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Overview
Affiliations
AffiliationTelephone
Professor in the Department of Psychology+44 (0) 191 33 43257
Director in the Institute of Advanced Study43257 / 44684
Fellow of the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing43257 / 40121

Biography

I have research interests in the way in which different contexts affect learning and memory, and the mechanisms involved. Recently this has involved focusing on the way in which contexts influence memory, and using this as a way of developing an animal model of episodic memory. Other interests include the way in which reward outcomes affect learning (for example, do we learn quicker for larger rewards than small rewards and do rewards drive learning faster than punishment)and the way in which social context affects learning and memory. In addition I have a keen interest in the role of the cholinergic cells of the basal forebrain in learning and memory. These cells are intricately linked to the memory loss in Alzheimer's disease, and I have shown they may also be involved in other types of amnesia (such as medial temporal lobe amnesia).

Research interests

  • Animal Models of Episodic Memory
  • Cognitive Neuroscience of Learning and Memory
  • Learning and its relation to reward outcomes
  • Role of the Cholinergic Basal Forebrain in Learning and Memory
  • The ways in which social context modulate learning and memory

Esteem Indicators

  • 2024: Guest Editor of Special Issue of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Part B:
  • 2024: President-Elect of the European Brain and Behaviour Society:
  • 2023: Roving panel member of UKRI cross council interdisciplinary research call:
  • 2022: Guest editor of Special Issue of Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews:
  • 2021: Member of Portuguese FCT funding panel:
  • 2020: Secretary General of the European Brain and Behavior Society:
  • 2017: Member of European Brain and Behaviour Society Executive Committee:
  • 2016: Associate Editor for Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews:
  • 2016: Reviewing Editor for Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience:
  • 2015: Member of NC3Rs CRACK IT Solutions Funding Panel:
  • 2013: Member of NC3Rs studentship panel:
  • 2012: Editor of Special Issue of Learning and Motivation: Editor of a special issue of Learning and Motivation on 'Remembering the Future'
  • 2000: Associate Editor for Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (Learning & Memory Section):

Publications

Chapter in book

Edited book

Journal Article

Supervision students