News
OHBA researchers at BRC open day
OHBA were at the Oxford Biomedical Research Centre Open Day to meet members of the public and discuss the research we are doing - and plan to do. The event was at the Churchill Hospital on 14th March and was very well attended.
'Horizon' shows research at OHBA
Kia Nobre was interviewed by the Horizon team for an episode exploring the importance of the unconscious mind in our day-to-day lives. To demonstrate how little of the visual world we actually process, she scanned George Wallis in the MEG system performing one of the tasks he has developed for his doctoral research. Despite being very well practised in his own task, he was only able to detect change in 2-3 items at a time. This shows how little of the visual world is really accessible for conscious tasks.
Henry Luckhoo awarded research prize at MEG-UK 2012 conference
This year's MEG UK conference was hosted by UCL, London, on the 26-27th January. The annual conference is an opportunity for MEG researchers from all the centres in the UK to come together and discuss their current research. Several researchers from OHBA presented their data and Henry Luckhoo was awarded a prize for his poster.
Postdoctoral and Postgraduate Research Assistant vacancies
We are recruiting a post-doctoral fellow and a post-graduate research assistant to work on an exciting new programme of research concerned with assessing cognitive functions during aging, and developing psychological interventions for improving cognitive health and preventing cognitive decline. The programme of research involves a combination of neuropsychological assessments; cognitive testing; and brain imaging using structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetoencephalography (MEG) and electroencephalography (EEG). The post will provide experience of clinically relevant research.
Helium shortage continues to threaten MEG scanning
The superconducting sensors in the MEG system need to be kept very cold in order to work - so cold that they must be bathed in liquid helium at -269 degrees celsius. Only helium is a liquid at such a low temperature, all other elements are solid! Unfortunately, the global supply of helium is currently limited and this is effecting many areas of research. Sven Braeutigam was interviewed about the situation by the Times Higher.
OHBA researchers demonstrate memories on Bang Goes The Theory
‘Bang Goes The Theory’ invited researchers from OHBA to show them how the brain forms memories. The BBC show’s producers made it particularly challenging by requesting that data were collected and analysed within their brief visit – and there was only one chance for it to work – on presenter Dallas Campbell. Typically, experiments involve many participants so that researchers can be sure they’re seeing real brain effects. Despite the short time frame, the OHBA group worked together and were able to show Dallas his brain responses. Several researchers were involved in making the visit a success, but in particular, Henry Luckhoo quickly analysed Dallas’ data while Prof Kia Nobre guided the BBC crew through the techniques and theory behind current studies of memory.
Fit for Life
OHBA is to play a key role in research funded by a £2.5M award from The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) to investigate the effects of physical activity and of cognitive stimulation on brain function, plasticity and psychological well being. The award has been made through an additional contribution within the funding allocated to the Dementia Theme of the Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). The research programme represents a collaborative team effort, bringing together members from the Oxford centre for Human Brain Activity (OHBA) and for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB); and the Departments of Psychiatry, Clinical Neuroscience, and Experimental Psychology. The team will work in collaboration with Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, which provides mental health services in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Pump priming MEG grant for cognitive conflict monitoring
Mark Buckley and Erica Boschin have been awarded the latest pump priming grant to explore the neural basis for conflict monitoring and cognitive control. Cognitive systems must be able to detect irrelevant information - conflict - and adjust behaviour accordingly. Their pilot study will use the MEG, EEG and eye tracking systems to investigate the roles of the anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral cortex in conflict monitoring. They have previous experience using conflict tasks in neuropsychological lesion studies, in electrophysiological recording studies of local field potentials in patients undergoing deep brain stimulation, and will shortly also start a TMS study. It is hoped the results of this pilot study will assist in grant applications for future OHBA studies.
Pump priming MEG grants - deadline extended
OHBA has launched an initiative to support up to three pilot projects during this academic year. Six MEG scanning sessions will be made available in the first instance for pilot testing new projects that are deemed to be of scientific interest and quality. Projects will be selected on a competitive basis. Preference will be given to projects that are likely to lead to fruitful new lines of experimentation of scientific interest and quality. The second deadline for applications has been extended to February 4th 2011.
Infrastructural support from the Wellcome Trust
OHBA has been awarded an Equipment Grant from the Wellcome Trust, which will support the infrastructural costs of the Centre over the next three years. This funding will play a vital role in enabling us to achieve our major strategic aims: (1) expand the available methods with which to investigate the dynamics of behaviour and neural activity and lead efforts in cross-methodological integration, coordinating the activities of the Centre with the complementary activities of FMRIB; (2) develop mutually supportive foci of research excellence in human cognition and psychiatric conditions, underpinned by advanced approaches in analysis, and (3) optimise access to and usage of the Centre by Oxford neuroscientists and their collaborators.
John Fell grant for MEG biomarkers of depression
Beata Godlewska, Phil Cowen and Kia Nobre have been awarded a grant from the John Fell Fund to launch a new collaboration between the Departments of Psychiatry and Experimental Psychology with the aim of developing biomarkers that can identify young people at increased risk of mood disorder. The pilot study will provide a proof of concept in recovered depressed patients designed to show that the abnormal GABA levels, which we have previously found in Cowen’s group, can be detected using changes in gamma oscillations measured by magnetoencephalography (MEG).
BRC open day
Emily Holmes and Kia Nobre 'demonstrate' the MEG scanner using a life-size cut out at the BRC open day.
