Issue No. 76 BNA Bulletin Spring 2016 THE VOICE OF BRITISH NEUROSCIENCE TODAY

Rhythms of speech Brain oscillations and the art of conversation Seeing sounds The neurobiology of synaesthesia

PLUS: Boosting the brain’s antioxidant defences Anosognosia and the sense of self The neuroscience of dance A cool look at neuromarketing Contents

News Research Et cetera 05 20 28-31 Message from Let’s (study) dance The life and work of BNA the President Dance is proving a Non-Executive Director profitable way to explore Alan Palmer brain function. All you need to know Cover: ‘The Conversation’ by 06 about neuromarketing Étienne Pirot (2012), a public Secretary’s report Q&As with Postgraduate artwork in Havana, Cuba (Gareth Williams/Flickr). During 21 and Undergraduate BNA conversation, rhythmic features A body of evidence Award winners of speech entrain oscillations in the listeners’ brain (see page 24). 05–10 Shedding new light on BNA news and events how we build mental BNA Executive Chief Executive: People and places representations of our Anne Cooke Funding and fellowships physical forms. Executive Officer: Louise Tratt ([email protected])

BNA Bulletin 22 Editor: Radical solutions Ian Jones, Jinja Publishing Ltd Design and production: Targeting neurons’ Tess Wood Analysis support cells may be a way to boost their Advertising in the BNA Bulletin: Contact the BNA office (office@ antioxidant defences, bna.org.uk) for advertising rates 11 says Giles Hardingham. and submission criteria. A Christmas treat Copyright: © The British The 2015 BNA Christmas Neuroscience Association. Extracts may be reproduced only Symposium celebrated 24 with permission of the BNA. 50 years of the BNA. The rhythms of ISSN: 1475-8679 speech Rhythmic qualities of BNA Office Anne Cooke 12 speech show a striking Cardiff University Local Groups concordance with School of Psychology Tower Building Neuroscience brain oscillations, Park Place developments in says Joachim Gross. Cardiff CF10 3AT Leicester plus news of a Web: www.bna.org.uk revised funding scheme The British Neuroscience for LGRs. Association is a registered 26 charity (1103852) and a Senses working registered company (4307833) overtime limited by guarantee. 14-19 Studies of synaesthesia The ‘Bright Brains’ may tell us much about Newsletter how the brain processes An expanded section sensory information, dedicated to and argues Jamie Ward. produced by young BNA members.

www.bna.org.uk Spring 2016 BNA Bulletin 03 News

Message from the President

Dear Duncan Banks BNA Members As you read the paragraph below you will almost certainly conclude that I am a hypocrite. The Local Groups are the lifeblood of the BNA. They provide an essential route by which the President, Council and Committee can interact and work with members in Stafford Lightman presents Angela Vincent with her award. order to promote neuroscience and meet the aims of the BNA. In short, the Local Groups and the initiatives they undertake are critical to the BNA’s long-term success. So 2015 BNA awards why did the BNA Council and I recently decide to suspend temporarily the funding of Local Group activities? Angela Vincent (Oxford) was the 2015 recipient of the BNA’s It was a difficult decision, but it had become apparent Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience Award. Professor that the current funding system for Local Groups was Vincent was recognised for the significant advances she has not working. Local Group Representatives have highlighted made in understanding the science of autoimmune disorders several shortcomings, including the feeling that its goals affecting the nervous system, such as myasthenia gravis. were too narrow (with respect to the activities that could The 2015 Public Understanding of Neuroscience Award went be supported), it was unfair (funding limits were based on to Mark Lythgoe (UCL). As well as running an internationally the number of members in a group, disadvantaging smaller recognised biomedical imaging facility at UCL, Professor Lythgoe groups) and that it was inflexible (only one call each year). has also been involved in multiple outreach projects, including Nevertheless, we remain absolutely committed to a highly successful spell as Director of the Cheltenham Science supporting Local Groups, and we have launched a new Festival. Student prizes went to Kathryn Mills (Postgraduate scheme that we believe will be more fit for purpose. One Award; see page 29) and to Veselina Petrova (Undergraduate key feature is that we will encourage more imaginative Award; see page 32). Winners received their awards from applications, such as novel forms of public engagement President-Elect Stafford Lightman (Bristol) at the 2015 BNA or collaboration with clinical groups. We will continue to Christmas Symposium. support more traditional activities, such as seminars, but we will look for greater involvement of BNA members, with stronger justification and better reporting. Money Christmas Symposium provided by the BNA will reflect the quality and innovation of activities, rather than simply the size of a particular The 2015 BNA Christmas Symposium was even more special, Local Group. marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Black Horse I can but apologise to groups whose applications were Group, which played a key role in establishing what later became turned away last year due to the actions we felt had to be the BNA. A sell-out crowd gathered at King’s College London to taken. I am, however, confident that the new funding system hear a stimulating range of presentations across the full range will prove a far better way of supporting UK neuroscience, of UK neuroscience – with some art and literature thrown in for neuroscientists and BNA members in the long run. good measure. See page 11 for a brief overview of the day. An overview of the new scheme can be found on page 13. We hope it will encourage members to come up with innovative new ways of supporting neuroscience locally – BNA legacy if you have an idea, do have a chat with your Local Group Representative: we’re looking forward to receiving The BNA is extremely grateful to Edward Walsh who has your proposals. bequeathed more than £9000 to the organisation. Glyn Humphreys The BNA was shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden death of Glyn Humphreys (Oxford) in January 2016. As well as his scientific achievements, he was a hugely popular figure in John Aggleton, President UK neuroscience. We hope to include an appreciation in a future issue of the BNA Bulletin.

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Secretary’s Report UCL New Year’s Klaus J Jacobs Dear Colleagues Honours Research Prize Congratulations to Til Wykes (King’s College Sarah-Jayne Blakemore (UCL) has been London), who was awarded a damehood for awarded the 2015 Klaus J Jacobs Research This is my first letter of the year, after a very full 2015. has been significantly enhanced by the appointment services to clinical psychology in the 2016 Prize for her research on understanding The highlights were undoubtedly the successful Festival of Anne Cooke as Chief Executive, working alongside New Year Honours List. Professor Wykes is emotional and social brain development of Neuroscience, held in Edinburgh, and the Christmas Executive Officer Louise Tratt. John Hardy (UCL). internationally recognised for her work on during adolescence. The Prize, worth Symposium, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first We were able to offer a significant number of travel the rehabilitation and recovery for people one million Swiss francs, is awarded meetings that laid the ground for our association. grants for the Festival of Neuroscience. In the same vein Breakthrough with severe mental illness. by the Jacobs Foundation, a Swiss- The 2015 BNA Award for Public Understanding of of striving to enhance membership benefits, we have now Congratulations also to Joanna based organisation that promotes child Science was conferred on Mark Lythgoe (UCL), while the revised the scheme that supports the activities of Local Prize Wardlaw (Edinburgh), who was awarded and youth development, to recognise work of Angela Vincent (Oxford) was recognised by the Groups (see page 13). a CBE for her services to neuroimaging exceptional achievements in research and award of the Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience During 2016, we hope to continue strengthening John Hardy (UCL) has been awarded the and clinical science. Professor Wardlaw is practice in the field of child and youth prize. Kate Mills (UCL) and Veselina Petrova (Edinburgh) and developing the BNA as the voice of the British US$3m Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences internationally recognised for her work on development. See bit.ly/1j2pBqn for received the postgraduate and undergraduate awards, neuroscience community, and a number of exciting for his pioneering research into the stroke and brain ageing, and particularly further details. respectively. initiatives are in the pipeline. The BNA AGM will take place genetic causes of Alzheimer’s disease and the use of brain imaging. She was also In November, the BNA and the Royal Society of Biology in April in Cardiff, and if there are particular issues that other neurodegenerative disorders. The a founding member of the Edinburgh sponsored a public lecture by former BNA President you want to raise, please do not hesitate to send them Breakthrough Prize, established in 2013 by Neuroscience Board. Leverhulme David Nutt, addressing the always delicate issue of the to me at [email protected]. US entrepreneurs Sergey Brin and Anne Also recognised was Alastair clash between science and dogma around drug and Wojcicki, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Compston (Cambridge), who was Prizes alcohol policies. Chan, Yuri and Julia Milner, and Jack Ma appointed a CBE for services to multiple These events helped to swell the ranks of the and Cathy Zhang, honours ‘transformative sclerosis treatment. Professor Compston’s The 2015 Philip Leverhulme Prizes in BNA membership. One of the most rapidly growing advances toward understanding living research on the mechanisms and psychology were awarded to Caroline membership groups is the undergraduate and systems and extending human life’. treatment of multiple sclerosis included Catmur (King’s College London), postgraduate community, a varied and dynamic One of the world’s most highly cited development of alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) Bhismadev Chakrabarti (Reading), Steve community. The election of Jo Bailey (Southampton) researchers, Professor Hardy identified as a highly effective treatment for early Loughnan (Edinburgh), Liz Pellicano as the Students and Early Careers representative will mutations in the amyloid precursor protein relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. (Institute of Education) and Jonathan help to develop and integrate their activities, while the gene (APP), the source of beta-amyloid, Roiser (UCL). The Prizes, worth £100,000, new Membership Secretary, John Jefferys (Oxford), is in familial Alzheimer’s disease. He has go to early-career researchers who have continuing to develop the BNA membership, identifying contributed to the discovery of multiple already achieved outstanding success in new interested groups and enhancing the range and other genetic influences on Alzheimer’s research. See bit.ly/1PD1eHX for details of quality of membership benefits. In 2015, Deborah disease and other neurodegenerative the prize-winners’ work. Castle was elected as Equal Opportunities and Diversity disorders, shedding important light on

Representative, bringing our National Committee to full mechanisms of disease. University of Edinburgh force. The strength of the team running our association Emil Toescu, Secretary In typically irreverent acceptance Epilepsy remarks (bit.ly/1Udg1xv), Professor Hardy thanked Tony Turner for “persuading me to research go into research when I had taken a job as a BNA Council and National Committee long distance lorry driver”: Eddie Stobart’s A working group established by the loss was thus UK neuroscience’s gain. National Centre for the Replacement, BNA COUNCIL NATIONAL COMMITTEE Joanna Wardlaw (Edinburgh). Refinement, and Reduction of Animals John Aggleton (Cardiff): President VacantJohn Jefferys: Membership (Oxford): Secretary Membership Secretary in Research (NC3Rs) has published its Stafford Lightman (Bristol): President-Elect VacantJo Bailey: Students (Southampton): and Early Students Careers Representativeand Early Careers Representative Neuronal review of the current use of rodent models Russell Foster (Oxford): Immediate Past President Anthony Isles (Cardiff): Publications Secretary Psychiatry of epilepsy and opportunities to improve Emil Toescu (Birmingham): Secretary Peter J Brophy (Edinburgh): Professional Society Liaison plasticity prize animal welfare. The review, published Attila Sik (Birmingham): Treasurer VacantDeborah: Equal Castle Opportunities: Equal Opportunities and Diversity and Diversity Representative Representative award in the Journal of Neuroscience Methods, Thelma Lovick (Bristol): Meetings Secretary Gary Gilmour (Eli Lilly & Co): Corporate Representative David Attwell (UCL) is one of the provides practical guidance and advice for Rosamund Langston (Dundee): Local Groups Co-ordinator Mark Ungless (Imperial): Education and Engagement Secretary winners of the 2016 La Fondation IPSEN Sukhwinder Shergill (King’s College researchers working with in vivo models. Narender Ramnani (Royal Holloway, University of London): Co-opted CeciliaAnne Cooke Golborne (BNA): (BNA): Chief Executive Executive Officer Neuronal Plasticity Prize. Professor London) was named the Royal College The working group also highlighted Member of Council Louise Tratt (BNA): Executive Officer Attwell shares the award with Pierre of Psychiatrists’ Academic Researcher priority areas where increased knowledge Irene Tracey (Oxford): Member of Council Magistretti (École Polytechnique Fédérale of the Year for 2015. Professor Shergill’s and technological development would Alan M Palmer, Kevin Cox, Manfred Berners: Non-Executive Directors de Lausanne, Switzerland) and Marcus research explores the brain mechanisms facilitate refinement and promote best Raichle (Washington University School of underlying psychosis and the testing of practice. The paper can be found at Medicine, USA). novel treatments. bit.ly/20uW5ts.

