PhD Neuroscience & Psychology

We strive to understand the central nervous system at multiple levels of function, from cells to cognition to social interactions. Our approaches range from molecular, cellular and experimental systems to the brain imaging of human behaviour and cognition as well as social level investigations.

Overview

Discovering how the central nervous system functions normally and how it is affected by disease and injury present major challenges for biological and medical research in the 21st century. Over the last two decades there has been an explosion of interest in understanding the normal function of the brain illustrated by launching of the Human Brain Project and the Brain Initiative. In parallel the huge burden of neurological and psychiatric disorders on society and the current lack of effective treatments means there is an urgent need to develop new approaches.

The Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology (INP) has an interactive network that comprises four centres of excellence: Neuroscience, Stroke and Brain Imaging, Cognitive Neuroimaging and Social Interaction. Via their interactions, our centres aim to understand brain networks at multiple levels of function, from cells to cognition with a strong emphasis on imaging and computational analyses of each level. Our translational efforts are directed at a range of disorders including pain, stroke, spinal cord injury, neurodevelopmental disorder and schizophrenia.

Our staff and students have access to world-class imaging infrastructure and supporting high-performance computing facilities. This provides strong unifying technological and methodological links across the different centres of the INP, including a state-of-the-art platform of cognitive imaging in humans, a high field small bore animal scanner, dedicated confocal and electron microscopy facilities, as well as cutting edge equipment to measure dynamic social signals.

A PhD programme in Neuroscience and Psychology is based on individual research projects covering an exciting range of topics including:

• non-invasive multimodal brain imaging using fMRI
• dynamics of auditory and visual processing
• functions of brain oscillations
• neuroendocrine effects on social interactions
• neuromodulation via TMS
• spinal cord and brainstem circuits in pain
• molecular mechanisms of synaptic transmission and plasticity
• neural control of respiration
• schizophrenia
• spinal cord injury
• rett syndrome
• imaging in acute stroke
• stroke clinical trial and design
• stem cells as treatment for stroke
• experimental stroke
• cortical circuits mediating perception and memory
• circadian rhythms.