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Centre Members

 

Leader(s)

Professor Veena Kumari Professor Veena Kumari
Email Professor Veena Kumari Professor - Psychology
Professor Veena Kumari obtained a PhD in Psychology from Banaras Hindu University, India in 1993 prior to joining the Institute of Psychiatry, London for post-doctoral research. She became a Beit Memorial Research Fellow in 1999, a Wellcome Senior Fellow in Basic Biomedical Science in 2002, and a Full Professor in 2006 at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (formerly known as the Institute of Psychiatry), King’s College London, UK. She left King’s College London in 2016 to join the Sovereign Health Group (USA) as the Chief Scientific Officer and returned to the UK in 2018 to join Brunel University London as Professor of Psychology and the Director of the Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (CCN). Her research interests include the neurobiological effects of pharmacological and psychological treatments in psychosis, neurobiology of violence in mental illness, psychobiology of addiction, and personality and brain functioning. Prof Kumari has over 250 publications in reputed psychology, psychiatry and neuroscience journals and received various national and international awards for her research including the Young Investigator Award from the National Alliance of Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, USA (1999), research fellowship from BEIT Memorial Foundation (1999-2002), the BAP (British Association of Psychopharmacology) Clinical Psychopharmacology Prize (2002), Wellcome Senior Fellowship in Basic Biomedical Science (2002-2009), the prestigious Humboldt Research Award (2014), and most recently a Bonn International Fellowship (2020). Professor Kumari has supervised a large number of post-graduate and doctoral students and served in editor or editorial board member roles for a number of psychology and psychiatry journals. Cognitive and affective deficits in schizophrenia and personality disorders Neurobiological effects and predictors of outcome following drug and psychological treatments Neurobiology of violence and addiction Sleep deprivation and mental health Neuroscience of mindfulness Cognitive psychopharmacology, particularly the effects of psychostimulants, antipsychotics, nicotine and anxiolytics Neurobiology of sex and sexual-orientation related differences Personality neuroscience MSc Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience (starting Oct 2018) Module Lead for PY5618 - Cognitive Psychopharmacology and Addiction Module Lead for PY5616 - Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience - Core Topics

Members

Dr Elena Antonova Dr Elena Antonova
Email Dr Elena Antonova Reader in Psychology
I obtained the BSc in Psychology from the University College London, UK, in 2000 and the PhD in Cognitive Psychology from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's Collge London, UK, in 2004. I then held a number of post-doctorate research positions at the IoPPN between 2004 and 2011, including developing virtual reality fMRI-compatible analogues of well-established animal spatial memory paradigms (Morris Water Maze and Olton Octagonal Maze) as a biomarker of hippocampal function for drug development in Alzheimer's Disease, as well as investigating the neural predictors of responsiveness to CBT for psychosis, amongst others. Following a Templeton Positive Neuroscience Award as a personal fellowship for the project investigating the effect of mindfulness on sensory information gating in expert mindfulness practitioners held between 2011-2013, I transitioned to a lecturership post at the Department of Psychology, IoPPN. In mid-June 2019, I moved to Brunel University London to take on the position of Senior Lecturer at the Division of Psychology, Department of Life Scienes, College of Health and Life Sciences, where I aim to consolidate my existing research and education expertise, as well as develop new inter-disciplinary research directions and collaborations. I will also continue my research collaborations at the IoPPN as a Visiting Researcher. My main area of research interest and expertise is the neuroscience of mindfulness with the focus on investigating the effects of long-term mindfulness meditation practice using psychophysiology and neuroimaging methods with the application to the prevention and management of mental illness as well as promotion of mental health and wellbeing. I have been actively involved with the Mind and Life Institute since 2011 and Mind and Life Europe since 2013, organisations catalyzing inter-disciplinary scientific research into the effects of contemplative practices. In 2017 I was elected a Mind & Life Research Fellow for my contribution to contemplative science - the highest honorific recognition in my research field. The most recent research direction is a circulation between contemplative neuroscience and AI humanoid robotics towards mitigating AI risks in collaboration with Prof. Chrystopher Nehaniv and Adaptive Systems Research Group and Royal Society Wolfson Biocomputation Research Laboratory, Centre for Computer Science and Information Research, University of Hertfordshire, where I am a Visiting Senior Research Fellow. Long-term effects of mindfulness practice on information processing, cognition, and emotion regulation; Development of objective measures of mindfulness expertise using psychophysiology and neuroimaging; Development of new methodological approaches for analysing fMRI and EEG data to better understand neural dynamics associated with subjective (i.e. meditative) experiences; Application of mindfulness interventions for the prevention and management of psychopathologies such as psychosis and schizophrenia, as well as promotion of healthy aging. Mental Health and Wellbeing; Neuroscience of Mindfulness; Mindfulness-Based Interventions; EEG microstates sequencing
Dr Annie Chan Dr Annie Chan
Email Dr Annie Chan Senior Lecturer in Psychology
Throughout my research career, I have worked with many exceptional scientists. At Bangor, as a PhD student of Dr. Paul Downing (funded by the 1+3 ESRC studentship), I have employed fMRI to investigate the underlying organizational principles of high-level visual cortex, specifically, testing the response properties in the cortex with an expansive range of categories. I then obtained post-doctoral training in the Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health (Bethesda, USA), working in the unit on Learning and Plasticity with Dr. Chris Baker, where I have used multi-variate fMRI analysis to examine the impact of experience on human cortex. Prior to joining Brunel University in spring 2018, I was an Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. My research focuses on investigating multi-modal neural representations of body parts and faces in the visual, motor, and somatosensory domains, the interaction between these domains along the dorsal and ventral pathways, and how the representations are modified by learning (e.g. identity, location, viewpoint, size) and experience (plasticity following loss of input e.g. amputation, surgery, injury). Neuro-Imaging Methods; Functional MRI; Psychophysical Methods; Big Data Analysis Organizational Principles of the Visual and Sensorimotor Systems; Action Observation; Visual and Tactile Integration; Learning and Plasticity; Phantom Limb Pain; Body Size Discrimination