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Events News in Brief Pathfinder Natural intelligence LSNeuroN 2016 Midlothian Science Festival SMA funding Anil Seth (Sussex) joined Robin Ince The largest ever neuroscience conference Edinburgh Neuroscience had a major Tom Gillingwater (Edinburgh) and Kevin funding and Brian Cox on The Infinite Monkey organised by students for students, presence at the 2015 Midlothian Talbot (Oxford) are leading a new £1.3m Cage in January 2016, to discuss artificial LSNeuroN 2016, took place on 6–7 Science Festival. Activities included the UK Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) UK neuroscientists are contributing to intelligence. Go to bbc.in/1ROUGfx for a February 2016. Organised by the London getCONNECTED and getREMEMBERING Research Consortium. The Consortium, Dementia 11 international ‘Pathfinder’ projects chance to listen again. Students’ Neuroscience Network school workshops and the ‘Age – What’s which also includes researchers and funded through the Centres of Excellence (LSNeuroN), the conference featured your number?’ comedy event. As well as clinicians from London and Sheffield, Research in Neurodegenerative disease (CoEN) Royal recognition keynote lectures from Nobel laureate two science gala stands, Stephen Lawrie aims to promote collaborative research initiative, which supports collaborative Cardiff University’s MRC Centre for John O’Keefe (UCL), John Donoghue spoke to the Midlothian ladies book group relevant to SMA and related conditions Institute research in neurodegenerative disease. Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics (Brown University, USA), Colin Blakemore about Maggie O’Farrell’s The Vanishing such as muscular dystrophy and motor Under the third CoEN funding call, 11 has been awarded a 2015 Queen’s (Oxford) and Maria Grazia Spillantini Act of Esme Lennox, while Lewis Hou took neuron disease, with a view to developing The Medical Research Council (MRC) has teams have been awarded £3.6m for Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further (Cambridge), as well as topical symposia the Science Ceilidh Band to eight different existing drug targets and identifying been tasked with establishing the UK’s innovative and creative proof-of-principle Education. Established in 1993, Prizes and poster sessions. LSNeuroN brings schools, entertaining and informing more new neuroprotective therapies as well first national Dementia Research Institute studies that could have a transformative are awarded every two years. The Cardiff together the neuroscience societies of than 600 primary school children. as developing better ways to deliver (DRI). Scheduled to be operational by 2020, impact on neurodegeneration research. centre has been recognised for its Imperial College, King’s College London, treatments throughout the body. the DRI will bring together world-leading The projects are aiming to identify and outstanding work on the causes, diagnosis Queen Mary and Barts and The London, expertise in discovery science, and is due to validate new potential drugs and develop and treatment of mental illness. St George’s, and UCL. Online dementia course receive up to £150m in funding. The MRC innovative therapeutic approaches. UCL has launched a free four-week will launch a competitive process in 2016 UK-based researchers in the successful Genomics meeting online course, ‘The Many Faces of to identify universities able to host the international teams include Dario Alessi The Wellcome Genome Campus has Dementia’, which provides insights into DRI. The MRC will also lead the search for (Dundee), Miratul Muqit (Dundee), launched a new meeting, ‘The Genomics four less common conditions – familial a director. Richard Wade-Martins (Oxford), Sarah of Brain Disorders’. With a scientific Duncan Banks Alzheimer’s disease, behavioural variant Tabrizi (UCL), Rebecca Sims (Cardiff), programme committee including John ceejayoz/WikiMedia Commons frontotemporal dementia, dementia Kevin Talbot (Oxford), Rebecca Taylor Hardy (UCL) and Mike Owen (Cardiff), with Lewy bodies and posterior cortical JPND funding (Cambridge) and Massimo Zeviani the meeting will take place on 25–27 atrophy. The course features interviews (Cambridge). April 2016. See bit.ly/1hDUX4Y for with world-leading experts, people with Nine UK research teams are part of 21 CoEN is a partnership between further details. dementia and their families as well collaborative projects receiving £25.7m research funders in nine countries, as articles and discussion. It is aimed funding through the EU Joint Programme – including the MRC. See bit.ly/1UoNBjU Master Class Cambridge Seminar at anyone keen to learn more about Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND). for more details of the awards. Trevor Robbins (Cambridge), winner of The 28th Cambridge Neuroscience Seminar Theirworld funding dementia, particularly family members, The JPND was established by European the 2015 Brain Prize, will lead a Master took place on 17 March 2016. The plenary James Boardman (Edinburgh) is leading carers and health professionals. The funding agencies, including the MRC, to Class for some of the most promising lecture was given by Sarah Tabrizi (UCL), a new study tracking babies from birth to course has been created and directed by address the growing challenge of age- Imaging early-career neuroscientists in Europe while Giovanna Mallucci (Cambridge, above) adulthood in order to find new ways of Tim Shakespeare from the UCL Dementia related neurodegeneration. The initiative in April 2016. The Master Class, to be delivered a public lecture in association with preventing and treating brain injuries in Research Centre. See bit.ly/1SkWQlL aims to increase coordination of European collaboration held in Copenhagen, Denmark, is being the Cambridge Science Festival. newborns. The project has been supported for more details. research efforts and promote collaborative organised by the European College of by the children’s charity Theirworld, discipline-spanning research. Molecular imaging consortium Imanova Neuropsychopharmacology and the New MPhil founded by Sarah Brown, wife of former Oxford drug discovery UK-based researchers receiving funding has announced two major collaborations Grete Lundbeck European Brain Research Cambridge Neuroscience has launched prime minister Gordon Brown. The project John Davis has been appointed Chief are Kevin Mills (UCL), Richard Wade- with UK institutions. Foundation. Some 20 junior neuroscientists a new MPhil in Basic and Translational will follow some 400 premature new Scientific Officer at Alzheimer’s Martins (Oxford), Ian Deary (Edinburgh), In collaboration with Imperial College, will have the opportunity to present and Neuroscience. The programme is a borns, who are at risk of suffering brain Research’s UK Drug Discovery Institute Rebecca Sims (Cardiff), Katie Lunnon Imanova is joining the national imaging discuss their work with Professor Robbins one-year master’s course with both injury, with data collection covering at the University of Oxford. The Institute, (Exeter), Paola Giunti (UCL), Tony network established by the Dementias and other senior scientists. taught and research components. biological samples, brain scans and part of a £30m Drug Discovery Alliance Schapira (UCL), Thierry Voet (Cambridge) Platform UK (see left) and will house See bit.ly/1QGt0Iz for more information. educational attainment. that also includes Institutes at Cambridge and Michel Goedert (Cambridge). one of the network’s new MRI–PET and UCL, is aiming to discover new scanners. It is also collaborating with Teva STOP PRESS Brighton Science Festival Bristol Brain Centre treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and Pharmaceuticals and UCL to investigate Brain Prize 2016 Sussex Neuroscience brought a little of The new Bristol Brain Centre, which other dementias. Dr Davis will work MRI–PET the role of microglia and inflammation in Congratulations to Tim Bliss (Crick the magic of the brain to attendees of brings together expertise from North closely with Lead Academic Scientists neurodegenerative disease. Institute), Graham Collingridge (formerly the Brighton Science Festival in February Bristol NHS Trust and the University of Simon Lovestone and Chas Bountra Five new MRI–PET scanners are being Established in 2011, Imanova is a Bristol, now at the University of Toronto) 2016. Paul Graham discussed the Bristol, opened at Southmead Hospital in Oxford, as well as Chief Scientific installed in the UK, thanks to substantial joint venture between the MRC, Imperial and Richard Morris (Edinburgh) who have wonders of animal navigation, Miguel in November 2015. The centre houses Officers at the other two Institutes new funding from the MRC Dementias College London, King’s College London been awarded the 2016 Brain Prize by the Maravall focused on the neuroscience of clinicians and researchers working in areas (John Skidmore in Cambridge and Platform UK. The new sites are Cambridge, and UCL. Grete Lundbeck European Brain Research illusions, and Ildiko Kemenes took a trip such as multiple sclerosis, dementia and Paul Whiting at UCL). Edinburgh, Imperial College, Manchester and Foundation for their work on long-term down memory lane, discussing memory movement disorders, including Newcastle. All seven sites will be contributing potentiation. See www.thebrainprize.org/ formation and retrieval. Parkinson’s disease. to a national MRI–PET imaging network. for full details.

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factors, and recent exome-sequencing A Christmas treat work revealing disease genes in affected families. A key question, he suggested, is The 2015 BNA Christmas Symposium, celebrating 50 years of the BNA, why certain types of cell are particularly provided an enticing view of neuroscience past, present and future, vulnerable in different neurodegenerative thanks to a stellar line up of speakers. conditions – their intrinsic biology may position them on the edge of a ‘catastrophic cliff’. CUBRIC is home to a unique array of imaging facilities. Concluding a session on neurodegenerative diseases, Giovanna

innovation in imaging technology will be Duncan Banks Duncan Banks Mallucci (Cambridge) described her matched by equally innovative approaches pioneering studies on prions. Curiously, to cognitive testing and data analysis. misfolded prion proteins are not toxic – The Welsh Government and the the problem seems to lie in the conversion European Regional Development Fund of cellular prion protein into the misfolded The striking new home for CUBRIC on Cardiff’s Maindy Park site. both made substantial awards to fund the form. Her work has identified the new building. In addition, CUBRIC secured importance of the cell’s ‘unfolded protein Scanning technology a major strategic award from the Wellcome Compere John Aggleton with Stafford Lightman; speakers Giovanna Mallucci, Seth Grant and John Hardy. response’ and subsequent disruption of Cardiff goes At the heart of CUBRIC are five state-of-the- Trust, to support research exploiting the protein synthesis, opening up exciting new art scanners: a magnetoencephalography new equipment and to enable the Centre Hosted for the first time by King’s obscure. Although rhythms are associated avenues for therapeutic development. large in brain (MEG) machine, two 3T MRI scanners to recruit new staff. Finally, the MRC- College London, the 2015 BNA Christmas with a range of conscious states, their Nick Wade (Dundee) next took us (including one tailored to clinical research, funded Dementias Platform UK provided Symposium featured art and literature functional contribution to such states is on a fascinating historical digression, imaging as part of an integrated Clinical Research funding towards a 3T MRI system. as well as cutting-edge science, with unclear. Nevertheless, they are a potentially introducing key figures in neurology, Facility), a 7T MRI scanner and Europe’s first historical perspectives complementing powerful mechanism for synchronising psychiatry, neuroscience and related A spectacular array of imaging technologies 3T CONNECTOM microstructural imaging Empowering research scientific presentations. BNA President activity across brain regions, and advances disciplines. For each, he showed a have been installed in Cardiff University’s device. The 7T scanner is the third to be Cross-disciplinary research will be John Aggleton achieved the remarkable in technologies such as MEG and fMRI may composite artwork combining a portrait Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC). installed in the UK, as part of the Medical fundamental to CUBRIC, suggests Professor feat of identifying Charles Dickens provide more insight into the functional with a visual reference to their work. Early in 2016, researchers began moving Research Council’s (MRC’s) major investment Jones. Of the 150 or so researchers occupying quotations to introduce each speaker, significance of human brain rhythms (but a Back in the modern-day realm, Irene into CUBRIC’s striking new building, which in high-power MRI facilities across the UK. the new facilities, around half are from the in recognition of the theme of the better theoretical conceptualisation might Tracey (Oxford) reviewed latest thinking houses an exceptional range of imaging The microstructural imaging device, life sciences and half have a background in meeting – the past, present and future be at least as important). on the neurobiology of pain, and how brain equipment currently unique in Europe. funded by the Engineering and Physical the physical sciences – engineering, physics, of neuroscience, an allusion to Dickens’s By complete contrast, Paul Matthews imaging is providing new insight into a CUBRIC’s reincarnation dates back to Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and mathematics and computing. suitably topical A Christmas Carol. (Oxford) presented a fascinating insight phenomenon with a strong subjective 2012, when CUBRIC Director Derek Jones the Wolfson Foundation, is a real coup About half of CUBRIC’s research will With Steven Rose unfortunately into the life and times of William element. Finally, in a tour de force finale, and colleagues recognised not only that for Cardiff neuroscience. It has long been focus on normal brain function and half indisposed, John Lagnado stepped in Shakespeare. He argued not only that Eleanor Maguire (UCL) argued that the space was becoming a severely limiting on the wish list of UK brain imagers, on brain-related diseases – particularly to describe the early days of British Shakespeare was remarkably accurate focus on ‘HM’ (Henry Molaison) in memory factor in their existing building but also providing opportunities to probe neural epilepsy, psychosis and bipolar disorder, neuroscience and the pioneering activities in his depiction of medical conditions, research, while providing much important that substantial new investment in architecture at resolutions far higher than as well as neurodegenerative conditions of the Black Horse Group (see BNA Bulletin but also that he was a keen observer insight, had placed too much emphasis on equipment was needed to ensure that conventional MRI methods. With a limited such as Huntington’s disease, multiple 70, Spring 2014). Then it was on to the of human behaviour. The psyche of his the hippocampus as the seat of memory. the Centre remained internationally marketplace, however, manufacturers have sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and scientific presentations, starting with a characters was often instrumental to the Several other structures were also critical competitive. been reluctant to invest in development of Parkinson’s disease. A key aim is to thought-provoking contribution from Seth development of his stories. to memory encoding and retrieval, she Keen to build on the Centre’s the necessary technology, until the huge take advantage of the multiplicity of Grant (Edinburgh) on the synapse. After Returning to science, Alasdair Coles suggested, and the hippocampus’s international reputation, Cardiff University US investment in the human connectome technologies under one roof, by using a recounting the early history of the synapse (Cambridge) discussed the long history function extends beyond memory. were highly receptive to CUBRIC’s ideas, project persuaded Siemens to develop a new combination of technologies to explore (a term coined by Charles Sherrington), of multiple sclerosis, first described by With an award-giving ceremony (see and were willing to make available a large instrument, now installed at Massachusetts topics from multiple perspectives. he went on to suggest that 1989 was Charcot. Demyelination was identified as page 5) and a wine reception to enjoy space on its Maindy Park site, undergoing General Hospital in Boston. CUBRIC has Furthermore, says Professor Jones, the a turning point, with the cloning of the far back as the 1910s and the importance after, the audience could enter the festive a multimillion pound redevelopment. This acted as a focal point of a UK consortium – new technologies will further shift brain first gene encoding a synaptic protein. of the immune system was recognised season in good cheer and with much to provided a rare opportunity to design an involving nine principal investigators at imaging away from descriptive studies Genetic and proteomic approaches have in the 1960s. The greater understanding think about. ambitious new facility from scratch. seven institutions – which successfully bid and towards mechanistic understanding – since identified remarkable complexity of disease has led to the development of The University was prepared to make its for funding to ensure a second machine in vivo brain physiology. in protein diversity and organisation effective therapies, not least Campath-1h largest ever single investment in the new could be installed in the UK and act as a hub A formal opening for the new CUBRIC at the synapse. He concluded with the (alemtuzumab), developed in Cambridge. centre, committing £44m to underwrite the for neuroimaging in Europe. is planned for June 2016. While it provides provocative idea that the synapse was not Continuing the neurological theme, move. The CUBRIC team has so far secured Alongside these major new an unmatched combination of facilities just a simple connector but a structure John Hardy (UCL) discussed the genetics Duncan Banks £27m of external funding from multiple instruments, space has also been allocated for local researchers, Professor Jones is capable of complex computations. of neurodegenerative diseases, from his sources to support construction and fitting to research using complementary keen to stress CUBRIC’s ‘open door’ policy Focusing on brain rhythms, Miles and Martin Rossor’s discovery of the first out of the building, purchase of equipment, technologies, such as EEG and various and its desire to establish national and Whittington (York) pointed out that, gene responsible for an inherited form of and associated research, including generous forms of transcranial stimulation. international collaborations so that the full although they have been known about for Alzheimer’s disease, through genome- funding from the Welsh Government. Furthermore, emphasises Professor Jones, potential of its resources can be realised. nearly 150 years, their exact role has been wide association studies to identify risk A sell-out crowd enjoyed the festive presentations.

