through high-quality headphones
  • Wear Enophones, a comfortable and non-invasive EEG headset that feels similar to regular headphones
  • Share your emotional responses to different music styles
  • Total time commitment: Approximately 60 minutes
What to Expect

During this relaxing session, you’ll listen to various rock music selections while we record your brain’s natural responses. The Enophones provide a comfortable recording experience with minimal setup—no gels or extensive preparation required.

This research supports our groundbreaking NeuroRock Hackathon where EUNICE students will analyze how the brain processes emotional aspects of music.

How to Participate

Please contact Associate Professor Athanasios Koutras (koutras [AT] uop.gr) for scheduling or additional information.

All data will be anonymized and handled according to research ethics guidelines.

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Announcing: NeuroRock Hackathon 2025!

/ / Brain Computer Interface, Lab News
Decode the Brain’s Response to Music

The SIPPRE Group is thrilled to announce our first-ever NeuroRock Hackathon, exclusively for EUNICE students enrolled in the “Decoding Life Signals: Innovations in Biomedical Engineering” course.

The Challenge

Teams will analyze EEG data recorded while participants experience emotional rock music. Your mission: develop algorithms to decode emotional states from brain activity and predict subjective experiences.

Key Information
  • Deadline: June 5, 2025
  • Format: Work in pairs to develop Python-based analysis
  • Experience Required: None! We provide starter code and guidance

This is your chance to apply classroom knowledge to real neuroscience data and explore the fascinating intersection of music, emotions, and brain activity.

Ready to Rock Your Brain?

Keep an eye on your course announcements for complete details, or contact Prof. Athanasios Koutras with questions.

For EUNICE students only. No prior EEG experience necessary.

Announcing: NeuroRock Hackathon 2025! Read More »

Special Issue on Audio, Speech and Music Processing and Analysis

/ / Lab News

We are excited to announce that members of the SIPPRE Research Group are serving as Guest Editors for a special issue of the journal Electronics, titled:

“Recent Advances in Audio, Speech, and Music Processing and Analysis”

This special issue aims to highlight state-of-the-art research in audio, speech, and music processing, focusing on emerging applications, algorithms, and systems. Topics of interest include:

  • Speech recognition, speaker verification, and voice synthesis.
  • Audio compression and noise cancelation.
  • Music information retrieval and recommendation systems.
  • Autonomous and semi-autonomous computer musicians.

Guest Editors:

  • Dr. Athanasios Koutras (University of the Peloponnese, Greece)
  • Dr. Chrisoula Alexandraki (Hellenic Mediterranean University, Greece)

Submission Details:

  • Deadline: January 15, 2025
  • Impact Factor: 2.6
  • CiteScore: 5.3

This is an excellent opportunity for researchers and practitioners to disseminate innovative work in the field of audio, speech, and music processing. Accepted manuscripts will be published open-access, ensuring global visibility and accessibility.

For more information and manuscript submissions, visit the Special Issue Page.

We look forward to your contributions to this exciting field of research!

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