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  • Parkinsons@NI

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  • Brain and Behaviour

Brain and Behaviour

Brain electric 800
Brain and Behaviour
NEURAL SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES IN ACTION, WELLBEING AND REHABILITATION

Our research encompasses a wide range of topics related to neural underpinnings of sensorimotor, cognitive and behavioural functions. This work extends from fundamental (with the aim of understanding the mechanisms underlying human performance, mobility, health and well-being) to applied (utilising fundamental knowledge to improve health and well-being across the lifespan, and enhance functional capacity in multiple domains).

We have access to extensive facilities for behavioural and neurophysiological studies. These include: multiple 3D motion tracking systems; equipment for electromyography (EMG); functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS); transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with Neuronavigation; electroencephalography (EEG); posturography (Neurocom Balance Master); eye tracking, sound-synthesis, gait analysis (AMTI force-plates); and a range of stimulus presentation systems, including immersive VR environments. Off-site, we have access to commercial services for magnetic resonance imaging (1.5 Tesla).

The current research interests of the group include: the restoration of upper limb function in stroke survivors; goalkeeper movements during free kicks; the neural basis of interception; balance control across the lifespan, in clinical and atypical populations; movement sonification strategies for visually impaired people; diagnostic biomarkers for motor neurone disease; the neural basis of individual differences in the preservation of cognitive and motor function in later life; and motor learning in music and other skill domains .

Beta bursting activity

Showing brain activity occurring in ‘bursts’ within the 15-30Hz ‘Beta’ frequency range during recordings where participants are engaging their brain’s ‘stopping’ networks – ie. It is the brain’s ‘breaking system’ upon hearing a cue to STOP moving.

Dr Matthew Rodger
Dr Matthew Rodger
Sensorimotor coordination

My research investigates the roles that sensory systems play in motor coordination, learning, and recovering mobility. 

My research has applications in overcoming movement challenges, such as using rhythmic sounds to help walking for people with Parkinson’s disease, or developing sound-based guides for people with visual impairments. I am also interested in motor control and learning, and the processes that underpin these, across a range of skill domains, particularly music.

Dr Kathy Ruddy
Dr Kathy Ruddy
Brain Computer Interfaces for neurorehabilitation

By incorporating different types of neural signals into brain-controlled computer games, I train human participants to modify specific aspects of their neurophysiological function. 

This methodology allows me to pursue three related lines of research; Firstly, I use neurofeedback as a scientific method to experimentally isolate and manipulate neural processes to investigate the neurophysiological basis of human behaviours (eg. sleep, motor learning, motor imagery, inhibitory control). Secondly, as my work often involves the use of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI), I perform research to advance the current state of the art in BCI methodology. This involves devising novel approaches to BCI, as well as optimising existing technologies to improve clinical and scientific utility. Finally, the BCIs that I use offer opportunities for designing personalised interventions to improve human performance or reduce dysfunction by tuning patterns of neural activity towards an optimal pattern. One theme of my research involves promoting neural plasticity in the damaged motor system, and I am currently leading an investigation testing a novel neurofeedback protocol using TMS to accelerate recovery of upper limb sensorimotor function in stroke patients.

Dr Joost Dessing
Dr Joost Dessing

Eye-hand Coordination

My research focuses on the neural basis of, and computational mechanisms underlying, our ability to move (body parts) to stationary objects (such as picking up a cup of coffee) and moving objects (such as catching, hitting, and kicking). 

Using a range of tools, I study these topics both at a fundamental level (e.g., how sensory information is transformed by the brain into adequate motor commands) as well as at the applied level (e.g., understanding and subsequently improving performance in sports or designing human-robot interactions to capitalize on established neural and behavioural principles reflecting human preferences).

Mihalis Doumas
Dr Mihalis Doumas

Posture, Gait and Ageing

I am an expert in sensorimotor neuroscience with a focus on posture and gait control. In my group we investigate the way sensory information (visual, vestibular and proprioceptive) and cognitive resources are used to control movement in healthy, neurotypical, atypical and clinical populations including young and older adults, autistic adults and people living with Parkinson's. 