Dr Survjit Cheeta Dr Survjit Cheeta
Email Dr Survjit Cheeta Reader in Psychology
I joined the Department of Psychology at Brunel University London as a Senior Lecturer after completing a three year Research Lectureship in the Department of Mental Health at St. George’s Medical School, University of London. My PhD was awarded by the University of Wales, Swansea in 1995 with my research focusing on the role of stressors in the etiology of depression and the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of antidepressant drugs. Following on from this I undertook six years of post-doctoral work. During this time, one notable position was held at King’s College London with Professor Sandra E. File, examining the role of the nicotinic and the serotonergic system in models of anxiety. Two career breaks for maternity leave: September 2007 - August 2008 & September 2009 - September 2010. Qualifications: BSc Psychology (London Metropolitan University) PhD (University of Wales, Swansea) My research interests are within the field of Psychopharmacology, with a particular focus on the disease states of depression and anxiety. My research has aimed to understand these conditions from a multi-disciplinary perspective (molecular to clinical and social policy). Within the pre-clinical sciences i have used models of these disease states to understand their neurobiological underpinnings. Currently I am using epidemiological data and psychological paradigms of emotion and cognition to identify markers for normal and abnormal brain function. I have also been involved in policy development for the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction at a local and national level. Most recently, I was involved in the National Alcohol Needs Assessment project. This project was funded by the Department of Health, with the aim of supporting the National Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England, which was published by the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, 2004. Psychopharmacology Neural systems underpinning depression Emotional processing, learning and memory Cognitive behavioural therapies Undergraduate Programmes Module convenor Advanced Research Methods Drugs Hormones and the Brain Undergraduate Teaching Module convenor Advanced Research Methods Drugs Hormones and the Brain Administration Senate Member (2014-2016) PG Research Convener, Psychology (2011-present) Academic Representative for the School of Social Sciences School Board
Dr Bianca De Haan Dr Bianca De Haan
Email Dr Bianca De Haan Associate Dean (Student Experience) / Senior Lecturer
Cognitive neuroscientist, who studies selective attention in various populations. I completed a combined BSc/MSc in Psychology at the State University of Groningen in The Netherlands. In 2002, I relocated to the UK to do a PhD at the University of Nottingham. This was followed by a 12-year stint at the University of Tuebingen in Germany, first as a postdoc and ultimately as a research group leader. In August 2017, I moved back to the UK to join the Division of Psychology at Brunel University I am interested in selective attention, with a particular emphasis on the mechanisms and anatomy of selective attention in dynamic multi-target environments (such as traffic environments) that are characterised by high levels of stimulus competition across both visual fields. Using a combination of fMRI, TMS, EEG, lesion-symptom mapping and psychophysical methods in neurologically healthy subjects and neuropsychological patients, my research predominantly focuses on the following two questions: How do neurologically healthy subjects attend and respond in everyday dynamic multi-target environments and which factors modulate this ability? In the UK alone, around 1800 people die each year in traffic-related accidents (WHO, 2013). To reduce accidents in these dynamic multi-target environments, understanding how healthy subjects navigate these environments is essential. Why are some neuropsychological patients not able to attend and respond in everyday dynamic multi-target environments and which factors are capable of ameliorating their deficit? An understanding of the critical mechanisms and neural substrates underlying this inability to navigate multi-target environments might enable better rehabilitation strategies, ultimately improving mobility and everyday quality of life in these patients. Much of my research is inspired by the neuropsychological deficit known as extinction. Extinction is a common consequence of unilateral brain damage where patients are able to detect both ipsi- and contralesional information presented in isolation, but are unable to attend and respond to contralesional information in situations where ipsilesional information is concurrently present. That is, these patients show a selective inability to attend and respond in situations with high levels of stimulus competition across both visual fields. Therefore, studying this deficit could provide unique insights concerning the cognitive processes and neural anatomy critical for the ability to attend and respond in multi-target environments. Undergraduate Programmes Module leader: (Advanced) Biological Psychology (PY2704/PY3704) Portfolio in (Advanced) Cognitive Neuroscience (P2801/PY3801) Module contributor: BSc Psychology: Dissertation (PY3600) Postgraduate Programmes Module contributor: Neuroscience Methods: Theory and Practice (PY5706) Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience: Core Topics (PY5616) MSc Psychological Sciences: Dissertation (PY5607) MSc Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience: Dissertation (PY5617)
Dr Terry Dovey Dr Terry Dovey
Email Dr Terry Dovey Head of Department - Life Sciences
I am a behaviourist and specialist in feeding disorders (now called avoidant/restrictive eating disorders). This is an eating disorder that typically manifests before the age of 5 year old. I am also interested in the concept of developmental differences and responsiveness to social priming, or in real world speak – how food advertisements work. You may also find me writing on the topics of appetite regulation and overlap between gastroenterology and psychology. I would very much like to hear from anyone that shares my interests in either research or Life Sciences. Specifically, I would like to hear from any Companies, Further Education and Secondary Schools with an interest in Biology, Environmental, Psychology, Sport, Health & Exercise Sciences. Should you wish to book an appointment my diary is managed by Tina Barker at tina.barker@brunel.ac.uk. My research interests include anything and everything to do with eating behaviour. I have published over 100 peer-reviewed abstracts, papers and books on the topic, covering everything from the psychopharmacological treatments for obesity to deciding to try novel food items. My main research interests are in treatment of avoidant/restrictive eating disorders in children. These include finding effective treatments to overcoming tube-dependency and feeding disorders. In addition to these main research goals, I am also very interested in the impact of advertising on children’s eating behaviour. Along with my co-authors Prof Jason Halford and Dr Emma Boyland (Liverpool) we have published numerous papers on the subject. These papers were the primary evidence used by the government to ban television direct advertising to children for unhealthy food items high in fat and/or sugar. ARFID, Selective Eating, Tube Weaning, Picky/Fussy Eating and Food Refusal in Children Social Priming, Food Advertisments, and Deciding to Try Novel Foods Appetite Regulation, Psychopharmacology of Eating, Gastroentrology, and Obesity Undergraduate Teaching Module convenor PY1604 Clinical Psychology