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approach to neuroscience and develop a Inspiring school students in Leicester Neuroscience strategy which focuses on mechanisms of Local Group Southampton brain function and behaviour. It would also A new department – Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour – is providing a be great for us to all to come under one Funding Scheme Degree subject choice and university focal point for the development of neuroscience at Leicester. roof, build on our impressive REF result location are important decisions for sixth- and boost our research funding.” form students. In November 2015, on One example of an exciting research behalf of the Southampton Neuroscience pursuit is work carried out by Nick Hartell, The BNA is delighted to announce a new Any application for support of seminars Group (SoNG), we organised a sixth-form funding scheme for Local Groups. should describe how the activity will whose group develops state-of-the-art outreach event to demonstrate the directly benefit BNA members and have Vincenzo Marra Vincenzo technology to visualise synaptic plasticity. wonders of studying the brain. The aim The aims of the funding scheme are to impact beyond those attending (e.g. via Having recently pioneered a novel method was to educate school students about enable Local Groups to organise activities live-streaming or an associated public the brain, and why it is a fantastic organ for rapidly imaging cellular processes, that benefit current members of the engagement event). There should be strong Professor Hartell is currently building one BNA and recruit new members of the justification for requests that fund purely a to study, and to convey a sense of what it of the first microscopes in the world to Association. Creative ideas for activities stand-alone seminar or seminar series. is like to study neuroscience at university. capture fast super-resolution multiphoton that fulfil the objects of the BNA and More than 100 students and teachers images in living systems. His future plans engage with as many people as possible Application procedure from 12 schools attended the event, from for NPB are grander still. “I believe that will be looked on favourably. Such activities • Two calls per year: spring deadline 31 as far afield as Bristol and London. imaging in behaving animals will be of can include but are not restricted to: May and autumn deadline 31 October The day started with a seminar great importance for the near future, • training or career opportunities in the • Funding decisions will be made within on the trebling of the size of the making it a vital method to develop in our field of neuroscience for BNA members one month of submission deadline human brain during evolution. During institution,” he remarks. “This department • opportunities to foster translational • Applications must be submitted lunch, undergraduates and master’s is a nice step in that direction.” neuroscience through a Local Group Representative students talked to the sixth formers • public engagement projects • Collaborative proposals submitted by about university life, studying for a Appetite for communication • an individual or a series of seminars two or more Local Groups are welcomed degree, and why they chose to study at Multiphoton image of labelled pre-synaptic terminals in mouse cortex. With the formation of a new department • initiatives that support neuroscientists • There is a limit of one individual or Southampton. The school students also comes the potential for more inter- relating to wider issues of neuroscience collaborative application per Local had a chance to look around laboratories group interactions. The increased size (e.g. use of animals in research, Group each academic year and seminar rooms. Much like Leicester itself, the University overarching department – Neuroscience, of journal clubs and seminars improves neuroethics, working with the media) • Maximum of £500 awarded per A workshop on imaging the brain of Leicester boasts a diverse range of Psychology and Behaviour (NPB). cohesion and provides greater scope for • initiatives to recruit new members to Local Group per year, whether via an exposed the students to live imaging backgrounds and cultures – both socially Under this NPB ‘umbrella’ are collaborations. Furthermore, neuroscience- the BNA (e.g. at the start of the individual or collaborative application and the power of 3D imaging using the and academically. Also notable for the approximately 50 principal investigators based groups in other colleges of the academic year). (e.g. a collaborative application confocal microscope. Further workshops invention of DNA fingerprinting and the focusing on topics including zebrafish University, which are not part of the new involving three Local Groups may apply focused on electrophysiology, C. elegans, discovery of King Richard III’s remains, models of disease, clinical psychology department, will benefit from a defined for a maximum of £1500). biochemistry and the fruit fly Drosophila. the University has a strong neuroscience and neuronal calcium imaging. Head of neuroscience community. Researchers For full details and an application form, The laboratory workshops provided research community. Within its campus the new NPB department, Claire Gibson, such as Rodrigo Quian Quiroga (first author see www.bna.org.uk/localgroups. the school students with a first look are internationally renowned specialists is excited about the new structure at what it is like to enter a working working on areas ranging from clinical and its prospects for developing and research facility. They also had a chance ophthalmology and neurodegenerative strengthening research collaborations and of the famed ‘Jennifer Aniston cell’ paper Cognitive Neuroscience for several years, to experience other innovative projects diseases to computational modelling and training upcoming researchers. “It is the in 2005), in the University’s Centre for and in 2014 a Neuroscience BSc option was run by SoNG, such as the ‘Changing locust neurobiology (see BNA Bulletin first time we have given a department Systems Neuroscience, and Matias Ison, added to the Biological Sciences stream. Minds’ project, a collaboration between 76, Autumn 2015). This vibrant blend identity to neuroscience,” she enthuses. in the Department of Engineering, are Thus, undergraduates form an important neuroscientists, students from the of disciplines serves as a compelling “This has important benefits not only for anticipating more opportunities to work part of the community, particularly during Winchester School of Art and Peter attraction for upcoming neuroscientists our research programmes but also for us alongside their colleagues. Dr Ison explains: their final year lab-based dissertations. Symonds Sixth Form College, which used hoping to increase the scope of to achieve synergies in PhD supervision “I expect the new department is going to In the brave new world of managing fashion to explore mental health. their research. and teaching future neuroscientists.” bring together its own research groups, a department as extensive and diverse The last two workshops aimed to Hopes are high for the University’s but I also hope that it will foster more as NPB, Dr Gibson is confident that the enlighten the students and enthuse Neuroscience, psychology and new NPB department. By assembling interdepartmental collaborations too.” University of Leicester’s neuroscience them to study neuroscience. As well behaviour the new department, long-serving More diverse collaborations also research environment, newly combined as a fun interactive quiz, the students Until recently, Leicester’s neuroscience researchers at the University such as the mean greater funding and teaching with psychology and animal behaviour, will enjoyed an exhilarating tour through the community was organised into ‘themes’, prolific psychologist Andrew Colman hope opportunities. The department is thrive for years to come. “We have formed brain and its remarkable functional and with researchers scattered across multiple to boost the University’s international becoming more involved with Research a large department, one of the largest in structural complexity. departments. However, in 2015 a growing reputation for excellence in research. This Council-funded doctoral training the University in terms of academic staff,” desire for official recognition of Leicester’s was reiterated by the department’s Head partnerships and PhD project funding from she concludes. “This will bring challenges Joanne Bailey and Shmma Quraishe neuroscientific contributions encouraged of Research, Ian Forsythe, who led the international governments. In addition, but also exciting opportunities in the the University to combine the bulk of its Research Excellence Framework (REF) opportunities for undergraduates in coming future.” A longer version of this article can be neuroscience groups with psychologists UoA4 submission: “The NPB Department neuroscience are plentiful. The university Aman Asif-Malik and Jonathan Smith found on the BNA Facebook site. and animal behaviourists into one allows us to consolidate our broad Research using EEG (top) and eye-tracking technology. has been offering a BSc in Psychology with

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talks, seminars and workshops by world- also presented posters on their own leading academics and clinicians from research, with prizes awarded to the best across the field. presentations. Several exhibitor stands Keynote talks were delivered by also gave students the opportunity to esteemed neuroscientists John Donoghue, speak with companies and organisations Welcome to the spring edition of our ‘Bright with a list of animating blogs from both young Sir Colin Blakemore, Maria Grazia involved in neuroscience, and we would Brains’ Newsletter! We are pleased to present neuroscientists and established neuroscience Steven Jerjian Spillantini and 2014 Nobel Laureate like to thank the sponsors of the event you with an impressive variety of thought- bloggers that can either inspire you to PhD student in John O’Keefe. Symposium sessions, for their generous support. provoking articles that have been composed create your very own science blog, or help Clinical Neuroscience, UCL organised by NeuroSocs members, Despite being the very first conference and edited by BNA students, postdocs and experienced bloggers propel their blogs into allowed a more in-depth exploration organised on this scale for students, the early-career researchers from a diverse the next level of the blogosphere. of a wide variety of topics, including a great success of LSNeuroN2016 means array of neuroscientific disciplines throughout In addition, ‘Bright Brains’ has many more London Students’ neuropathology workshop featuring that it certainly will not be the last! We the UK. intriguing and energising features in store Neuroscience Conference a live human brain dissection, a panel would also like to run smaller, more We have made every effort to make the for you in this edition. Our ‘Nuntia’ section 2016 discussion on neuroscience-inspired frequent events, including journal clubs, second edition of ‘Bright Brains’ bigger and features our review of the first conference by artificial intelligence, an exploration museum visits, and socials. If you would Editor-In-Chief better! Thanks to the alacrity of the BNA to the London Students’ Neuroscience Network On 6–7 February 2016, Imperial’s of the interactions between art and like to get involved, please write to us Jayanthiny Kangatharan, PhD support and strengthen the voice of young (LSNeuroN), and a fascinating article on the South Kensington campus hosted neuroscience, from aesthetics at [email protected] as we are always BNA members within the BNA community, utility of cognitive training interventions in LSNeuroN2016, the inaugural London to creativity, and many more. looking for keen and enthusiastic young Editors these positive changes can be visibly and Huntington’s disease. Our ‘Socialia’ section Students’ Neuroscience Conference. More than 50 students at both people to join us. Joshua Au Yeung clearly seen throughout this edition. One highlights the significance of grassroots Organised by the London Students’ undergraduate and postgraduate level Inês V Barreiros significant change, for example, is the initiatives to students and postdocs, and Neuroscience Network, a collaboration Tom Hall Katie Hoban extension of the newsletter by two additional presents to you our first ‘Bright Brains’ between the student-led neuroscience Steven Jerjian pages. This change allowed us to include novel interview. societies (NeuroSocs) at UCL, King’s, André Marques-Smith, PhD and interactive facets to the bulletin such Our ‘Varietas’ section introduces you to Imperial, Queen Mary’s, St George’s Emma Yhnell, PhD as the first ‘BNA crossword’, and exciting the exciting ‘method of loci’, and offers you Medical School, and now Goldsmiths, Design & Production features such as ‘Numquid sciebat...?’ (‘Did a first glimpse into the state of research in the sell-out event saw more than 450 Inês V Barreiros you know...?’) and ‘Quid novi?’ (‘What’s new?’) India, with further insights to follow in future students gather to attend a series of Bernardo Dios that will provide you with a special and more editions. The new feature ‘Numquid sciebat...?’ Steven Jerjian Jayanthiny Kangatharan, PhD stimulating BNA experience. reveals what makes us human, while ‘Quid André Marques-Smith, PhD As scientists, we know only too well how novi?’ explores a novel method to study brain symptoms. Cognitive disruptions are a Joshua Au-Yeung critical science communication is regardless circuits. Last but not least, we are challenging particular early feature of the disease, of whether it is aimed at other scientists you to test your brain on how well it knows which can significantly affect daily via journal articles and conferences, or at itself! Are you up for the challenge? Then have activities, independence and quality of life everyone else via magazines, television or a go at our first ‘BNA crossword’, which has (2). But cognitive training via repeatedly Columbia University Columbia