The methods we use include posturography (Neurocom, AMTI), motion capture (Qualisys and xsens), brain stimulation (TMS, tDCS) and neuroimaging (fNIRS, Artinis Oxymon). Since 2023 I co-lead Parkinsons@NI, an inter-disciplinary evidence-led research hub on Parkinson’s research, the first of its kind in the island of Ireland.

Dr Richard Carson
The Cognitive Neuroscience of Ageing

My research concerns human brain plasticity, with a focus upon changes that occur across the lifespan. It is geared towards the development of methods to maintain and restore cognitive and movement function in later life. 

Much of my current clinical and pre-clinical research has a specific emphasis upon the rehabilitation of upper limb function in stroke survivors, including the development and therapeutic evaluation of assistive devices. I am also involved in the generation of diagnostic biomarkers for motor neurone disease. A particular interest is the neural basis of individual differences in the preservation of cognitive and motor function in older people.

Dr Andrew Monaghan

My research interests focus on the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying balance control and mobility impairments in neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and multiple sclerosis (MS). My research employs neuroimaging techniques, such as EEG, to investigate cortical activity associated with freezing of gait, fall risk, and mobility decline. I aim to identify neural markers of disease progression and develop targeted interventions to enhance balance and mobility. Additionally, my work explores the role of attention in balance control, particularly among older adults and individuals with PD.

Dr Anna Truzzi

My research focuses on understanding how both the infant's and the caregivers' brain and mind develop and change during the first years of a baby's life, with a particular focus on social development and neurodiversity. To address questions in this research topic, I use a combination of interdisciplinary methodologies that include behavioural observations, cognitive tests, fMRI, EEG, and computational modelling.

Dr Emmet McNickle

I am interested in how we can harness neural plasticity to improve outcomes in a range of different health conditions. My current research focus is on the use of brain-computer interfaces in motor rehabilitation following stroke, with a particular emphasis on making these tools accessible to people in their homes in the form of user-friendly, portable devices. I also have ongoing international collaborations on the use of non-invasive brain stimulation in depression, neural markers of inhibitory control in balance, and the neural correlates of perceptual decisions. My primary research tools include EEG, EMG and non-invasive brain stimulation.

Our Current Research Projects
Parkinson's NI
Connecting local stakeholders and research partners interested in improving quality of life for people with Parkinson's.

The hub facilitates research, evidence, data and expertise to take advantage of opportunities and find place-based solutions to challenges that matter to the local community of people living with Parkinson's in NI. The hub will also provide information to shape regional economic, community and health-care policy as it relates to Parkinson's and other related neurological conditions.

Find out more


Research Students
Below are some of the topics our students are researching to complete their PhD
Student name PhD Title PhD Supervisor
Olivia Blundell Multisensory integration in adults with autism spectrum disorder: investigating general vs task specific sensory processing deficits. Mihalis Doumas
Olivia Smith Timbre guiding performer-instrument interactions: auditory-motor perception, learning and the emergence of meaning for players of new Digital Musical Instruments. Matthew Roger

Representative publications by research area

Check out some recent publications in each of our research areas. More publications can be found on our individual profiles above.

  • Healthy Aging

    Carson, R. G., Berdondini, D., Crosbie, M., McConville, C., Forbes, S., Stewart, M., & Zhi Xian Chiu, R. (2024). Deficits in force production during multifinger tasks demarcate cognitive dysfunction. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 36(1):87.  doi: 10.1007/s40520-024-02723-9

    Simon, C., Bolton, D.A.E., Meaney, J.F., Kenny, R.A., Simon, V.A., De Looze, C., Knight, S., Ruddy, K.L. (2024). White matter fibre density in the brain’s inhibitory control network is associated with falling in low activity older adults. European Journal of Neuroscience, 1-19, doi: 10.1111/ejn.16327

    Simon, C., Bolton, D.A.E., Meaney, J.F., Kenny, R.A., Simon, V.A., De Looze, C., Knight, S., Ruddy, K.L. (2024). White matter fibre density in the brain’s inhibitory control network is associated with falling in low activity older adults. European Journal of Neuroscience, 1-19, doi: 10.1111/ejn.16327