Dr Ben Jennings Dr Ben Jennings
Email Dr Ben Jennings Senior Lecturer in Psychology
My research is based in the field of human visual perception and predominately employs psychophysical and electrophysiological methods. A running theme in my research is the interaction of colour and luminance signals in the early visual system (for example, their influence on interocular suppression), through to high-level processing (for example, object recognition and visual working memory). In addition to basic research I am investigating the usefulness of traditional behavioral methods for monitoring the effectiveness of treatments in clinical populations with traumatic brain injuries and schizophrenia. I am also currently conducting a series of experiments that investigate emotion perception based on face stimuli, by employing both psychophysical and eye movement techniques. Colour vision and object recognition Colour vision and natural scenes Binocular and dichoptic colour detection mechanisms Emotion perception in normal and clinical populations Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and visual cognition Spatial vision Module Leader: Quantitative Research Methods (Level 2, PY2605)
Dr Elmar Kal Dr Elmar Kal
Email Dr Elmar Kal Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy
I have a BSc (2011) and MSc (2012; cum laude) in Movement Science, both from the Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in The Netherlands. For my PhD project I was employed at a specialist rehabilitation centre (Heliomare) in the Netherlands, studying the impact of implicit learning interventions on the rehabilitation of balance and gait in people after stroke. I successfully defended my thesis in November 2018. I joined Brunel in 2019. My research is focused on better understanding the cognitive and psychological processes that underpin motor control and learning, and to use this knowledge to improve motor functioning in aging and neurological populations (stroke, Parkinson’s). Two main themes in my research are: (1) The use of motor learning principles in (re-)learning of balance and gait tasks in different clinical populations. This includes the use of weight-shifting strategies to reduce freezing of gait in people with PD, as well as the use of implicit motor learning techniques as part of Physical Education of children. (2) The role of anxiety and associated changes in attention in unexplained dizziness in older adults.This includes the use of virtual reality to study the effects of standing at a (virtual) height on fear of falling, associated discrepancies in perceived (self-reported) and actual (sway on force platform) balance, and potential neural and muscular control changes that could help explain such discrepancies - and provide options for interventions. In terms of approach, I combine basic science (assessments of brain activity (using fNIRS, EEG), kine(ma)tics of movement (using force plates, 3D movement analysis), and muscular control (EMG)) with clinically applied research (e.g., using clinical outcomes and assessment methods). I have experience with a host of the methodological approaches (systematic reviews, observational studies, experimental studies, RCTs, validation studies) which gives me flexibility in studying these topics. Two key areas of interest are: 1) The use of motor learning principles in (re-)learning of balance and gait tasks in different clinical populations 2) The role of anxiety and associated changes in attention in unexplained dizziness in older adults. In terms of approach, I strive to combine basic science (assessments of brain activity (using fNIRS, EEG), kine(ma)tics of movement (using force plates, 3D movement analysis), and muscular control (EMG)) with clinically applied research (e.g., using clinical outcomes and assessment methods). I have experience with a host of the methodological approaches (systematic reviews, observational studies, experimental studies, RCTs, validation studies) which gives me flexibility in studying these issues. Pre-registration MSc/BSc Physiotherapy HH5819 - Dissertation Module (module lead) HH1604 / HH5602 - Rehabilitation 2 (tutorials on motor learning & gait analysis) PH5640 - Research Methods for Health Sciences (tutorials on applied statistics using JAMOVI) Advanced Clinical Practice PH5603 - Quantitative Methods and Design for Health Science Research (tutorials on applied statistics using JAMOVI) PH5630 - Neurophysiological Basis for Rehabilitation of Movement (tutorial on influence of attention and fear on movement control and learning)
Professor Costas Karageorghis Professor Costas Karageorghis
Email Professor Costas Karageorghis Professor - Sport & Exercise Psychology
Costas Karageorghis is a professor in sport and exercise psychology with an interest in experimental research and public engagement. From 2018–22, he served as Divisional Lead for Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, holding overall responsbility for the research and teaching activities of the Division. From 2009–14, he served as Deputy Head (Research) of the former School of Sport and Education and led preparations for two REF2014 subject submissions (Sports-Related and Education). The Sports-Related submission was the top-ranked at Brunel and placed 5th nationally (on research power) while the Education submission was the most improved at Brunel. Costas has established an international reputation for his research into the psychological, psychophysiological and neurophysiological effects of music. He has captured 26 research grants during his academic career including, most recently, an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) project grant to study the use of music in the regulation of emotions (2018–21). Costas is the author of two textbooks (both with Human Kinetics), 14 book chapters, 110 peer-reviewed journal articles and over 100 professional papers in sport and exercise psychology. He has made 125 conference presentations and given numerous invited presentations at national and international conferences, including 14 keynote lectures. Costas has also delivered eight public lectures, including a recent public lecture at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Costas's music research has been featured in newspapers around the world: the Times, Telegraph, Independent, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and Sydney Morning Herald. In both 2011 and 2016 he was the recipient of the Sportesse Award for Sport and Exercise Sciences at the annual conference of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). The