radio programmes. Blogs present a special neuroanatomy as its theme. conducting tasks (often on a computer), Library Sciences Health channel for science communication because Finally, we sincerely hope that you have as Emma Yhnell which focus on improving executive they can be directed at both the general much joy in reading our second ‘Bright Brains’ Postdoctoral researcher, function, offers a potentially exciting Archives & Special Collections, public and scientists. By enhancing your skills newsletter as we had in producing it. On Cardiff University therapeutic intervention, which has not as a writer, and by challenging you to be that note, we encourage you to get involved yet been used in Huntington’s disease. more creative to bring science to life outside in science communication by joining our We know that certain cognitive skills, of your lab in an engaging and energetic newsletter team. Please direct enquiries to Can cognitive training be such as memory and attention, decline way, blogs can truly help you with both your [email protected]. used as a therapeutic as the disease progresses, so if these personal and professional development. For intervention in particular skills can be trained early within that purpose, ‘Bright Brains’ has provided you Huntington’s disease? disease progression, before cognitive decline occurs, or even prior to onset, then Huntington’s disease is a rare we may be able to prevent or delay these George Huntington. List of neuroscience blogs neurodegenerative disease, which was symptoms. Cognitive training studies http://threepoundsofgrey.blogspot.co.uk/ http://www.talkingbrains.org/ 1. MacDonald ME, et al. (1993) A novel gene containing http://neuroconscience.com/ http://neurocritic.blogspot.co.uk/ first described by George Huntington have been shown to improve disease in 1872. Despite this, the genetic cause symptoms in other neurodegenerative a trinucleotide repeat that is expanded and unstable on http://www.bangscience.org/category/blogs/bangblog/ http://www.spring.org.uk/ Huntington’s disease chromosomes. Cell. 72(6):971–983. https://neurekaseminars.wordpress.com/ http://neurocomplimenter.blogspot.co.uk/ of the disease – an expansion of the diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (3) 2. Helder DI, et al. (2001) Impact of Huntington’s disease on http://www.sciencenutshell.com/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/neuronarrative CAG trinucleotide repeat within the first and Alzheimer’s disease (4). Therefore, quality of life. Mov Disord. 16(2):325–330. http://neurobabble.co.uk/ http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/neuroskeptic/#.Vp5mJyhnHwy exon of the huntingtin gene – was not cognitive training interventions present a 3. Milman U, et al. (2014) Can Cognitive Remediation Improve http://ego-audio.blogspot.co.uk/ https://futureofscipub.wordpress.com/ Mobility in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease? Findings from discovered until 1993 (1). Although we potentially exciting non-pharmacological a 12 week Pilot Study. J Parkinson’s D. 4(1):37–44. https://neurophilosophy.wordpress.com/ http://mindhacks.com/ know the genetic cause of the disease, treatment option for Huntington’s 4. Davis RN, et al. (2001) Cognitive intervention in Alzheimer http://theneurosphere.com/ http://researchblogging.org/post-search/list/tag_id/14 there is currently no cure. disease, which requires further disease: a randomized placebo-controlled study. Alzheimer http://neurowhoa.blogspot.com/ http://blogs.plos.org/neuroanthropology/ Huntington’s disease causes a triad investigation. Dis Assoc Disord. 15(1):1–9. of cognitive, psychiatric and motor

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‘Grassroots’ initiatives such as the seminars. Being part of such a obscene images of target information, You might ask how could this benefit Cortex Club and Neureka are more than student and postdoc organisation is such as a number, word or diagram. The you? After all, you probably are not just seminar series run by students. They empowering because it trains members image is subsequently attached to the interested in becoming a memory athlete. are flexible organisations with determined in organisational, leadership and visual memory of a physical locus, usually However, a palace has a plethora of committees whose imagination is the fund-seeking skills, and it creates an a structure, such as a wardrobe in your functional uses, which can vastly improve only limitation to the type of event that atmosphere that encourages interactions room. To recall this, you imagine walking your recall of almost any information. André Marques-Smith can be organised. Since neuroscientists between ‘junior’ neuroscientists and Tom Hall through your ‘palace’, ‘visualising’ the You could learn to memorise names Postdoctoral researcher, are often scattered throughout distinct renowned speakers. At the Cortex Club, MSc student in Blood Science, information (2). Your palace does not need and birthdays and, as you become more King’s College London departments due to the multidisciplinary over the years this has distilled into a Keele University to be a real structure either, as artificial efficient, more complex tasks, such as nature of brain research, Cortex Club healthy atmosphere where students palaces, or hybrid palaces, such as those memorising foreign languages, speeches events offer a rallying point to the and faculty feel equally encouraged to used by Hannibal, seem to produce or perhaps your course subjects. The ‘Grassroots’ initiatives in neuroscientific community. participate. This has spurred collaborations The ‘method of loci’ similar results (3). possibilities are endless, so give it a go. neuroscience The Cortex Club often hosts social and generated research ideas, but most Of course, Hannibal is not bound networking events, as well as ‘Leavers importantly, inspired and excited our The infamous Hannibal ‘the cannibal’ by the same limits as you or I; so does 1. Harris T (1988) Hannibal Lecter Novels (William Heinemann I have contributed to the creation and Lectures’, where soon-to-be graduates audiences. Lecter, in every incarnation, is an utter this method really have any merit? Ltd, New Hampshire). 2. Yates FA (1966) The art of memory (University of Chicago development of two neuroscience student of PhD programmes in neuroscience My experience with Cortex Club genius, capable of memorising and The answer is: yes, it does! In fact, the Press, Chicago). societies. The Cortex Club was founded in expand on their vision and future plans. and Neureka has been overwhelmingly recalling information in exquisite sensory method is so efficient that it is the most 3. Legge ELG, et al. (2012) Building a memory palace in Oxford in 2009 by former PhD students At Neureka, we are presently building a positive. The support from university detail (though his uses of this knowledge popular technique amongst ‘memory minutes: Equivalent memory performance using virtual versus conventional environments with the Method of Loci. Abhishek Banerjee and Dennis Kaetzel, career advice bank based on interviews departments, commercial sponsors and are questionable), but how does he do it? athletes’ – some of the best memorisers Acta Psychol. 141(3): 380–390. with the aim to run neuroscience seminars with our speakers. Furthermore, we are the BNA allows these clubs to operate Hannibal makes use of the method of loci in the world. Though the mechanisms 4. Maguire EA, et al. (2002) Routes to remembering: The that focus on inclusivity and open creating a neuroscience blog where we autonomously. Under these conditions, (locations), or ‘mind palace’ (1). behind the palace are poorly understood, brains behind superior memory. Nat Neurosci. 6(1): 90–95. discussion. I was involved with the Cortex explain challenging concepts from our their impact on the wider scientific The mind palace is an ancient studies show that using a palace activates Club for two years and upon joining King’s talks to lay audiences. community and the public can be powerful mnemonic system used to increase one’s areas involved in spatial awareness, College as a postdoc, I approached some These activities, however, do not and transformative. ability to commit information to long-term memory encoding and recall, such as the colleagues and we founded Neureka on detract from our core mission: to provide memory. This is achieved by forming over- parietal cortex, retrosplenial cortex and similar principles. exciting and informal neuroscience embellished, ludicrous and sometimes hippocampus (4).

‘BRIGHT published an article analysing the target Who has inspired you during your Kolkata, the medical, commercial and 70% of papers are never cited. Research BRAINS’ area and cell type selectivity of septal research journey? cultural hub of east India, is a city that funding has stifled at a meagre 0.9% GDP INTERVIEW GABAergic projections. We revealed that I would say Jules Verne books I have read encapsulates the challenges of urbanisation for more than 10 years (4, 5). However, WITH… septal GABAergic pathway selectively as a child started it all. Then I became and inequality. Boasting a population of 15 doing research in India offers benefits innervates inhibitory interneurons of interested in the history of science million (2), roughly four times the area of that should not be overlooked: the large the mouse hippocampus and extra- and started reading about famous London and five times as dense, Kolkata is a number of patients, rare untreated Gunes Unal hippocampal cortex (1). I am currently scientists. Memoirs and biographies Joshua Au-Yeung city that is packed to its brim. diseases, and the pathophysiological Postdoctoral researcher, building on this finding and investigating of scientific heroes affected me a lot. Final-year medical student, impact of poverty and malnutrition. University of Oxford how the firing patterns of single But the practical inspiration, that is the Newcastle University As researchers abroad realise this, both identified medial septal cells relate to motivation to turn my passion for science funding and international collaborative Tell us a little bit about yourself. their postsynaptic cortical target neurons. into a profession, came later when I was projects are increasing (6). Expect to My name is Gunes Unal. I have been an undergraduate at Bogazici University, A trip to Kolkata: Research see a surge in joint research ventures working in the Somogyi Group at the MRC What are the practical applications of Istanbul. Resit Canbeyli opened the doors heading to the East from the western world, perhaps one Brain Network Dynamics Unit under the your research? of his Psychobiology Laboratory to me (part 1 of 3) that will match and benefit the growth Department of Pharmacology at Oxford My research falls under what we call ‘basic and constituted a living example of what of urban India. since October 2013. Before moving to the science’. This does not mean that what I do I have read many times as a child. We stand in the midst of a revolution, UK, I completed a PhD in neuroscience has less practical value. Imagine a world the globalisation of urbanisation - 1. Gupta K, et al. (2006) Health and Living Conditions in at Rutgers University-Newark (USA), where we would have actually resolved What are you looking forward to doing one of the most pivotal social changes A market in Kolkata. Eight Indian Cities. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare document. where I have been studying plasticity many mysteries of the human brain at a in future? What are your plans? of the century (1). Cities and their 2. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, in cerebral networks, focusing on the level where we could attempt to accurately Science. I always feel extremely lucky when populations are growing at an Just 90 registered neurologists in India (2011) Census of India: West Bengal. perirhinal cortex. reproduce certain key aspects of it. This I think that I am actually receiving a salary exponential rate and services are Kolkata cater for the whole of east India 3. Hrishikesh K (2016) Institute of Neuroscience- Kolkata. Interview conducted in January 21st, 2016. would give rise to numerous practical for what I am doing. Being able to continue struggling to keep up, resulting in a host and surrounding regions. It is not unusual 4. Bala A & Gupta BM (2010) Mapping of Indian neuroscience What is your current research about and applications, either good or bad. I am afraid doing science in an open-minded and of problems, including overcrowding and for a neurologist to work seven days research: a scientometric analysis of research output during what has been the highlight so far? we are quite far from this and my research collaborative environment is all I can wish for. struggles to meet basic needs of food, a week, averaging 150–200 patients a 1999-2008. Neurol India. 58(1):35-41. I focus on how hippocampal and cortical makes a very small contribution to this water, shelter, education and health. day (3). This means that all their time is 5. Shahabuddin SM (2013) Mapping neuroscience research in India – a bibliometric approach. Current Science. 104(12):1619-1626. theta rhythms are implemented via ultimate, perhaps impossible, goal. 1. Unal G, et al (2015). Synaptic Targets of Medial Septal Eighteen out of the twenty-two most dedicated to clinical duty and none is left 6. Nature Editorial. (2015) A nation with ambition. Nature septal/diagonal band GABAergic input. Projections in the Hippocampus and Extrahippocampal populated cities are now in developing for quality scientific research. 521(7551):125. Cortices of the Mouse. J Neurosci. 35(48):15812-15826. My colleagues and I have recently countries and these cities will be Indeed, research papers published impacted the most (1). in India have little to no impact and

