I run the Neuroanalytics Laboratory within the Department of Psychological Sciences and Health, and lead the Dementia Research Network at the University of Strathclyde.  Key research themes include:

Ageing and Dementia

My research is focused on the early detection, diagnosis, management and treatment of different types of dementia (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular dementia, Fronto-temporal dementia). I adopt methods that include the use and analysis of cognitive, neuroimaging, neurophysiological, and blood-based biomarker data.  I am also interested in the breakdown of cognition (episodic and semantic memory, language and attention) that occurs during the course of neurodegenerative disease, and in understanding the neural correlates of neuropsychiatric/behavioural symptoms (such as hallucinations and delusions).  Within my research projects, I tend to use cortical thickness and voxel-based morphometry,  functional connectivity assessment, event-related potential analysis, spectral analysis, and machine learning techniques.

I am actively investigating sensory stimulation as a treatment/management technique for Alzheimer’s disease, and have applied pharmacoimaging in the past to assess the efficacy of drug treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.  I am interested in predicting response to treatment and in tailoring various treatments to the individual (personalised medication).

Further interests include the effects of normal ageing (e.g., on cognitive function and on the brain).

Hypnosis and suggestibility
In recent years, as Principal Investigator, I have led two funded research projects to investigate hypnosis and suggestibility (funding from The Leverhulme Trust and the BIAL Foundation).  I am interested in the effects of hypnosis on the brain, and in the cognitive, neural and genetic associations that may underpin suggestibility.

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)

Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) (University of Hull)

PhD (University of Hull)

Diploma in Research Methods (University of Aberdeen)

BSc (Hons) Psychology (University of Aberdeen)

I am currently a Reader within the Department of Psychological Sciences and Health (University of Strathclyde [UoS]), with expertise is in neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience.

My research interests are mostly centred on the cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms that are found in Alzheimer’s disease and the other dementias, and I am interested in non-pharmacological treatment and management techniques.  Another of my research interests relates to suggestibility and hypnosis.

I lead the Neuroanalytics Laboratory and the Dementia Research Network at UoS.

I am President of the Section of Hypnosis and Psychosomatic Medicine at the Royal Society of Medicine.  I am also the UoS Executive Committee lead for the Scottish Imaging Network: A Platform for Scientific Excellence (SINAPSE).

Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias

Neuropsychiatric symptoms

Sensory stimulation for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Normal ageing

Hypnosis and suggestibility

Neuroimaging and neuropsychological research methods

I previously co-developed the MSc in Clinical Health Psychology course and was Director of this programme for 3 years.  I now contribute as class leader and lecturer on the postgraduate class: “Neuropsychology relating medical conditions”, and the undergraduate class: "Neuropsychology of Ageing and Dementia".

I have previously taught on neuropsychology, neuroscience methods, statistics, research methods, cognitive psychology and health psychology.

I am an HEA fellow.