awards were for new theoretical and mechanistic work in the area of music and physical activity. He is presently working on multi-modal stimulation during physical activity that entails the use of music, video images, virtual/augmented reality and visual primes. Such work is oriented towards enhancing people's sensory experiences during physical activity, with a view to increasing exercise adherence and promoting public health. Costas is a chartered member of the British Psychological Society and a double-accredited member of BASES (psychology research and scientific support). In 2010 he was elected a Fellow of BASES for his services to sport and exercise sciences in the UK. In 2013 he was awarded Chartered Scientist status by the Science Council. Costas acts as consultant psychologist to a number of international and professional athletes and has worked with a wide variety of UK governing bodies of sport (e.g. British Athletics, British Canoe Union, British Water Ski Federation and England Hockey). He has also worked and has ongoing collaborations with various multinational companies in the sports world and music industry. Most recently, he served as lead consultant to the AIR:RUN project that fused music, tech and running in a mass-participation event. As part of the project launch, he contributed to a bespoke track for running titled Run With Me. From 2007–11 Costas was head coach of the Great Britain Students athletics team. He has also managed and coached the Brunel University London Athletics Team since the early 90s. During this time, the team have won seven British Universities championships. Most recently, the team finished runners-up to Loughborough University at both the 2017 and 2018 British Universities indoor championships. In 2004 Costas was made Honorary Life President of Brunel University London Athletics Club and, in 2008, Vice-President of Blackheath and Bromley Harriers Athletics Club. During his spare time, Costas plays the piano, often performing in jazz and latin duos/trios, as well as with the BASES Band at national and international conferences. See some of Costas’s recent publications on the Brunel University Research Archive (BURA). Costas’s main research interest is the psychological, psychophysiological and neurophysiological effects of music in the domain of exercise and sport. This is a topic that he has examined systematically for over 25 years using a broad range of scientific approaches and methods. His programme of research has entailed the development of conceptual frameworks and grounded theory, the production and validation of measurement tools, laboratory-based experimentation (e.g. psychometric, EEG, EMG, fMRI, fNIRS, respiratory), and in vivo studies. Costas has completed a number of industrial projects that include work with Nike Inc. on the Portable Sport Audio MP3 player, Sony UK on the W series of sport MP3 headphones, Bio-Medical Research Ltd. (Ireland) on the Mentor behavioural screening programme, and David Lloyd Leisure Ltd. on the development of a music policy for their chain of health clubs. He was principal author of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences’ (BASES) national expert statement on the use of music in exercise. In 2020, he was principal author of the BASES expert statement on the use of music for movement among people with Parkinson's. The project brought together an international interdisciplinary team. In 2023 Costas was the lead author of a paper that was awarded the prize for the best article in the journal Ergonomics. From 2007–10 Costas led a large-scale consultancy project with the International Management Group (IMG) that entailed coordinating live music with mass participation running events – Run to the Beat. He made scientific contributions and served as a media spokesperson for several events in the UK and across mainland Europe. This body of work led to an impact case study for REF2014. Prior to the London 2012 Olympic Games he worked with Redbull UK Ltd. on the Performance Track Project that entailed the creation of a bespoke pre-competition track for Olympic 400-metre hurdler Dai Greene. The project involved a collaboration with the well-known producer Redlight. In 2015–16 Costas led a research project for England Rugby on the creation and testing of bespoke music programmes for 02 Touch, a mixed-gender form of touch rugby. Costas has worked extensively with the music industry to release a number of sport and exercise-related compilations including the bestselling Run to the Beat CD and Ministry of Sound: Run to the Beat 2010. In 2014, he collaborated with leading soprano Laura Wright and Decca Records on the production of The Sound of Strength album, which was the first classical music album to be written and arranged specifically for physical exercise. In 2011, Costas published a textbook titled Inside Sport Psychology (Human Kinetics; ISBN 978-0-7360-3329-9) that is co-authored by Professor Peter Terry (University of Southern Queensland). The book was subsequently translated into Polish (2014) and Turkish (2015). In 2017, Costas released a sole-authored textbook titled Applying Music in Exercise and Sport (Human Kinetics; ISBN 978-1-4925-1381-0). The book appraises contemporary research, provides a new theoretical framework, and presents specific recommendations to enable exercise and sport professionals to use music more effectively. There is also an associated study guide for students, pedagogues and exercise professionals that accompanies the text (Human Kinetics; ISBN 978-1-4925-4640-5). Costas contributed three chapters to the text Sporting Sounds: Relationships Between Sport and Music (Routledge 2009) as well as chapters in New Sport and Exercise Psychology Companion (Fitness Information Technology 2011), Sport, Music, Identities (Taylor & Francis 2014), Sport and Exercise Psychology 2nd ed. (Taylor & Francis 2016) and Art in Motion III (Peter Lang 2016). He has recently completed music-related chapters for The Routledge Companion to Embodied Music Interaction (Routledge 2017), Progress in Brain Research: Volume 3 (Science Direct 2018) and the Handbook of Sport Psychology 4th ed. (John Wiley & Sons 2020). Costas’s PhD graduates include: Drs David-Lee Priest (2004; Author and Lecturer at the University of East Anglia), Kelly J. Ashford (2005; Research Project Manager at the University of British Columbia–Okanagan, Canada), Ruth M. Hewston (2005; Professor and Head of the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Warwick), Daniel T. Bishop (2007; Senior Lecturer at Brunel), Georgios Loizou (2008; Diplomat for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Cyprus), Massimo M. Vencato (2010; Freelance Consultant), Harry B. T. Lim (2012; Senior Sport Psychologist at the Singapore Sports Institute), Alessandra Mecozzi Saha (2013; Student Academic Support Coordinator at New South Wales University, Australia), Leighton Jones (2014; Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University), Marcelo Bigliassi (2018; Associate Professor at Florida State University, FL, USA) and Jonathan M. Bird (2019; Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Exeter). Costas's current PhD students are: Dr Amir-Hosseyn Yassari MD and Christian Felix Benning MMus.