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information during shopping or when have been found to be beneficial (1). VERTICAL 4. Part of the midbrain that leads from listening to a friend in a loud environment, However, to see any gains, the demands How well 1. External portion of the lentiform the substantia nigra to the cerebral executive functions will help you choose on executive functions need to be regularly nucleus (7). aqueduct (Latin: covering) (9). the products that you really need, and to increased or improvement stops. Practice do you know 3. A lens-shaped mass formed by the 5. The area of greatest visual acuity selectively attend to your friend’s speech gives rise to expertise, hence repeated globus pallidus and the putamen (8,7). (Latin: yellow spot) (6,5). whilst screening out auditory distractions practice is crucial. your brain? 4. Portal to the cerebral cortex (8). 7. Gap that separates pre-and Jayanthiny Kangatharan (inhibitory control of attention). Moreover, Nonetheless, once you gained 6. Largest of the cranial nerves that postsynaptic structures (7,5). Lecturer, they will allow you to keep information expertise over an activity, the lateral includes both sensory and motor 8. Base of the diencephalon (12). University of Winchester in mind and manipulate it, helping you prefrontal cortex that you initially Test your knowledge by completing components (Latin: three twins) (10,5). 10. Gyrus that forms the transition make sense of it (working memory). recruited to learn something will be used the first BNA crossword on the 9. Nuclei that are the anterior linchpin of between the six-layered neocortex and Executive functions also can also assist the least (4). Consequently, once you are theme of neuroanatomy. Answers the limbic system (6,6). the three-layered archicortex (15,5). ...what makes us human? you in thinking ‘outside the box’ experienced you will be using very little will be revealed in the next edition. 15. Portion of the internal capsule between 11. Important link among globus pallidus, (cognitive flexibility). top-down control. At this point applying the anterior and posterior limbs that septal nuclei, preoptic nuclei, raphe and Although we are genetically and Thus, executive functions are essential executive functions is not always of Enter this edition’s competition conveys corticobulbar fibres (Latin: interpeduncular nuclei (9). biochemically similar to many animal as they predict success in any area of your advantage since it can hinder one’s by sending your answers to knee) (4). 12. Three white matter bundles linking the species, it is our executive functions in our life such as mental and physical health (2, ideal performance. [email protected]. brain stem and cerebellum (9). brain that make us human. They allow us to 3). If you are stressed, sleep deprived, or HORIZONTAL 13. Superior portion of the midbrain with spontaneously find alternative solutions to physically unfit, this will have detrimental 1. Diamond A (2013) Executive functions. Annu Rev in Entries received before the 1 May 1. Part of a relay between the cerebellum the corticospinal tract (4,7). problems and advance culture through the neuroanatomical and physiological effects Psychol. 64(1):135-168. 2016 will be entered into a prize draw and the cerebellar hemispheres (Latin: 14. Organisation of blood vessels at the 2. Penadés R, et al. (2007) Impaired response inhibition in retention and transmission of knowledge. on the prefrontal cortex, and behaviourally obsessive-compulsive disorder. Eur Psychiatry. 22(6):404-410. to win a unique contribution towards bridge) (4). brain base (6,2,6). However, what exactly are executive manifest in poorer executive functions 3 . Crescioni AW, et al. (2011) High trait self-control predicts the ‘Bright Brains’ summer edition. 2. Compact mass of nuclei buried close 16. Small neuroendocrine gland that functions and how can we improve them? such as problem-solving skills. So what positive health behaviours and success in weight loss. to the tip of the temporal lobe (Greek: is an outgrowth of the roof of the J Health Psychol. 16(5):750-759. Executive functions such as planning can you do to generally improve your 4. Landau SM, et al. (2007) Regional specificity and practice: almond) (8). diencephalon (6, 5). and problem-solving consist of the core executive functions? Engaging in activities dynamic changes in object and spatial working memory. components inhibition, working memory that require exerting self-control, being Brain Res. 1180(14):78-89. and cognitive flexibility (1). For example, selectively attentive, and adapting quickly when you are being bombarded with and flexibly to changing circumstances

VARIETAS QUID NOVI?

blue light, the channelrhodopsin protein visualisation of activity in hundreds of opens a pore, allowing ions to enter neurons neurons simultaneously. and induce spiking. Channelrhodopsin A team at UCL has succeeded in expression can be restricted to particular combining optogenetics and calcium neurons using genetic engineering, enabling imaging (1). Using spatial light modulation, cell-type-targeted control of spiking. the authors split a laser beam into several André Marques-Smith Patch-clamp recordings have high ‘beamlets’, concurrently stimulating tens Postdoctoral researcher, definition, but can only be used to target of channelrhodopsin-expressing neurons. King’s College London 1–8 neurons simultaneously. However, the The effect of stimulating these neurons mammalian brain has billions of neurons was monitored in hundreds of others using working to represent sensory information calcium imaging. Both techniques took Casting light on brain and execute behaviour. It would be advantage of two-photon microscopy, circuits advantageous to see the forest not just the ensuring accuracy in three dimensions. trees, and track the activity of hundreds This ground-breaking development allows Methods for precise neuronal stimulation of individual neurons simultaneously. scientists to reveal neurons active during are crucial for understanding how brain Spiking is accompanied by increases in particular behaviours and then evoke this activity relates to behaviour. Traditionally, intracellular calcium and can therefore be behaviour by mimicking the same activity stimulation has relied on electrodes, but reported accurately by genetically encoded pattern using optogenetics. This could brain structures contain heterogeneous calcium indicators – proteins that increase greatly advance understanding of the neural populations of neurons, and electrodes brightness when calcium concentration correlates of action, perception and cognition. activate any neuron in their vicinity, rises. Microscopes equipped with photon hindering efforts to relate behavioural detectors are then used to detect changes 1. Packer AM, et al. (2015). Simultaneous all-optical responses to circuits or cell types. in brightness, which can be processed into manipulation and recording of neural circuit activity with cellular resolution in vivo. Nat Meth. 12(2):140–6. Optogenetics introduced the use of light to images of neural activity, where active stimulate neurons, taking advantage neurons appear brighter than silent ones. of channelrhodopsin. When exposed to This technique (calcium imaging), allows

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relationship,” she suggests. In general, in effect a prediction or inference based on Let’s (study) dance familiarity increases enjoyment. “But we’ve A body of evidence past experience and is constantly updated also found that people really like watching with information from our internal (and Dance is a proving an unusual but profitable way to gain insight into stuff that’s not just unfamiliar but really crazy Two contrasting areas of research – on patients who refuse to accept external) sensory systems. In anosognosia, brain function. and not something they could ever imagine they are paralysed and on sensual touch – are shedding light on how she suggests, there is a general breakdown doing themselves.” However, her team has we build mental representations of our physical forms. in these updating mechanisms, leaving also found that physically learning intricate patients with out-of-date representations of Emily Cross grew up with a love of dance and like reaching for food or using a tool. Dance is moves leads to greater enjoyment while their bodies. performance, and has danced professionally. different, she suggests: “In dance, one could observing them – a finding dance companies Now, dance is a core theme of her research. say that the goal of the movement is the might be tempted to exploit. Pain and touch At university in the USA, she majored movement itself. It’s almost movement for A further theme of her research has been in dance, theatre and psychology. “Those movement’s sake.” Meet the robot pain. There are multiple aspects to pain, things occurred in parallel in my life. I went Much of her research focuses on how Recently, her work has expanded in a novel she suggests. At one level it is a sensory to New Zealand to do a master’s in cognitive the brain responds when we observe others but related direction – how social experience phenomenon, but it is also an intense psychology. I was dancing professionally there making movements, which activates shapes perception, as revealed by people’s bodily sensation with a strong emotional

too – but that was separate from the work I sensorimotor cortical regions known responses to humanoid robots. Humans Commons Evans/Wikimedia Steve component and sensitivity to social was doing on gesture and language.” collectively as the action observation network are tuned to recognise and respond to interactions. Her interests became entwined while (AON). In particular, she is interested in how other humans, and respond differently to Lately, her attention has shifted to she was studying for her PhD at Dartmouth responses within the AON change with non-human agents – a challenge for those the recently discovered ‘C-tactile’ neural College back in the USA, and also dancing with different kinds of experience – visual, designing robots to perform social roles. system that specifically responds to a contemporary dance company. “I happened motor or affective. Product designers typically aim to make sensual or affective touch, such as slow to be speaking to my PhD supervisor about Although she has worked with expert robots as human-like as possible, but Dr stroking. Again, at one level, this system is learning particularly complex choreography dancers, mostly she studies individuals Cross’s research has highlighted a curious a sensory detection mechanism but it also and he suggested I try to study the learning without a background in dance. Through an feature of our interactions with artificial triggers a strong emotional reaction and process. I said, ‘no way, we study finger Xbox-based set up, participants can rehearse agents. By manipulating participants’ Touch may help us to build a mental representation of our physical form. has an important social component: “That movements, tiny constrained movements dance moves; motion capture allows their expectations about whether computer avatars sounds a lot like pain,” she says. But, unlike that are easy to manipulate and to record. abilities to be quantified, and ‘before and were derived from people or computers, she During her PhD with Martin Conway in thinking ‘well, what is it that influences pain, it provokes positive emotions. How am I possibly going to do this?’ He said, after’ brain scanning can reveal how brain discovered that prior knowledge influenced Durham, Katerina Fotopoulou found our cognition from bottom-up ways, from Her group recently showed that the ‘figure it out’!” activity is modified by experience. how human-like the avatars were thought to herself working with patients with the body to the mind as it were’.” C-tactile system is responsible for a Now at Bangor University, she stresses For example, activity in the AON is be. “It had a huge impact,” she says. Whether frontal lobe damage who experienced a Interoception is naturally central to this curious illusion: when people slowly stroke that fundamental questions about human enhanced by familiarity with observed participants thought an avatar looked like a range of difficulties, from memory loss thinking. “But it’s not only interoception – the skin of another, it feels softer than brain function drive her research: “Our studies movements. Moreover, the experience of human or a robot depended not just on its to delusions. One group in particular it’s also what we see, what we hear, what their own skin – a phenomenon she has are not asking questions about dance per se. either listening to dance-related music, physical appearance but also by participants’ captured her attention – those with we touch, all the signals that say to the dubbed the ‘social softness illusion’. This It’s just that dance turns out to be a really good watching dance movements and practising existing beliefs. right hemisphere damage and left-side brain ‘here’s what’s happening to you, may be a mechanism that promotes social model for looking at complex action learning, dance actions all additively influence AON Consistent with these findings, ‘social’ paralysis who were unaware of their good or bad’.” physical contact. and what’s going on when you’re developing activation. areas of the brain were engaged during condition (anosognosia). “I was very Anosognosia is a curious condition. Dr Fotopoulou believes that the sense expertise in the motor or visual domains.” Dance has a strong aesthetic component, interactions with avatars that looked like fascinated by that. That’s what brought Patients may refuse to accept they have a of touch has been neglected of late: “As a Most research on action learning, she so Dr Cross has also explored how experience robots – but only when participants believed me to anosognosia.” problem even when told by a doctor. They society we’ve forgotten a little bit about suggests, focuses on goal-directed actions – affects subjective perceptions. “It’s a funny these avatars had human origins. With Now at UCL, Dr Fotopoulou has worked may believe they can walk, and do not this aspect of the self because our culture collaborators in Japan, Dr Cross is beginning with anosognosia patients (and those understand why they fall over when they is increasingly visual.” Indeed, she suggests, a major programme of work funded by an with related problems) ever since. Her try to stand. Hence, there appears to be a the social softness illusion may illustrate ERC Starting Grant to examine how people of work spans seemingly disparate topics, mismatch between patients’ bodies and the importance of touch not just to social different ages, and from different cultures, including pain and affective touch but, she their perceptions of their bodies. bonding but also to the development interact with robots designed to perform argues, there is a common theme running Dr Fotopoulou has helped to develop of internal models of our body. These social roles. through it: “Increasingly, everything I therapies to improve patients’ awareness. models rely on the integration of internal do is around how the brain combines all Showing patients their problems from an signals, but humans are such intensely Gardner T, Goulden N, Cross ES. Dynamic modulation of the sensory information it gets from the external perspective, for example through social animals they may also be shaped by the action observation network by movement familiarity. J periphery into a more coherent, abstract, use of video, has been particularly effective. physical interactions with others. Neurosci. 2015;35(4):1561–72. Kirsch LP, Cross ES. Additive Routes to Action Learning: organised model of the body.” In addition, in a range of studies, she Layering Experience Shapes Engagement of the Action has attempted to shed more light on the Besharati S et al. Another perspective on anosognosia: Observation Network. Cereb Cortex. 2015;25(12):4799–811. Body models neurobiology of anosognosia and the nature Self-observation in video replay improves motor awareness. Kirsch LP, Dawson K, Cross ES. Dance experience sculpts Neuropsychol Rehabil. 2015;25(3):319-52. aesthetic perception and related brain circuits. Ann NY Acad How we know where our body ends and of the cognitive deficits associated with Fotopoulou A. The virtual bodily self: Mentalisation of the Sci. 2015;1337:130–9. the outside world begins has fascinated it. She has developed a theory, based on body as revealed in anosognosia for hemiplegia. Conscious Cross ES et al. The shaping of social perception by stimulus philosophers and scientists for centuries. predictive coding, that explains many of the Cogn. 2015;33:500–10. and knowledge cues to human animacy. Philos Trans R Soc Dr Fotopoulou has a particular take on this curious features of the condition. In essence, Gentsch A, Panagiotopoulou E, Fotopoulou A. Active Lond B Biol Sci. 2016;371(1686). pii: 20150066. Interpersonal Touch Gives Rise to the Social Softness Illusion. fundamental question: “Instead of higher she proposes that the brain creates an Curr Biol. 2015;25(18):2392–7. Emily Cross, taking part in a ‘dancers among us’ photo project. order stuff, inspired by anosognosia I’m internal representation of the body that is

