Brain rhythms that serve as the binder for memory and concept formation

Memories are like the internal movies of our lives, allowing us to replay past events or to imagine the future. Unlike movies however, scientists do not yet understand how the brain merges information from the senses to form new memories, nor how it could be stimulated to improve or disrupt memories. Moreover, there exist brain rhythms that help the memory system, and stimulating the brain in these rhythms could have a powerful impact on multisensory perception and memory.

A motivated student will have the opportunity to work with a synergistic partnership between the Universities of Liverpool and Newcastle. The group in Liverpool established expertise in perception, memory and human brain activity recording, while the group in Newcastle is world-leading in primate neuroscience of direct relevance for human research. The studentship work will consist in designing an audio-visual memory task based on recent results from both labs, and applicable with humans and nonhuman primates. In Liverpool, the student will test human participants to link memory performance with brain activity. The work in Newcastle will involve primates working on an adaptation of the memory task, while an innovative approach modulating the brain activity with transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) will be applied to establish the role of the brain rhythms in the formation of new concept memories.

The PhD programme will advance understanding in two species for translating neuroscientific information to humans, and potentially lead to better target brain rhythms with neurostimulation to improve impaired memory. This training will allow the student to acquire unique non-invasive and in vivo skills with respectively humans and nonhuman primates, which have been identified as areas of need by UK funders including the BBSRC. The student will have the opportunity to sculpt their ideal PhD work around this fascinating topic, and will be supported with ultrasound stimulation by our company partner (BrainBox Ltd). Additionally, a prominent collaborator in human memory and brain rhythms will provide support with the human work by taking part in regular online meetings.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications should be made by emailing bbsrcdtp@liverpool.ac.uk with:

·        a CV (including contact details of at least two academic (or other relevant) referees);

·        a covering letter – clearly stating your first choice project, and optionally 2^nd ranked project, as well as including whatever additional information you feel is pertinent to your application; you may wish to indicate, for example, why you are particularly interested in the selected project(s) and at the selected University;

·        copies of your relevant undergraduate degree transcripts and certificates;

·        a copy of your IELTS or TOEFL English language certificate (where required);

·        a copy of your passport (photo page).

A GUIDE TO THE FORMAT REQUIRED FOR THE APPLICATION DOCUMENTS IS AVAILABLE AT https://www.nld-dtp.org.uk/how-apply. Applications not meeting these criteria may be rejected.

In addition to the above items, please email a completed copy of the Additional Details Form (as a Word document) to bbsrcdtp@liverpool.ac.uk. A blank copy of this form can be found at: https://www.nld-dtp.org.uk/how-apply.

Informal enquiries may be made to e.biau@liverpool.ac.uk

The deadline for all applications is 12noon on Monday 9^th January 2023.