    Gutiérrez-Zúñiga, R., Davis, J.,  Ruddy, K.L,   De Looze, C., Carey, D.,  Meaney, J., Kenny, R.A., Knight, S.P, Romero-Ortuno, R (2023)..  Structural brain signatures of frailty as accumulation of self-reported health deficits in older adults. Frontiers in Ageing Neuroscience, 15,  https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.106519

    Schwartz, S. E., Ruddy, K.L, Dalkin, C., England, D., & Bolton, D. A. E. (2021) Relationship between speed of response inhibition and ability to suppress a step in midlife and older adults. Brain Sciences, 11(5), 643 https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050643

  • Motor Control Learning

    Andrushko, J. W., Carr, J. C., Farthing, J. P., Lepley, L. K., DeFreitas, J. M., Goodall, S., Hendy, A.M., Howatson, G., Grooms, D.R., Zult, T., Hortobagyi, T.,  Harput, G., Papandreou, M.,  Nosaka, K., Carson, R.G., Manca, A, Deriu, F.m, Behm, D.G., Kidgell, D.J., Clark, N.C. & Boyd, L. A. (2023). Potential role of cross-education in early-stage rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57(23), 1474-1475. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2023-107456.

    Nolff, M. R., Kapur, S., Kendall, B. J., Doumas, M., Conner, N. O., Chander, H., Haworth, J. L., & Goble, D. J. (2023). An initial set of reference values for the Balance Tracking System (BTrackS) Limits of Stability protocol. Gait and Posture, 107, 67–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.09.008

    Anderson Rowley, M., Warner, J., Harper, S.A., Beethe, A.Z., Whelan, R., Ruddy K.L., Bolton, D.A.E. (2022). A method to assess response inhibition during a balance recovery step. Gait and Posture. 95, 56-62, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2022.04.009

    Simon, C., & Ruddy, K.L. (2022). A wireless, wearable Brain-Computer Interface for Neurorehabilitation at home; A feasibility Study. IEEE: Conference proceedings paper from the 10th International Conference on Brain-Computer Interface. February 2022. South Korea. DOI: 10.1109/BCI53720.2022.9734849

    Chakraborty, S., Saetta,G., Simon, C., Lenggenhager, B., Ruddy, K.L. (2021) Could Brain-Computer Interface be a new therapeutic approach for Body Integrity Dysphoria? Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 15, 699830. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.699830

  • Parkinson’s disease

    Copeland, S., Anderson, T., Carter, G., Brown Wilson, C., Stark, P., Doumas, M., Rodger, M., O'Shea, E., Creighton, L., Craig, S., McMahon, J., Gillis, A., Crooks, S., & Mitchell, G. (2024). Experiences of People Living with Parkinson's Disease in Care Homes: A Qualitative Systematic Review. Nursing reports (Pavia, Italy), 14(1), 428–443. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep14010033

    Crooks, S., Carter, G., Wilson, C. B., Wynne, L., Stark, P., Doumas, M., Rodger, M., Shea, E. O., & Mitchell, G. (2023). Exploring public perceptions and awareness of Parkinson’s disease: A scoping review. PLoS ONE, 18(9 September). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291357

     

  • Sport

    Valkanidis, T. C., Craig, C. M., Cummins, A., & Dessing, J. C. (2020). A goalkeeper's performance in stopping free kicks reduces when the defensive wall blocks their initial view of the ball. PloS one, 15(12), e0243287. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243287

    Camponogara, I., Rodger, M., Craig, C., & Cesari, P. (2017). Expert players accurately detect an opponent’s movement intentions through sound alone. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 43(2), 348-359. https://doi.org/10.1037/xhp0000316

  • Stroke

    Carson, R. G., & Hayward, K.S. (to appear). Using mechanistic knowledge to appraise contemporary approaches to the rehabilitation of upper limb function following stroke. The Journal of Physiology.