Dr Riccardo Manca Dr Riccardo Manca
Email Dr Riccardo Manca Research Fellow
I obtained by BSc in Psychology from the Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Italy, in 2013 and later specialised in neuropsychology with an MSc in Cognitive neuroscience and clinical neuropsychology at the Università degli Studi di Padova, Italy, in 2015. Since my postgraduate studies I developed a main research interest in cognitive decline. During my PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Sheffield, UK, (Translational Neuropsychology Group: 2015-2019) I worked with people with multiple sclerosis and used MRI to investigate the neural correlates of processing speed performance and the effects of a network-based cognitive rehabilitation programme. Subsequently, I started to work as a Postdoc at the Department of Neuroscience - University of Sheffield on a variety of projects, mainly focussing on the biological correlates of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease. In March 2021 I joined Brunel University London as a Research Fellow. At the moment I am conducting research in different areas: 1) neurocognitive decline in sexual minorities; 2) genetic and neural signatures underlying psychotic symptoms in Alzheimer's disease; 3) coordination of the SOLITUDE study - a longitudinal multi-centre observational study on the impact of social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic on cognitive performance and mental health of people with dementia and their carers. - neural correlates of cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease - cognitive decline and ageing in sexual and gender minorities - non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive decline - the impact of the interaction of biological and social factors on cognitive decline and ageing cognitive decline, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, ageing, diverse clinical populations, cognitive rehabilitation, MRI, neuroimaging, polygenic risk scores, neuropsychiatric symptoms, social isolation, multiple sclerosis
Dr Amir Mohagheghi Dr Amir Mohagheghi
Email Dr Amir Mohagheghi Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics
Qualifications PhD – Motor Control & Learning – Otago University, New Zealand (1999) MSc – Physiotherapy – Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran (1994) BSc – Physiotherapy – Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran (1987) Employment Brunel University London (2009 – present) University College London (2007 – 2009) Manchester Metropolitan University (2004 – 2007) In vivo examination of muscle and tendon architecture and mechanical properties: Muscle and tendon architectural and biomechanical properties can affect function. These characteristics are changed in clinical populations with neurological disorders (e.g. stroke, cerebral palsy). Dr Mohagheghi’s interest is focused on the effect of neurological disorders and efficacy of different therapeutic interventions on muscle and tendon properties and functional abilities. He has been a contributing author to the development of the UK national guideline for “Splinting for the prevention and correction of contractures in adults with neurological dysfunction” published 2015. Information on our ongoing research involving individuals with Cerebral Palsy can be found at: Movement disorders and musculoskeletal injuries: many neurological and musculoskeletal disorders affect walking, balance, arm movement and coordination between limbs. In stroke survivors, we examine the effect of experimentation in a StartReact context on the recovery of arm movements. In patients who will be receiving foot arthrodesis (fusion) surgery, we examine the effect of surgery on walking and standing balance. If you wish to take part in our ongoing reserch, or receive further information about them, please contact: amir.mohagheghi@brunel.ac.uk SP2701 – Biomechanics of Human Movement SP2555 – Work Placement SP5513 – Laboratory Techniques in Physiology and Biomechanics
Dr Ray Norbury Dr Ray Norbury
Email Dr Ray Norbury Senior Lecturer in Psychology
I joined the Department of Psychology at Brunel University London as a Senior Lecturer in January 2020. Prior to this I worked at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, King's College, London, the Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton, The Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford and the Oxford Centre for Magnetic Resonance (OCMR). There is increasing evidence to suggest that late chronotype individuals (i.e. those that prefer to go to bed late and wake later in the morning) are at increased risk for developing depression. At present, however, the mechanisms underlying this risk remain to be determined. My own research that late chronotype individuals display negative biases in emotional processing (i.e. increased recognition of negative facial expressions), impaired emotion regulation and patterns of neural activity at rest and during simple emotional processing task that is similar to those seen in currently depressed patients. Future work will extend these findings with the ultimate aim of developing interventions to prevent the onset of depression in these vulnerable individuals. I am an advocate of open science practices and copies of my most recent papers are available through the Open Science Framework (OSF): Group level statistical parametric maps (SPMs) from my recent imaging projects are also available via NeuroVault – a public repository for imaging data: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Chronotype/Chronbiology Sleep Psychiatric disorder Emotional processing MSc Psychological Sciences (Conversion) - Programme Director PY5607: MSc Psychological Sciences Dissertation - Course Lead PY5630: Statistics - Course Lead PY1701: Statistics - Course Lead
Dr Alexander Nowicky Dr Alexander Nowicky
Email Dr Alexander Nowicky Honorary Senior Research Fellow - Health Sciences
Honorary Senior Research Fellow ( Sept 2021) My primary research area is in the use of noninvasive brain stimulation techniques to study human voluntary control of movement and neuroplasticity. Noninvasive brain stimulation involves either the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and direct current electrical stimulation (tDCS) and are used to examine motor learning and plasticity. These techniques are combined with the use of surface electromyography and are deployed to study changes in movement control in health and disease. Such stimulation techniques are applied over the scalp to activate underlying cortical areas. As these techniques are safe, noninvasive, and painless, these techniques are making important contributions to study of human motor neuroplasticity and cognitive function. Applications are far reaching and include possible use in neurorehabilitation following brain insult or injury, where together with conventional therapies they may enhance recovery of function.
Dr Justin O'Brien Dr Justin O'Brien
Email Dr Justin O'Brien Senior Lecturer in Psychology
