Carys Evans

Biography

Teaching Fellow  member of GoldAge and Banissy Labs Academic Qualifications 2016 – Postdoctoral Research, Goldsmiths, University of London 2015 – PhD, Northumbria University, Newcastle 2011 – MSc Cognitive Neuroscience, Durham University 2010 – BSc (Hons) Applied Psychology, Durham University

Research Interest

Using different neuroimaging techniques, my current research explores the following topics: Mood: Brain stimulation has been shown to alleviate symptoms of depression in young adults, demonstrating its potential as an alternative therapeutic technique. Few studies have explored the efficacy of this technique in different populations. As part of a collaborative project, we are assessing whether the effect of brain stimulation on mood is dependent upon the age of the individual and their trait mood. We are also interested in whether one type of stimulation is more effective than another. Motor imagery: Requiring a similar neural network to motor execution, motor imagery is the dynamic simulation of a motor act. It is critical in movement planning, passive observation of action, and action imitation. Research indicates that motor imagery is a useful training tool to improve proficiency in sport. I am particularly interested in whether motor imagery can enhance motor recovery in neurological disorders such as stroke, by improving the reconnection of damaged neural networks. I am also keen to assess whether neuromodulation can help repair these networks. Apraxia: Whilst people with apraxia can identify objects and grasp them based on their size and location, errors occur during functional use of objects (e.g. cutting paper with scissors). These mistakes may reflect deficient generation of internal representations of movement (i.e. motor imagery). I am interested in assessing the integrity of motor imagery in apraxia by using a combination of action perception and execution tasks. Visual Pathways Model: Classically divided into the ventral and dorsal streams, I am interested in how these pathways integrate information in order to accurately grasp or use objects. Evidence suggests an additional “ventro-dorsal” sub-stream is recruited when perceptual information must be incorporated into action plans during skilled movement (e.g. object-use). Using brain stimulation, my previous research assessed whether the left inferior parietal lobe (IPL) is the critical juncture where visual and semantic information is integrated.