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our risk of developing a neurodegenerative or neurodevelopmental disorder. But a better Radical solutions understanding of the brain’s antioxidant defences could lead to more rationally designed therapies. Neurons are curiously ill-prepared to manage oxidative stress on their own – With the Nrf2 pathway held in tight check but targeting their support cells may be a way to boost their antioxidant defences. in neurons, attention is likely to focus on non- neuronal cells – particularly the astrocytes that deliver antioxidant support to neurons (and Reactive oxygen species and other free radicals neuron that is electrically active is metabolically the surrounding extracellular matrix). Professor Giles Hardingham generated by cellular metabolism are generally seen active and will generate more reactive oxygen Hardingham is keen to discover more about as A Bad Thing, and cells have evolved multiple species than a less active neuron. By making these interactions between these cell types, and how they mechanisms to limit the harm they cause. It is odd, antioxidant genes responsive to neuronal activity, impact on antioxidant defences. then, that neurons – which are metabolically the cell effectively has a feedback regulatory One key question is how neuronal synaptic highly active and also extremely long-living – mechanism that enables the antioxidant defences activity affects astrocytes. “Synaptic activity seem to have such poor antioxidant defences. to be tuned to the activity status of the neuron.” controls neuronal gene expression, but we currently In Edinburgh, Giles Hardingham has come up with It is also known that neurons receive a helping know little about whether synaptic activity changes a possible explanation – as well as a potential hand from nearby astrocytes. In these cells, a key gene activity in other cell types. Can an active way to enhance their antioxidant defences role is played by a signalling pathway that detects neuron signal to nearby astrocytes to control gene and protect against neurodegenerative and oxidative stress and activates the transcription expression? The answer to that is yes it can.” neurodevelopmental disorders. factor, Nrf2, which switches on a suite of genes that A co-culture of neurons (red) and astrocytes (green). His preliminary findings suggest that neuronal “One of the overarching interests we have in the boost the cell’s antioxidant defences. activity triggers widespread changes in gene lab is the capacity of the brain’s homeostasis,” says Curiously, neurons seem to rely on a supply of renders cells more vulnerable to oxidative stress: expression in non-neuronal cells. “This in turn Professor Hardingham, “in other words the ability antioxidants from astrocytes: “It’s been known for “The two things may well be mechanistically linked.” can impact on the ability of non-neuronal cells to of the brain’s neurons to survive and function for a while that neuron’s own antioxidant defences are Furthermore, oxidative stress also inhibits support the neuron.” Notably, these responses many decades – for a post-mitotic cell to do that is not terribly strong,” says Professor Hardingham. NMDA receptor activation. “So you can get this also appear to be disrupted in models of remarkable. It points to the capacity of a neuron and One reason, it transpired, is because the Nrf2 gene vicious circle, whereby oxidative stress causes neurodegenerative disease. surrounding cells to adapt to potentially challenging is repressed in neurons, by epigenetic mechanisms. NMDA receptor hypofunction, and NMDA receptor Rather than just neurons, then, he is interested conditions and to mediate adaptive responses It might seem odd that a neuron would hypofunction causes oxidative stress. If this in how collectives of cells – neuronal and non- to tune their requirements, be they metabolic or deliberately limit its antioxidant responses. The happens within a critical window in development, neuronal – respond to the dynamic challenges antioxidant, to their needs at that time.” reason it does, Professor Hardingham discovered, this could in theory lead to aberrant maturation of posed by oxidative stress. “Understanding Cellular metabolism inevitably creates reactive was because a neuron’s redox balance is critical for this class of interneurons.” what the basics of that are, and how it goes oxygen species with the potential to inflict damage the development and differentiation of neurons, Oxidative stress has long been thought to be wrong in both neurodegenerative diseases and on cell structures. Cells have evolved a host of particularly early in development. an important contributor to neurodegenerative neurodevelopmental disorders, is something that antioxidant systems to protect themselves, including Linking antioxidant production to NMDA and neurodevelopmental disorders. Yet antioxidant we’re very interested in moving forward.” molecules such as glutathione that help to neutralise receptor signalling could be one way of “...IT’S HELPING therapies have had limited success – hardly potentially harmful reactive oxygen species. accommodating this need while also providing THE BRAIN TO surprising, suggests Professor Hardingham: “It’s Papadia S et al. Synaptic NMDA receptor activity boosts intrinsic But, Professor Hardingham points out, these additional defences during times of need: “One of HELP ITSELF...” becoming clear that a single antioxidant molecule antioxidant defenses. Nat Neurosci. 2008;11(4):476–87. Baxter PS et al. Synaptic NMDA receptor activity is coupled to the antioxidant defences have to be deployed with the things we speculate is that although neurons like vitamin C or N-acetylcysteine, even if you transcriptional control of the glutathione system. Nat Commun. caution. “People always talk about free radicals don’t have the Nrf2 pathway as an adaptive assume it can get into the brain at biologically 2015;6:6761. and reactive oxygen species in a harmful sense, regulator of antioxidant genes, to a certain extent significant levels, can’t hope to mimic the Bell KF et al. Neuronal development is promoted by weakened intrinsic antioxidant defences due to epigenetic repression of Nrf2. Nat Commun. but redox signalling is a very important part of neuronal activity plays a similar role, in that it can extremely complex antioxidant systems that exist 2015;6:7066. normal physiology. If it wasn’t, cells would just cram turn up or down antioxidant genes in response in all cells. The brain and other tissues express Hardingham GE, Do KQ. Linking early-life NMDAR hypofunction and themselves full of glutathione or other antioxidants to demand.” hundreds of genes devoted to redox regulation that oxidative stress in schizophrenia pathogenesis. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2016 to keep redox potential on the reducing side and have highly specialised functions.” Jan 14. avoid any problems with oxidative stress. The Oxidative stress and schizophrenia On the other hand, targeting the Nrf2 pathway reality is they don’t.” These insights could have important implications could boost the whole panoply of host defences. His group has been exploring how neurons for neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental “In other words, it’s helping the brain to help itself,” manage this redox balancing act: “One of the things disorders, particularly schizophrenia. It is known says Professor Hardingham. Agents already exist we’re interested in is the capacity of neurons, that oxidative stress affects the development of that target the Nrf2 pathway (NFE2L2 pathway in astrocytes and the brain in general to monitor and a particular class of interneurons (parvalbumin- humans), including dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera), regulate their own antioxidant defences.” positive interneurons, PVIs), abnormal function of recently licensed for the treatment of multiple In 2008, his group identified a neat mechanism which can disrupt the brain’s inhibitory–excitatory sclerosis. (Tecfidera was developed by Biogen; by which cellular levels on antioxidants are tailored balance and ultimately contribute to the symptoms Professor Hardingham’s is one of five Edinburgh to the needs of the cell. Signalling through the of schizophrenia. It is also known that abnormally groups collaborating with Biogen but he receives no NMDA receptor was found to ramp up production low levels of signalling through the NMDA receptor personal remuneration from the company.) of glutathione in a neuron. “This is an example can also affect PVIs. But, points out Professor Stuffing ourselves full of foods rich in of homeostasis,” says Professor Hardingham. “A Hardingham, NMDA receptor hypofunction also antioxidants is thus unlikely to do much for

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different rhythmic or quasi-rhythmic components in of future events, and prediction is certainly crucial The rhythms of speech the speech signal that match more or less what we to conversation. Turn-taking in conversations is see in the brain.” generally so rapid that we rarely notice any gaps – Rhythmic qualities of speech show a striking concordance with brain oscillations. Speech production relies on exquisitely fine responses are typically made within around 200 control of the larynx and other structures: “Our ms. This would be impossible to achieve if we were motor system somehow imposes this rhythmic waiting for someone to finish talking, planned a Now based at the University of Glasgow, Joachim closing. Since then they have been associated structure on speech, and this in turn is perceived reply, and then enacted the motor programme to Gross initially studied physics in his native Germany. with many cognitive and other brain functions, by the listener. What we’ve found now in a couple speak our chosen words. “Then I did something that was a bit unusual at but for many years it was not clear whether they of studies is that these rhythmic components in Recently, Professor Gross has also begun to look Joachim Gross the time, which was a joint project between the were revealing anything meaningful. “You can see speech entrain the brain activity in the listener.” at how other forms of sensory input, particularly medical school and the department of physics on them in the raw signal without any sophisticated Indeed, says Professor Gross, when we are vision, influence speech perception. In conversation, MRI imaging. It was a medical topic but analysed analysis, but people didn’t really know what to engaged in conversation, our brain oscillations we also respond to lip movements and other with physics methods. That was my first encounter make of it. Is it just an epiphenomenon, does become temporally aligned to match the visual cues. “So we have an auditory channel of with imaging.” For his PhD, he switched from MRI it mean anything, does it have anything to do vocal patterns generated by a speaker. “This information and a visual channel and somehow to magnetoencephalography (MEG) and language with the way the brain transforms information or is interesting because you can consider it like they must be integrated, merged.” processing – themes that have remained central to processes information?” establishing a communication channel between two Furthermore, he is excited by the potential his research to this day. Professor Gross suggests that recent research “...YOU HAVE people. It’s like talking on an intercom or radio – you of information theory to address one of the “The thing that has continued through most has finally begun to confirm that brain oscillations DIFFERENT have to match the frequency of the sender and the shortcomings of traditional MEG analysis. While of my career has been my interest in dynamic deserve serious attention. “The key developments RHYTHMIC OR receiver otherwise you can’t talk.” it may be revealing fundamental mechanisms of signals in the brain and in brain oscillations, in have been made in the last 20 years, and QUASI-RHYTHMIC Nevertheless, there could be trivial explanations information transfer across the brain, it has so rhythmic activity in the brain,” he explains. With its particularly the last five years, where we have some COMPONENTS for this phenomenon: “Some people say, well, you far not been possible to determine what actual high temporal resolution (and reasonable spatial evidence that these brain oscillations are causally IN THE SPEECH have a rhythmic input so you get a rhythmic brain information is being transferred. Information theory resolution), MEG is an ideal tool for examining such related to information processing in the brain. That SIGNAL THAT response. There’s nothing really special going on. A may provide a way to infer this information: “There dynamic brain processes. makes them much more interesting.” MATCH MORE lot of recent work has tried to address that point.” might be a way to decode the content, and that EEG and MEG can readily detect periodicity in OR LESS WHAT One line of evidence that something more would be exciting.” brain activity at distinct frequencies (alpha rhythms Oscillations and speech WE SEE IN THE interesting is going on is the fact that alignment at 8–13 Hz, delta rhythms at 1–4 Hz, beta rhythms One area in which brain oscillations appear to be BRAIN.” is influenced by factors such as attention – as Peelle JE, Gross J, Davis MH. Phase-locked responses to speech in human at 13–30 Hz and gamma rhythms at 30–70 Hz). playing a key role is in speech processing. “The illustrated by the ‘cocktail party’ effect, which auditory cortex are enhanced during comprehension. Cereb Cortex. 2013;23(6):1378–87. “These brain oscillations have been known about speech signal that we produce during natural enables us to selectively attend to and comprehend Gross J et al. Speech rhythms and multiplexed oscillatory sensory coding for a long time,” points out Professor Gross. “They conversation is rhythmic to some extent, it has one stream of speech among a background in the human brain. PLoS Biol. 2013;11(12):e1001752. were recorded by Hans Berger in the 1920s, using rhythmic components,” Professor Gross points out. hullaballoo. Moreover, Professor Gross has used Park H et al. Frontal top-down signals increase coupling of auditory low- frequency oscillations to continuous speech in human listeners. Curr Biol. crude EEG methods. Even with these simple Syllable production recurs at a frequency of about whole-brain MEG imaging to identify brain regions 2015;25(12):1649–53. methods, he could see brain oscillations, particularly 3–8 Hz, intonation or prosody at around 1 Hz and having a causal influence of oscillations in the Ince RA et al. Tracing the flow of perceptual features in an algorithmic in occipital areas.” phonemes have faster components at about 40 Hz. auditory cortex. “We see a clear marker of top- brain network. Sci Rep. 2015;5:17681 Recording on his son, Berger noticed that the These correspond remarkably well with the families down control. We found it mostly in two areas – left oscillations were sensitive to eye opening and of oscillations seen in the brain: “So you have motor cortex and left inferior frontal gyrus. These two brain areas send rhythmic signals to auditory cortex to align brain activity to the speech input.”