Developmental visual neuroscience, studying the autism spectrum, face perception and psychophysics. I studied psychology at the University of Exeter, graduating in 1993. I then completed my PhD on the topic of depth perception as part of a BBSRC and BAe Case award at University College London in 1997. Subsequently I worked on functional neuroimaging projects as a postdoc at the MRC’s Visual Development Unit at UCL, studying visual perception in developmental disorders before moving to Brunel in 2002 as a lecturer in psychology. Contact me at Brunel or on social media: @justinobrien@mastodon.social I investigate normal and abnormal visual development, including motion perception and the susceptibility to visual illusions. I've worked on visual deficits in autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia, from low level visual form and motion integration to higher level face and emotion recognition. As a member of Brunel’s CCN, I use neuroimaging and psychophysical techniques to answer questions about how we recognise people. Visual development Neuroimaging Developmental disorders Visual psychophysics Face and Expression Recognition Neuroimaging and dynamic facial expressions Biological Motion Perception in Infancy Fractal Rotation Motion Capture Undergraduate Teaching PY2700 Quantitative Research Methods Postgraduate Teaching PY5706 Neuroscience Methods: Theory and Practice Teaching Videos This series of videos explains how to analyse data from an FMRI study of object recognition. It was designed for students on the MSc Functional Neuroimaging programme at Brunel University. These videos are all up on YouTube and are applicable for the analysis of most block/epoch studies using SPM12. Use the button below for the whole playlist in order on YouTube or select individual videos from the thumbnails. Download the NIFTI images that accompany this playlist: face_places_objects.zip [500MB] (consult the README.txt file in the zip archive for details of the condition onset times which are different to those shown in the video) SPM VIDEOS [PLAYLIST] SPM Tutorial 01 - Study Summary and Getting Started SPM Tutorial 02 - Arranging Files SPM Tutorial 03 - Realignment SPM Tutorial 04 - Normalisation SPM Tutorial 05 - Smoothing SPM Tutorial 06 - Statistics Specification SPM Tutorial 07 - Review Stats Spec SPM Tutorial 08 - Estimate Statistical Model SPM Tutorial 09 - Contrast Manager Introduction SPM Tutorial 10 - Results Summary SPM Tutorial 11 - Montage and Labelling SPM Tutorial 12 - Image Segmentation SPM Tutorial 13 - Extract Surface SPM Tutorial 14 - Warp Structural Images SPM Tutorial 15 - Average Anatomical Images SPM Tutorial 16 - Adding Contrasts SPM Tutorial 17 - Effects of Interest F Contrast SPM Tutorial 18 - Contrasts for Each Participant SPM Tutorial 19 - Render on 3D surface SPM Tutorial 20 - View Multiple SPMs
Dr Andrew Parton Dr Andrew Parton
Email Dr Andrew Parton Deputy Dean (Academic Affairs) / Senior Lecturer in Psychology
Having worked for 4-years as a programmer in a clinical chemistry research unit I returned to higher education. I gained a distinction in my ESRC-funded masters in Cognitive Science. My PhD at Surrey University examined the interaction of motion and binocular disparity information in the perception of depth. This was followed by post-doctoral work in projects at Imperial College, UCL, Southampton, Birkbeck College and Aston University. These posts developed my research interests to examine the cognitive effects of neurological conditions and basic neural mechanisms for encoding cognition. I joined Brunel in 2006 where I have further developed my research. Qualifications: PhD Psychology (Surrey) MSc Cognitive Science (Birmingham) BSc Computing and business Studies (Liverpool) To survive we have to rapidly identify and select relevant the information from the world to guide behaviour. This requires the encoding of relevant sensory information into memory and its use to control the body. My research attempts to understand the cognitive and neurological bases of these processes using behavioural experiments, neuroimaging and examination of the effects of neurological disease (esp. Parkinsons Disease and Stroke). Current projects include examinations of motor sequence learning, the role of neural oscillations in coding cognition, and early cognitive deficits in Parkinsons. Cognitive neuropsychology and impaired cognition Visual cognition Visuo-motor control Implicit/explicit memory Undergraduate Programmes Module contributor Advanced Research Methods Postgraduate Programmes Module convenor Visual Neuroscience Module contributor Cognitive Neuroscience Neuro-rehabilitation Undergraduate Teaching Module contributor Advanced Research Methods Postgraduate Teaching Module convenor Visual Neuroscience Module contributor Cognitive Neuroscience Neuro-rehabilitation Administration Director of Learning and Teaching (Department of Life Sciences) University Senate Member Psychology UG Dissertations Convenor BPS Co-ordinator Member University Staff Development Steering Group Co-organiser Brunel Brain Awareness week
Dr Mellissa Prunty Dr Mellissa Prunty
Email Dr Mellissa Prunty Reader in Occupational Therapy
Mellissa is the Divisional Lead for Occupational Therapy at Brunel University London. She is a children's Occupational Therapist by background. She qualified from the MSc (pre-reg) programme at Glasgow Caledonian University in 2010. She previously completed a BSc (Hons) in Kinesiology at Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada, while on athletic scholarship for women’s basketball. She completed her PhD on handwriting difficulties in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), which she undertook at Oxford Brookes University under the supervision of Prof. Anna Barnett, Dr. Mandy Plumb and Dr. Kate Wilmut. Mellissa has worked in a variety of childrens' services and specialises in working with children with coordination difficulties. She founded the children's occupational therapy research clinic at the university which investigates key skills and participation in childhood including handwriting, activities of daily living and cycling. The clinic currently offers placements to occupational therapy students at the university. Separate to this Mellissa co-led the development of wheelchair basketball and disability sport on campus. She has organised a series of inter-professional training days for health care students and has incorporated wheelchair basketball into the occupational therapy curriculum. The wheelchair basketball project has now expanded into the local community and a new club for children and adults is now underway (Brunel Bulls). Mellissa joined Brunel University London as a Lecturer in October 2013.
Dr Ignazio Puzzo Dr Ignazio Puzzo
Email Dr Ignazio Puzzo Senior Lecturer in Psychology
I graduated in Experimental Psychology at the University of Padua (Italy) in 2004. Then obtained a MSc in research methods (2007) and a PhD (2010) in Psychology at the University of Essex (UK). Prior to joining Brunel University of London as a Lecturer, I held a lecturer post at City University of London. Before then I worked as a senior clinical scientist post at Broadmoor Hospital, West London Mental Health NHS Trust from 2015 to 2018. My current research focuses on understanding the interplay between affective, neurocognitive and social factors contributing to the development of aggressive and antisocial behaviour in children and adolescents as well as in adults mentally disordered offenders.