    Simon, C., & Ruddy, K.L. Keeping our eyes on the prize; are we losing sight of the ‘Why’ in BCI for neurorehabilitation? Brain-computer interface research. A state-of-the-art summary 11. ed. / Christoph Guger; Brendan Allison; Tomasz Rutkowski; Milena Korostenskaja. Springer, 2024. p. 75-82 (SpringerBriefs in Electrical and Computer Engineering).

    Simon, C., Bolton, D.A.E., Kennedy, N., Soekadar, S.R., Ruddy, K.L. (2021) Challenges and Opportunities for the future of Brain-Computer Interface in neurorehabilitation. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 15,699428. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2021.699428

    Liang, W., Xu, Y., Schmidt, J., Zhang, L., Ruddy, K.L (2020). Upregulating excitability of cortico-spinal pathways in stroke patients using TMS neurofeedback; a pilot study. Neuroimage Clinical, 23, 102465.

  • Techniques in Neuroscience

    Carson, R. G., & Leemans, A. (2024). Tractography derived quantitative estimates of tissue microstructure depend on streamline length: A characterization and method of adjustment. arXiv preprint arXiv:2403.02102.

    Besomi, M., Devecchi, V., Falla, D., McGill, K., Kiernan, M.C., Merletti, R., van Dieën, J.H., Clancy, E.A., Søgaard, K., Hug, F., Carson, R.G., Perreault, E., Gandevia, S., Besier, T., Rothwell, J.C., Enoka, R.M., Holobar, A., Disselhorst-Klug, C., Wrigley, T., Lowery, M., Farina, D., & Hodges, P.W. (2024). Consensus for experimental design in electromyography  (CEDE) project: Checklist for reporting and critically appraising studies using EMG (CEDE-Check). Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 13:76:102874.  doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2024.102874.

    Williams, S., Carson, R. G., & Tóth, K. (2024). Reply from Sean Williams, Richard G. Carson and Katalin Tóth. The Journal of Physiology, 602(1), 243-244.

    Williams, S., Carson, R., & Tóth, K. (2023). Moving beyond P values in The Journal of Physiology: A primer on the value of effect sizes and confidence intervals. The Journal of Physiology, 601(23), 5131-5133.

    Martinez-Valdes, E., Enoka, R. M., Holobar, A., McGill, K., Farina, D., Besomi, M., Hug, F., Falla, D., Carson, R. G., ... & Hodges, P. W. (2023). Consensus for experimental design in electromyography (CEDE) project: Single motor unit matrix. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 68, 102726. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2022.102726.

  • Neural Plasticity

    Calvert, G. H., & Carson, R. G. (2023). Induction of interhemispheric facilitation by short bursts of transcranial alternating current stimulation. Neuroscience Letters, 803, 137190. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137190.

    Carson, R. G., Capozio, A., McNickle, E., & Sack, A. T. (2021). A Bayesian approach to analysing cortico-cortical associative stimulation induced increases in the excitability of corticospinal projections in humans. Experimental Brain Research, 239(1), 21-30. doi: 10.1007/s00221-020-05943-3.

    Carson, R. G., & Buick, A. R. (2021). Neuromuscular electrical stimulation‐promoted plasticity of the human brain. The Journal of physiology. 599.9, pp 2375-2399, doi: 10.1113/JP278298.

    Carson, R.G. & Rankin, M.L. (2018). Shaping the effects of associative brain stimulation by contractions of the opposite limb. Frontiers in Psychology. 9:2249. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02249.

    Buick, A. R., Kennedy, N.C. & Carson, R. G. (2016). Characteristics of corticospinal projections to the intrinsic hand muscles in skilled harpists. Neuroscience Letters, 612, 87-91. Published on-line 7th December 2015. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2015.11.046

  • Visual Impairment

    Lobo, L., Travieso, D., Jacobs, D. M., Rodger, M., & Craig, C. M. (2018). Sensory substitution: Using a vibrotactile device to orient and walk to targets. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 24(1), 108–124. https://doi.org/10.1037/xap0000154

    Russomanno, S. O’Modhrain, R. B. Gillespie and M. W. M. Rodger. (2015). Refreshing Refreshable Braille Displays. IEEE Transactions on Haptics, 8(3), 287-297. doi: 10.1109/TOH.2015.2423492.