Speaking and listening These results are interesting for a range of reasons. For a start, they add to the growing evidence that motor cortex – and hence speech production – and speech comprehension are more closely linked than had been thought. When motor cortex is silenced with transcranial magnetic stimulation, for example, listeners experience difficulties with speech comprehension. Furthermore, suggests Professor Gross, the motor cortex representation may be evidence that, during conversations, the brain is generating a predictive model to help interpret speech. “It’s like making use of my experience of speaking to understand what you are saying and the way you are saying it.” The periodicity of oscillations provides an During conversation, rhythmic features in speech become entrained with brain oscillations. excellent mechanism for anticipating the timing

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possibly as a result of compensatory mechanisms in causes most people to experience its trigger, an Senses working overtime the brain: “If you’re not getting rich enough signals in itch. Functional imaging studies revealed that this your visual cortex from your eyes, you try to amplify experience is accompanied by activation in brain Studies of synaesthesia may tell us much about how the brain processes sensory that signal using other pathways in the brain, which networks associated with ‘genuine’ itchiness, information. might include using information from the auditory including the insula as well as somatosensory cortex. cortex to switch on your visual cortex.” Even more extreme are individuals who Professor Ward has also begun to examine what experience severe skin discomfort without any In 2013, James Wannerton finished his life’s work – organisation of their white matter, not globally but happens to abilities such as memory during ageing – obvious dermatological cause. Recently, Professor a Tube map showing the tastes he experiences in particular parts of their brain.” specifically, whether the use of additional neural Ward has been part of studies identifying activity Jamie Ward at each station. Blackfriars, for example, tastes The condition runs in families but inheritance pathways might lead to a shallower rate of decline. in the brain of such individuals, even in the absence of spam fritters and Farringdon warm semolina; patterns are complex and no genes specifically As well as shedding light on ageing and memory of a dermatological trigger: “Just because there less positively, Bethnal Green tastes of boiled associated with synaesthesia have been identified. generally, this kind of information would be directly isn’t an obvious external trigger doesn’t mean that cabbage and Mile End fingernails. Wannerton Notably, though, while synaesthetes are likely to have relevant to a significant number of people: “It’s not the symptoms aren’t real – it may just mean that has synaesthesia, a condition in which sensory relatives with the condition, they don’t necessarily vanishingly rare – we think it affects a few per cent the symptoms are generated by the brain circuits information gets scrambled in the brain. have the same form: “It’s not the case that you have of the population. So if you put all the synaesthetes responsible for skin sensations.” The condition has been extensively studied by some families who have synaesthesia for flavours together, they would fill one of our major cities.” Jamie Ward at the University of Sussex. “The thing and some who have synaesthesia for colours. What Sensory augmentation that drew me to synaesthesia is the idea of using you have is a general disposition to synaesthesia.” Touch Inspired by synaesthesia, Professor Ward has also unusual things in order to explain the way that the It is therefore unclear what dictates which As well as visual anomalies, Professor Ward has been examining whether technologies can be used typical brain works,” he explains. He began work sensory systems are affected: “The best guess also examined bodily experiences, touch and pain – to generate supplementary sensory experiences. on conditions such as amnesia and aphasia but is it’s a common set of genes and it’s probably so called mirror-touch synaesthesia: “That’s when One application would be devices that convert found himself drawn to synaesthesia: “We take environmental factors that determine why people see someone being touched they feel that visual information into an aural soundscape, for this unusual way of experiencing the world and try somebody goes down one route and not another.” on their own body. So if you see somebody being people with visual impairment. to figure out what that means for how the senses Synaesthesia generally arises developmentally – prodded on their cheek you would say ‘oh yeah, I “One of the things that interests me is the idea interconnect with each other, or how the brain synaesthetes typically report first experiences in can feel a tactile sensation on my own cheek.’” that you can use knowledge from synaesthesia to generates conscious experience.” childhood. This suggests that synaesthesia may The condition is linked to heightened activity in answer questions like, if you’ve got a red object what reflect incomplete pruning of interconnections the somatosensory cortex and again is associated sounds do use to represent it? Which sounds like a Extra sensory experience between sensory pathways during development or with enhanced sensory acuity – mirror-touch crazy question but actually there are certain rules that Unlike amnesia and aphasia, synaesthesia is abnormalities in the way that sensory cortex matures, synaesthetes are typically good at distinguishing tell you what sounds go with red and so on.” not a deficit in function. One question that in effect rendering it hypersensitive. It can also be closely spaced tactile stimuli. Structural imaging Such devices might be of more general use: Professor Ward is interested in is whether the acquired, for example after sight loss or stroke, “...IF YOU’VE GOT suggests that they have less grey matter in the “We fool ourselves into thinking that we have a ‘extra’ experience of synaesthesia interferes with A RED OBJECT temporo-parietal junction, a region implicated in very rich and full representation in our brain of other abilities, such as visual perception: “If when WHAT SOUNDS the switch from ‘self’ to ‘other’ perspectives. what the world looks like, but we don’t.” Auditory somebody’s listening to music and they’re seeing DO USE TO This system is of particular interest in social information to augment visual sensory information colours and shapes, does this affect the way their REPRESENT IT?” cognition because of the insight it may give to could provide additional support for those analysing normal visual function works? And the answer empathy. When we observe something happening to complex visual scenes, such as machine operators seems to be no – if anything they appear to have others, to an extent we also mirror it within ourselves. dealing with complex instrumentation. more enhanced visual functioning.” But while we all put ourselves in others’ shoes Professor Ward often receives requests for Something similar may be happening to some degree when we see them receiving painful help from parents when they discover their child with memory: “One of the things that’s been stimuli, people with mirror-touch synaesthesia go a has the condition – one reason he is keen to documented anecdotally over the years is that step further and actually physically experience the get at the early-life roots of synaesthesia: “The synaesthetes have better memory. You might think Dall’Orto/WikiMedia Commons Giovanni pain. This has potentially interesting consequences, developmental angle of synaesthesia is a really this is because they can use their extra experiences suggests Professor Ward. It could strengthen important one we need to grapple with. Partly as strategically – and there is some evidence for this.” feelings of empathy, as synaesthetes have a true information for parents but partly because that’s So a violinist, for example, might use visual cues sense of the pain others are enduring. But if they where synaesthesia comes from, it comes from the elicited by sounds to help them know when they cannot avoid unpleasant sensations, they might developing brain. If we’re ever going to understand have hit the right note. However, synaesthetes want to distance themselves from their source. it, that’s where we going to have to look.” also typically perform well even on more general Mirror-touch synaesthesia can also be acquired. memory tests. Phantom limb pain is common after amputation, but Rothen N, Meier B, Ward J. Enhanced memory ability: Insights from So what might be the basis of synaesthetes’ around a third of patients also experience mirror- synaesthesia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2012;36(8):1952–63. Holle H, Banissy MJ, Ward J. Functional and structural brain differences special abilities? “We know that the brains of touch synaesthesia. Deprived of its usual inputs, the associated with mirror-touch synaesthesia. Neuroimage. 2013;83:1041–50. synaesthetes do differ,” says Professor Ward. somatosensory cortex may respond by attempting to Goller AI et al. Mirror-touch synaesthesia in the phantom limbs of “Often it’s more localised differences in the brain, boost other signals it receives, including visual ones: amputees. Cortex. 2013;49(1):243–51. Ward J, Meijer P. Visual experiences in the blind induced by an auditory so for instance synaesthetes who experience “It’s almost as if the cortex is trying to amplify its sensory substitution device. Conscious Cogn. 2010;19(1):492–500. colours they tend to have more grey matter in inputs,” suggests Professor Ward. Holle H et al. Neural basis of contagious itch and why some people are Mirror-touch synaesthetes experience the sensation of touch when they more prone to it. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2012;109(48):19816–21. certain visual regions of the brain involved in see someone being touched. He has also explored a related phenomenon, colour processing, and they tend to have greater contagious itch. Witnessing someone scratching

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correct this deficit. Professor Palmer’s Institute for Biomedical Research at Q&A: Kathryn Mills the theory that adolescence is possibly supervisor, and I think winning this award is project focused on monoamine neurons UCL and Pharmidex, a contract research a sensitive period to social signals in the simply a product of her mentorship. in Alzheimer’s disease. He mostly used company specialising in drug metabolism environment, as my findings provided Q: What are you doing now? post-mortem human brain tissue, and pharmacokinetics, with particular evidence for the continued development A/ I am currently a postdoctoral researcher although a collaboration with colleagues in expertise on the blood–brain barrier. In of both cognitive skills and regions of in the Behavioral Neuroscience Department Manchester also provided access to biopsy 2008, he co-founded MS Therapeutics, the brain involved in social development at Oregon Health and Science University, samples: “We would pack up the lab in a which is developing treatments for between childhood and adulthood. For USA. My current project focuses on the role transit van and drive up to Manchester multiple sclerosis. He has also set up three of my thesis studies, I focused on the of genetics in brain development patterns, and measure things like noradrenaline and a consulting business, Cerebroscience, structural development of brain regions with a specific emphasis on how genes serotonin uptake, along with acetylcholine specialising in translational neuroscience. implicated in complex social cognition. influence the patterns of structural and synthesis. This information proved Alongside this commercial work, which Overall, this work highlighted the need functional brain development in clinical very valuable as it allowed us to draw earned him the title of 2005 London to consider individual differences in brain groups such as individuals with attention conclusions about neuronal changes at a Biotech Entrepreneur of the Year, he is development patterns when relating brain deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). After fairly early stage of the disease.” also helping to develop the entrepreneurial measures to cognition or behaviour. In order this project, I will move to the Psychology Alan Palmer, entrepreneur and BNA Non-Executive Director After postdoctoral work at the skills of students at Bristol, where he is to understand these individual differences, Department at the University of Oregon to Institute of Neurology, Professor life science entrepreneur in residence. I used cutting-edge statistical and analytic work on a longitudinal project investigating Palmer became a faculty member at the He is also a visiting professor at UCL and techniques needed for large, longitudinal the relationship between brain Alan Palmer: University of Pittsburgh, which had a good Reading, and sits on the board of One brain-imaging datasets. Further, my development, social cognition, puberty and reputation in Alzheimer’s disease research. Nucleus, a not-for-profit membership behavioural research used multilevel mental health in female adolescents. Making While there, he and his colleagues organisation supporting life sciences and modelling to understand how complex Q: What are your long-term plans? branched out into traumatic brain injury, healthcare companies in the UK. social cognitive processes develop between A/ My long-term plan is to head a neuroscience establishing what is now one of the USA’s Does he think scientists can succeed adolescence and adulthood. laboratory that collaborates with leading centres for head injury research. in business? “Yes, I believe that science Kathryn Mills won the BNA’s Postgraduate Award 2015. Overall, my thesis work shed new light adolescents to let them steer the research. count The new centre pioneered therapeutic provides an excellent foundation for a on, and challenged current theories of, brain Adults conduct most research concerning hypothermia – cooling the body to protect life in business. In science you need to be Q: What did you discover in your research? development and its relationship to behaviour adolescent development, but I’d like to work BNA Non-Executive Director the brain after injury – now widely used in able to look at data in minute detail but A/ My doctoral research at UCL used by employing novel and rigorous methods. with adolescents to facilitate their ability Alan Palmer retains a lifelong the USA. also be able to pull back and look at the brain-imaging methods to investigate Q: What did you think when you heard to have an impact on research question fascination with neuroscience – bigger picture, integrating lots of diverse typical developmental trajectories between you’d won the BNA award? formation and the interpretation of results. and a desire to see the fruits of Return to the UK information. That’s a very useful skills set childhood and adulthood, as well as A/ My first thought was of my PhD supervisor Q: What do you enjoy doing outside research benefit patients. Industry first beckoned when, looking to to have in business.” behavioural experiments to investigate how Sarah-Jayne Blakemore. I would not have stood science and medicine? return to the UK, biotech pioneer Chris While acknowledging that the retreat humans navigate the social environment in a chance at winning this award if I hadn’t A/ Outside of science I enjoy spending time Evans (now Sir Christopher Evans) – who of big companies from neuroscience has adolescence and adulthood. had the support and guidance of Sarah – not with my partner Joe and our daughter Celilo Alan Palmer has had remarkable success happened to be an old school friend – been a setback, he suggests that there This work demonstrated that to mention the fact that I wouldn’t have (who was born a few months after I defended in launching a string of biotech firms, all offered to help him establish a company. have been a number of positive changes adolescence is a period of substantial been in the running had she not thought to my thesis). We love to travel, and have already in the neuroscience arena. Yet, despite an “I didn’t know much about biotech at as research charities have become more development in terms of both social nominate me. Thus I found it fitting for her taken Celilo to four different countries, as early fascination with the brain, he initially the time,” Professor Palmer recalls, involved in drug discovery and more navigation and brain structure. The to collect the award in my absence. I feel well as on many road trips to experience the studied biochemistry at Warwick – “There “so I thought I’d be better off joining a public money has flowed towards empirical studies provided support for incredibly lucky to have had Sarah as my PhD beautiful landscapes of Oregon. were no degrees in neuroscience at the pharmaceutical company first.” translational studies. time – they just didn’t exist.” He ended up joining Wyeth in 1994, He remains enthusiastic about new After an MSc in neurochemistry at the working on CNS drug discovery. Within a opportunities, recently helping to establish Institute of Psychiatry, he began to look year, however, Wyeth changed direction, a new company, Cerestim, associated BNA2017: Festival of Neuroscience for a suitable PhD topic and supervisor: ending its UK CNS work. Professor Palmer with Imperial College, which is developing “What I was particularly keen on was was one of 20 employees offered positions a therapy based on transcranial brain SAVE THE DATE: 10-13 APRIL 2017 to find somebody who did neuroscience in the USA: “I decided to stay, and with stimulation technology, initially for but did it with a view to coming up with Chris Evans and four people from Wyeth treatment-resistant depression. • The national celebration of neuroscience a product or an idea that would benefit we formed the UK’s first neuroscience His commercial experience has brought • Bursaries and discounts available for BNA members people with brain disorders. That’s really start up company, Cerebrus.” a more business-like rigour to the BNA. • Six plenary lectures by internationally recognised speakers including 2014 Nobel Laureate May-Britt Moser been the driver of my career – translational Cerebrus went on to secure £27m Adding yet more to his workload has • 40 symposia, workshops and special events neuroscience.” in funding, growing rapidly to employ brought its own rewards, however: “It’s a • 750 posters He found the ideal man in David 100 or so people. In 1999, it merged with lot of fun being involved with the BNA, I • 11 scientific themes Bowen. “He was probably the first Vanguard Medica, forming Vernalis – really enjoy it.” • Partner societies from all neuroscience-related areas of interest person in the UK to study Alzheimer’s a company listed on the London • A major trade exhibition with up to 60 exhibitors disease systematically in terms of Stock Exchange. • Student-focused sessions including the popular ‘speed-dating for careers in science’ event neurochemistry,” Professor Palmer As well as Cerebrus, Professor • Exciting programme of public engagement opportunities and events suggests. His work identified a cholinergic Palmer has helped to establish a host deficit in Alzheimer’s disease, which of other companies, including Cerexus Calling for symposia now, www.bna.org.uk/festival2017 led to a number of new medicines to with researchers from the Wolfson