Dr Noam Sagiv Dr Noam Sagiv
Email Dr Noam Sagiv Senior Lecturer in Psychology
Since my undergraduate studies, my interests have gradually shifted from physics and chemistry to neurobiology, cognitive neuroscience and psychology. After completing my PhD studies in Cognitive Psychology at the University of Califronia, I spent two years at University College London as a post-doctoral research fellow. I joined Brunel in 2005. Qualifications: PhD Psychology (Univ of California, Berkeley) MSc Neurobiology (Jerusalem) BSc Physics and Chemistry (Jerusalem) My research interests concern the cogntive and neural bases of human perception and consciousness. Specific research interests include cross-modal interactions and synaesthesia (a condition in which stimulation in one sensory modality is accompanied by experiences in additional, unstimulated senses). I am also interested in face perception and its disorders. Particularly, (1) Prosopagnosia – a condition in which individuals cannot recognise faces and may occasionally fail to recognise even close friends and realtives; (2) Prosopometamorphopsia – a condition in which faces appear distorted while other objects are not. The interest in such extraordinary perceptual symptoms and syndromes is also related to my interest in the neural correlates of consciousness (particularly, perceptual awareness). Synaesthesia and cross-modal interactions Neural correlates of consciousness Face perception, prosopagnosia, and prosopometamorphopsia. Undergraduate Programmes Module convenor Cognitive Neuroscience of Consciousness (Year 3) Psychological Perspectives on Contemporary Issues (Year 1) Module contributor Psychology of Aesthetics (Year 3) Quantitative Research Methods (Year 2) Postgraduate Programmes Module contributor Cognitive Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience Undergraduate Teaching Module convenor Cognitive Neuroscience of Consciousness (Year 3) Psychological Perspectives on Contemporary Issues (Year 1) Module contributor Psychology of Aesthetics (Year 3) Quantitative Research Methods (Year 2) Postgraduate Teaching Module contributor Cognitive Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience Administration Senate Member (2014-2016) Member of the University's Quality Assurance Committee (2014-present) Web Liaison Officer (2013-present) Director of School Research Programmes (2011-2013) Psychology PhD Programme Convenor (2009-2011) Psychology Departmental Seminar Convenor (2005-2009)
Dr Andre Szameitat Dr Andre Szameitat
Email Dr Andre Szameitat Reader - Psychology
Reader in Cognitive Neuroscience. Brief CV: After my general study of Psychology I conducted my PhD at the Max-Planck-Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, Leipzig, Germany. In 2003 I joined the University of Surrey as a post-doc. After this post-doc position I went back to Germany to work in Munich as lecturer in the international Master’s program Neurocognitive Psychology. I joined Brunel University London as a Reader in September 2013. Qualifications: 2011 Habilitation, venia legendi in Psychology, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich/Germany 2002 PhD in Psychology, Max Planck Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Leipzig/Germany 1999 Diploma (Dipl.-Psych.; MSc equiv.) in Psychology, Technical University Braunschweig/Germany Research area(s) Executive Control and Prefrontal Cortex Effect of Nature vs Urban experiences on cognition Multitasking, Working Memory Brain Imaging (fMRI) & Behavioural Methods My work mainly falls into the fields of Cognitive Neuroscience, Cognitive Psychology, and Neuropsychology. My main interest lies in how humans deal with multitasking, i.e. the capability to do two things at the same time. To investigate this question I use the paradigm of the psychological refractory period (PRP) and behavioural (response time measures) and neuroimaging (fMRI) techniques. This research focusses as well on functions of the lateral prefrontal cortex of our brain and the executive control functions of working memory. In a second line of research I investigate the effects of engaging in different activities on subsequent cognitive performance and well-being. For example, does it make a difference whether one watches a 10 min video depicting nature scenes versus a 10 min video of urban scenes. Deputy Director of the Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (CCN). Effect of leisure activities on cognitive performance and well-being Executive control, working memory, and the prefrontal cortex Multitasking Teaching PY2701 Cognitive Psychology (Level 2) Administration Deputy Director of the Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (CCN)
Dr Adrian Williams Dr Adrian Williams
Email Dr Adrian Williams Senior Lecturer
My main research interests relate to vision and visual perception, but I have a broader interest in sensory perception more generally. I was originally trained in the areas of statistics and computing before developing an interest in machine learning and artificial neural networks. From there, I moved to 'real' neural networks, and completed my PhD in Neuroscience at the Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London. After a period of nearly five years as a postdoc at the Psychology Department at Royal Holloway, University of London, I joined the Centre for Cognition and Neuroimaging at Brunel University London as a lecturer. My research interests are broadly in the area of sensory perception, but with a primary focus on vision and the organization of the visual brain. I'm interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the underlying anatomy and functional organization of the visual brain that facilitate our sense of vision, primarily through the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), but also using behavioural/psychophysical approaches. Member, Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (CCN) Visual (and more broadly, sensory) perception Visual coding and representation in the brain Cortical organisation Neuroimaging - functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) Undergraduate Programmes Module convenor Practical Investigations of Mind and Brain (L3) Postgraduate Programmes Programme convenor MSc Functional Neuroimaging Module convenor Principles of Neuroimaging Module contributor Visual Neuroscience Multidisciplinary Approaches to Health Functional Neuroscience for Rehabilitation (School of Health Sciences) Undergraduate TeachingModule convenor Practical Investigations of Mind and Brain (L3) Postgraduate TeachingProgramme convenor MSc Functional Neuroimaging Module convenor Principles of Neuroimaging Module contributor Visual Neuroscience Multidisciplinary Approaches to Health Functional Neuroscience for Rehabilitation (School of Health Sciences) Administration Member of the University Academic Appeals Committee Touch Point (NSS) Co-ordinator Programme Director, MSc Functional Neuroimaging
Professor Taeko Wydell Professor Taeko Wydell
Email Professor Taeko Wydell Emeritus Professor
Having completed my ESRC funded PhD in 1991 as a mature student, I worked on my research as a MRC Post-Doc Research Fellow at UCL until 1994. In 1994 I was the first psychologist to be awarded a four-year (1994-1998) Wellcome Trust Research Career Development Fellowship at UCL. While I was at UCL, I taught Intercalated Medical Students who completed their BSc in Psychology within a year. I was then offered a lectureship at Brunel in 1995, and was promoted to professor of cognitive neuroscience in 2004. I was the Head of Psychology twice, in total 10 years – 2004-2008 as the Head of the Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, and 2012-2018 (2012-2014: Head of the Department of Psychology (SSS) & 2014-2018: Divisional Lead in Psychology, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences (now College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences). I was a Local GroupRepresentative (LGR) of the British Neuroscience Association (BNA) from 2014-2023. I am a member of the editorial board of Dyslexia. I was an EU Invited Scientist to Helsinki University of Technology (2000-2003) conducting MEG research. I have several international collaborations (e.g. Australia, China, Finland, France, Japan, etc). Undergraduate Programmes Module convenor Biological Psychology Module contributor Sole lecturer of above Postgraduate Programmes Module contributor Cognitive Neuroscience Speech Perception/Production Reading & Writing Neuroscientific Methodology (MEG) Undergraduate TeachingModule convenor Biological Psychology Module contributor Sole lecturer of above Postgraduate TeachingModule contributor Cognitive Neuroscience Speech Perception/Production Reading & Writing Neuroscientific Methodology (MEG) Administration Head of Department, Psychology Departmental REF Representative
Professor Annalena Venneri Professor Annalena Venneri
Email Professor Annalena Venneri Professor of Psychology (CCN)
Professor Venneri has obtained a PhD from the University of Aberdeen, UK and an MD from the University of Sheffield, UK She has held academic positions at the University of Aberdeen (Lecturer/Senior Lecturer), University of Hull (Full Professor) and University of Sheffield (Full Professor) prior to moving to Brunel University London in 2021 She has held honorary consultant positions at Grampian NHS Trust, Humber Mental Health NHS Trust, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust; Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Trust. She currently holds a part-time Consultant position (secondment) at Central and North West London NHS Trust Her research interests are in early and differential diagnosis of dementia, pharmacoimaging, biological and cognitive mechanisms underlying psychotic symptoms in AD Early and differential diagnosis of ageing and neurodegenerative dementia Biological correlates of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease Semantic decline in prodromal AD Modifiable lifestyle factors and dementia Linguistic markers of cognitive decline Alzheimer's disease; Dementia Cognitive markers Neuroimaging Neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia

Doctoral Researchers

Mr Satyam Chauhan Mr Satyam Chauhan Satyam is a Doctoral Researcher within the Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience. Supervisory Team: Professor Veena Kumari, Dr Ray Norbury & Dr Ignazio Puzzo Pineal gland, psychosis, and depression. Sleep, chronotype, neurocognitive functions, and mental health. Neuroscience of personality, childhood trauma, and brain functioning. Neuroscience of mindfullness and psychedelics. COVID-19 related taste & smell impairment.