  • Cognitive Neuroscience

    Weng, Yi, Kruschwitz, J, Rueda-Delgado, L.M., Ruddy, K.,  … Whelan, R and the, IMAGEN Consortium  (2024) A robust brain network for sustained attention from adolescence to adulthood that predicts later substance use eLife 13:RP97150  https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.97150.1

    Mc Nickle, E., Tadjine, L., & Ruddy, K.L. (2024) Towards a reliable neural biomarker for predicting response to non-invasive brain stimulation in the treatment of depression. Current Opinion in Behavioural Sciences. 56, 101369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2024.101369

    Enz, N., Schmidt, J., Nolan, K., Mitchell, M., Alvarez Gomez, S., Alkayyali, M., Cambay, P., Gippert, M., Whelan, R., Ruddy, K.L. (2022) Self-regulation of the brain’s right frontal Beta rhythm using a brain-computer interface. Psychophysiology, e14115. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyp.14115

    Saetta, G.*, Ruddy, K.L*, Zapparoli, L., Gandola, M., Salvato, G., Sberna, M., Bottini, G., Brugger, P., Lenggenhager, B. (2022) White matter abnormalities in body integrity dysphoria. Cortex, 151, 272-280 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2022.03.011

    Rueda-Delgado, L.M., O’Halloran, L., Enz, N., Ruddy, K.L., Kiiski, H., Bennett, M., Farina, F., Jollans, L., Vahey, N., Whelan, R. (2021) Brain event-related potentials predict individual differences in inhibitory control. International Journal of Psychophysiology.163, 22-34.

    Ruddy, K.., Cole, D., Simon, C.S., Bächinger, M. (2020) Neuronal response variability as a product of divisive normalization; Neurobiological implications at a macroscale level. HRB Open Research, 3:34. DOI: 10.12688/hrbopenres.13062.1

    Reid, S. A., & Dessing, J. C. (2018). Non-predictive online spatial coding in the posterior parietal cortex when aiming ahead for catching. Scientific reports, 8(1), 7756. 

  • Human-Robot interactions

    Adebayo, S., McLoone, S. & Dessing, J. C. (2022). Hand-Eye-Object Tracking for Human Intention Inference. IFAC-PapersOnLine, 55(12), 174-179

  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Poliomyelitis

    McMackin, R., Tadjine, Y., Mitchell, M., Heverin, M., Awiszus, F., Nasseroleslami, B., Carson, R.G., & Hardiman, O. (2024). Examining short interval intracortical inhibition with different transcranial magnetic stimulation-induced current directions in ALS. Clinical Neurophysiology Practice. 3:9:120-129.  doi: 10.1016/j.cnp.2024.03.001.

    Dukic, S., Fasano, A., Coffey, A., Buxó, T., McMackin, R., Chipika, R., Heverin, M., Bede, P., Muthuraman, M., Lowery, M., Carson, R.G., Hardiman, O., & Nasseroleslami, B. (2024). Electroencephalographic β‐band oscillations in the sensorimotor network reflect motor symptom severity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. European Journal of Neurology, e16201. doi: 10.1111/ene.16201.  Epub 2024 Jan 18.

    Bista, S., Coffey, A., Fasano, A., Buxo, T., Mitchell, M., Giglia, E. R., Dukic, S., Heverin, M., Muthuraman, M., Carson, R.G., Lowery, M., Hardiman, O., McManus, L., & Nasseroleslami, B. (2023). Cortico-muscular coherence in primary lateral sclerosis reveals abnormal cortical engagement during motor function beyond primary motor areas. Cerebral Cortex, 33(13), 8712-8723.  doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhad152..

    Coffey, A., Bista, S., Fasano, A., Buxo, T., Mitchell, M., Giglia, E. R., Dukic., S., … Carson, R. G., Lowery, M., Hardiman, O., & Nasseroleslami, B. (2021). Altered supraspinal motor networks in survivors of poliomyelitis: A cortico-muscular coherence study. Clinical Neurophysiology, 132(1), 106-113. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2020.10.011

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