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eligible to win two years in a row. My Making sense of neuromarketing A vision of vision personal take is that’s ridiculous as I feel they should be getting the best videos Joe Devlin and John Hogan are helping marketing and advertising Matthew Sugrim’s animation ‘Do We See the Same Red?’ won the they can. Hopefully, if I do produce good professionals get to grips with the murky world of neuromarketing. Society for Neuroscience’s 2015 video competition – even though he videos for them that will encourage other had only a few weeks’ experience of animation software. entrants to up their game a bit.” For the time being, he is developing his Among the ever-proliferating family of Many of the people contacting Dr Devlin portfolio and working out whether he can ‘neuro-’ subdisciplines, neuromarketing are enthusiastic about neuromarketing: Realising that Adobe Creative Cloud use his new skills to establish a career in is growing in popularity. Any number of “Marketing people get excited by a lot of was the standard animator’s tool, he science communication. “If not, I may have companies now offer neuromarketing hype – and boy it’s easy to hype this.” But Joe Devlin explains the mysteries of fMRI. plundered the web for advice and taught to get a real job…” services, and an international there is also a fair degree of scepticism. himself how to use it. His girlfriend, an Neuromarketing Science and Business One company approached Professor illustrator familiar with graphics-related Association has been established. Devlin when one of their competitors ran competitions, suggested looking for a Inundated with requests for advice, Joe a neuromarketing campaign: “They said, suitable video competition. “I literally Devlin and his student John Hogan have ‘First of all, we don’t understand it, but we typed in ‘neurosciences video competition’ developed a course at UCL designed to do think it’s nonsense’.” and lo and behold there happened to be Matthew Sugrim receiving his award from the Society for help marketing professionals navigate During 2015, the UCL pair developed Neuroscience. one in just a few weeks.” the potentially perilous waters of a one-day workshop, which runs through This concentrated his mind: “That set neuromarketing. the basics of brain function and the my deadline, my timetable for the project. The key idea behind neuromarketing is technologies used to study it. Participants After graduating from the Open University at I knuckled down, spending a lot of hours that neuroscience technologies can provide have a chance to see fMRI, EEG and the end of 2014, Matthew Sugrim concluded on the internet working out how all this privileged access to the subconscious, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in Course participants get to see a brain scanner in action. it was time for a new challenge: “I decided software stuff works, and put together hence a more ‘unfiltered’ view of consumer action. More bespoke team workshops are after years of studying that I wanted to find a a video.” attitudes and behaviour. “A lot of companies also arranged. brain activity as participants tasted way to communicate complicated ‘sciencey’ ‘Do We See the Same Red?’ is an are very enthusiastic about that,” says Dr One important message is the variety different colas. When they thought they things. People around me were always asking engaging and informative account of Devlin, “but they’re also aware that there’s a of tools available, and what they can were drinking Coke, distinctive regions me about what I was studying, but it was the neuroscience of colour vision. The lot of snake oil out there.” and cannot show. “Neuromarketing of participants’ prefrontal cortex were always quite difficult to get it across in a way Society for Neuroscience was sufficiently Dr Devlin has found himself companies typically offer a one-size-fits- activated – suggesting there is a region that people found interesting.” impressed to award it first place in its increasingly fielding enquiries from all solution,” points out Dr Devlin: “‘I’ve of the brain sensitive to brand. Strikingly, The brain in particular seemed to annual brain awareness video competition. companies interested in either developing got an EEG system, I’m going to use it.’ the ‘Coke bias’ could be abolished by capture people’s attention, but persuading How did he feel when he had heard he or using neuromarketing techniques – One thing we say to people is that’s not TMS targeting this region. “Companies them to engage more deeply proved had won? “Absolutely elated. We cracked though they often have only a hazy idea the way science works.” He highlights the are interested because they like to know difficult: “No one I personally know will open a bottle of champagne that had been of what is possible: “‘We need to do importance of choosing the right tool for that brand really matters,” says Dr Devlin, read an article about neuroscience. They’re taking up space in the fridge.” something with the brain’ is the usual the right question. “Those kinds of simple although it is not immediately obvious how interested, everyone wants to know how His victory enabled him to attend the expression they use.” messages resonate. But at the moment this insight could be exploited commercially. the brain works, but no one really cares Society for Neuroscience congress, the There is a lot of confusion, he they just don’t know what the options Dr Devlin views neuromarketing enough to spend time finding out.” spectacular annual neuroscience jamboree. suggests, but also an appetite to learn: are in terms of neuroscience, or why you through the lens of the ‘Gartner hype Undaunted, he experimented with “I’ve never seen so many people in one “What was striking to me, being new to would use one tool over another.” cycle’. New technologies take off with a other ways to get the message across: hall listening to one speaker before,” says marketing and advertising, was that there A key aim is to encourage a rigorous burst of interest, reaching ‘the peak of “I dabbled with a few things like setting Matthew. “It was amazing.” It was also were a lot of really bright people who were view of neuromarketing. It is not hard inflated expectation’. “To a large extent up websites and making computer a chance to listen to talks and pick up very interested and more than capable of to find examples of dubious practice. that’s where we are with neuromarketing,” programs and things while I was studying.” possible ideas for new videos: “I fitted in understanding what’s available if they had Dr Devlin points to an advert made by he suggests. This peak is usually followed Eventually, he settled on animation: “I’d as much in as I possibly could.” anybody who could offer it. That seemed Porsche, which likens driving one of their by a crash as disenchantment sets in and never made an animation before but I His second animation, on genetics to be what was missing.” cars to piloting a fighter plane – with then a gradual recovery to a ‘plateau of thought video was the way to go.” and genetically modified organisms, was an EEG headset somehow providing productiveness’. “Our thinking is that by Keen to experiment, he needed a launched at the end of January 2016. It was information about dopamine release: “It’s sharing our expertise we can get to this subject. “My little cousin set the question,” inspired by his experience when living in Screenshots from Matthew’s winning animation. a great advert, very engaging, but the plateau quicker.” he recalls. “He was about 10 and he said, Bristol of some activists’ almost visceral neuroscience is completely specious.” It ‘do we see the same colours?’ I spent about loathing of genetic modification. He has https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4 is also, he points out, a good example of www.ucl.ac.uk/consumer-neuroscience/ a day with him and managed to explain it, also been considering themes for future AuBgKYPEA&feature=youtu.be neuroscience as marketing rather than and he went ‘I kind of get it…’ I thought, neuroscience-related animations, such neuromarketing per se. ‘this isn’t working’. So I made it for him.” as gender differences and male and Good examples are harder to find, There was only one small problem: he female brains. although Dr Devlin highlights Read had never actually produced an animation. He is also keen to enter the Society for Montague’s adaptation of the ‘Pepsi Having studied architecture, he had a Neuroscience competition again, although challenge’ – using fMRI to examine reasonable grasp of graphics, “but I’d the organisers may need persuading: John Hogan (right) demonstrating TMS. never made anything move before.” “They think it might be unfair if I’m

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Q&A: Veselina Petrova My findings indicated that there is not CNS neurons to regenerate after spinal cord a straightforward dose-dependent effect injury. So far, we have identified integrins of tau on amyloid-β-mediated astrogliosis as key molecular players in the regenerative and focal neuronal loss. Nevertheless, process. Integrins, however, are actively Duncan Banks I helped validate a novel experimental excluded from axons in transport vesicles model as a suitable platform for future as neurons mature, and we believe that studies of amyloid-β–tau interactions. this is one reason why adult CNS neurons Q: What did you think when you heard have poor regenerative capabilities. you’d won the BNA award? In my project, I am hoping to be able to Veselina Petrova (Cambridge) won the BNA’s Undergraduate Award 2015. A/ I felt extremely proud that I was design strategies to redirect these transport winning the prize for the University of vesicles containing integrins and other Edinburgh for a fourth year in a row. This essential regenerative molecules back to Q: What did you discover in your research? said, I’d like to thank all staff and students the tip of the regenerating axon, which A/ In Alzheimer’s disease, the complex at the University of Edinburgh for the would hopefully enhance regeneration. interaction between amyloid-β peptides incredible support and inspiration over the Q: What are your long-term plans? and tau proteins is still largely unresolved. years. I’m especially grateful to Jane Haley, A/ My ultimate aim is to teach and inspire In Tara Spires-Jones’s lab at Edinburgh, I Tara Spires-Jones and Richard Ribchester. others. This is why I plan to establish my characterised pathological changes – such as Moreover, I was also very happy that my own research group and to be actively neuronal loss, astrogliosis and microgliosis – effort and motivation throughout my involved in teaching for an academic around amyloid-β plaques in a novel mouse undergraduate career were recognised by institution. Another passion of mine is model of Alzheimer’s disease. This is the such a fantastic group of neuroscientists reaching out to the public and presenting first animal model in which the amount that is the BNA. our research, and this is why I am of wild-type tau protein can be selectively Q: What are you doing now? determined to find more innovative ways controlled, which also offers an opportunity A/ I am a PhD student in James Fawcett’s to bridge the gap between neuroscientists to examine the interaction between tau laboratory in Cambridge. We are interested and the public. proteins and amyloid-β peptides in vivo. in improving the intrinsic capability of adult

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