Mrs Rachael Cheang Mrs Rachael Cheang Rachael Cheang is a Doctoral Researcher within the Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience. Her research interests lie in the field of contemplative neuroscience and is currently focused on how mindfulness-based practices may help with emotion-regulation in those with Autistic Spectrum Conditions. She holds an MSc. in Mindfulness and Compassion and a BSc. (hons) in Physics. Supervisory team: Dr Iganzio Puzzo, Prof. Alex Blakemore Mindfulness, Neuroscience, Autistic Spectrum Conditions, Alexithymia, Interoception, Emotion-regulation, Empathy & Compassion Publications Cheang, R., Gillions, A. & Sparkes, E. Do Mindfulness-Based Interventions Increase Empathy and Compassion in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. J Child Fam Stud 28, 1765–1779 (2019). Gillions, A., Cheang, R., Duarte, R. The effect of mindfulness practice on aggression and violence levels in adults: A systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior 48, 104-115 (2019). Rachael runs her own wellbeing business, Deeper Being LLP, teaching Meditation & Tai Chi in classes, workshops & retreats as well as to community groups such as Age UK, residendial care homes and retirement communities.
Ms Tamara Dkaidek Ms Tamara Dkaidek Tamara Dkaidek is a Doctoral Researcher in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences. Her research focuses on the effects of cycling exercise on brain function. Tamara is specifically interested in how dual-task exercise, acute cycling while visual foraging, can benefit brain function in both young adults and children. She is also interested in using Virtual Reality as a tool to assess foraging patterns while cycling on the road and its influence on executive functions. During her PhD, Tamara has taken part in a number of research projects as a research assistant and was a graduate teaching assistant for the SP1600 Introduction to the Psychology of Sport and Exercise module for two terms. She has also attended a number of conferences and workshops including: The Bikeability Conference (2022), British Society of the Psychology of Individual Differences (2023), The National Cycling Show (2023) as well as various Brunel Conferences. Also, she is a Doctoral Researchers Peer Mentor for two new doctoral researchers. Tamara is also currently the Virtual Reality Project Manager for The Bikeability Trust. Qualifications: BSc Psychology - University of Leicester MSc Applied Paediatric Neuropsychology - University College London
Ms Mara Deluca Ms Mara Deluca Mara is undertaking a full time PhD at Brunel University in Human Performance, Exercise and Rehabilitation Research under the supervision of Dr. Amir Mohagheghi. Mara joined the Department of Life Sciences, Division of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences in January 2019. Prior to joining Brunel as a PhD student, Mara received an MSc in Sport, Health and Exercise Science from Brunel University and a BS in Biology from The University of West Alabama. Mara's areas of interests are in the rehabilitation and functional recovery after stroke. Her current research is in the use of how distinctive motor fibres might impact movement, strength, and functional recovery.
Miss Joy Geerkens Miss Joy Geerkens Joy is a Doctoral Researcher within the Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, in the Division of Psychology. Joy's research focuses on using experimental methods and conducting fMRI studies to understand how the acute participation in different activities prior to being exposed to cognitively challenging tasks, bears differential impacts on our cognitive performance, comparing these differences between neurotypical and neurodivergent populations. Her previous research includes; studying the effect of rural and urban noise on cognitive performance, the developmental plasticity of growing up in different environments on our emotional and physical stress resilience, as well as a systematic search of papers investigating the biological and psycho-social factors effecting pubertal development in women. Joy has also completed ethnographic field work for the University of Washington, on the indigenous Qom population of Formosa, Argentina and has industry experience working as a UX researcher and data analyst for various companies. Joy obtained her BA in Human Evolutionary Biology (Biological Anthropology) from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA in 2019, and her MPhil in Biological Anthropology (Human Evolutionary Studies) from the University of Cambridge in the U.K, before starting her PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience & Cognitive Psychology at Brunel in 2022. Direct comparisons of how different acitvities effect one's performance on subsequent cognitive tasks Brain plasticity Cognitive differences between neurotypical & neurodivergent populations Prefrontal cortex Glial cells Evolutionary Psychiatry, with a particular interest in hypervigilant disorders such as schizophrenia and anxiety Cognitive Psychology Cognitive Neuroscience Biological AnthropologyEvolutionary Psychiatry
Miss Krupa Vakani Miss Krupa Vakani Krupa is a third year Doctoral Researcher within the Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience. Her current research investigates the neuropsychological sequelae of COVID-19 and long COVID. Supervisory Team: Professor Veena Kumari, Dr Elena Antonova & Dr Andrew Parton. Qualifications: - MSc Clinical Neuroscience (University College London) - BSc Psychology with Professional Development (Brunel University of London) Clinical and cognitive neuropsychology/neuroscience; mental health; COVID-19; depression (treatment-resistant depression); neurodegenerative disorders