Neurosurgery, drugs and art...

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The Neural Marketplace

We welcomed UCL's own computational neuroscientist, Professor Kenneth Harris, who gave us a talk about the novel theory of retroaxonal signalling as ‘the neural marketplace’.

Retrograde (or backward) signalling in neurons is hypothesised to be an ingredient process in adult learning and in the strengthening of synapses. By means of retrograde signals, neurons form a self-assembled network that could be compared to that of a free market economy, such that "consumer" neurons can evaluate information transmitted from competing "producer" neurons and establish their producers' worth by a "payment" transferred by retrograde signalling. Only the fittest producer neurons stand the chance of survival! Professor Harris has been working on molecular pathways, mathematical models and simulations of this phenomenon.

May 2015

Research & Careers V

Our last student research talks of the year consisted of viva-style presentations from 11 MSci and BSc Neuroscience students on their experimental projects undertaken that year, including topics such as:

• Investigating the impact of negative affect on item and spatial memory.
• The role of prediction inhibition in grammatically accurate sentence comprehension.
• The development of somatosensory lateralisation in the human infant brain.
• RNA transcripts derived from SINEs regulate the transcription of neuronal activity-dependent genes.
• Differential modulation of inputs to corticospinal neurons during action preparation for choice reaction time.

April 2015

Research & Careers IV

This research talk focused on the topic of ‘Sleep and Biological Rhythms’.

We were proud to host Dr Marcus Ghosh and Dr Alexis Webb, who discussed their own research into the field, followed by MSci student Alessandro Galloni, on his work in the Rihel Lab.

March 2015

To Walk Again

In collaboration with the UCLU Medical Society, we welcomed Professor Geoffrey Raisman (Chair of Neural Regeneration at the UCL Institute of Neurology) to a screening of the Panorama documentary ‘To Walk Again’ and a discussion of his efforts on curing spinal cord injuries. Professor Raisman led the UCL research team that pioneered the transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells for neural tissue regeneration, which led to the first instance of a paralysed man walking again. We were also reintroduced to Raquel Siganporia (Vice-Chair of the Spinal Injuries Association) who provided an account of how spinal injuries affect individuals’ lives.

February 2015

Research and Careers III

This research talk focused on schizophrenia, with speakers including:

• Dr Ann Barnes - medical imaging of schizophrenia.
• Dr Jon Roiser - the aberrant salience theory of schizophrenia.
• Dr Rick Adams - studying schizophrenic and schizotypal individuals using computational methods.
• Dr Muj Husain - his experience in treating schizophrenic patients as a psychiatrist at Lambeth Hospital.
• Gabriel Gavin (UCL undergraduate neuroscience student) - his summer research experience in using the heart to study neurotransmission.

January 2015

Drugs & The Brain: Time for a Neuroscience Enlightenment?

We welcomed Professor David Nutt (DM, FRCP, FRCPsych, FMedSci, Professor of Psychopharmacology at Imperial College London and chair of the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs) who spoke about the UK's drug legalisation and drug policy. 

Professor Nutt was dismissed from the governmental Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in a political storm following his comments about the state of drug policy in this country. In the controversy that followed, many members of the Council resigned in solidarity. They have now formed an independent organisation that aims to downgrade and decriminalise a large number of drugs.

Over 900 people came to listen to his research on illegal drugs, drug legalisation and how drug laws affect research.

January 2015

Research & Careers II

This research and careers talk focused on cognitive neuroscience, with speakers including:

• Dr Julia Christensen - her research into perception of the aesthetics of dance.
• Dr Oliver Robinson - how we can study anxiety using cognitive methods.
• Jessica Griggs (Biomedical Sciences Editor at New Scientist) - how to become a science editor.
• Angela Jones (UCL undergraduate neuroscience student) - her summer research experience on load theory.

December 2014

Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery

We welcomed Henry Marsh (CBE, FRCS) a leading British neurosurgeon and a pioneer of neurosurgical advances in Ukraine. He spoke about his experiences, his involvement in the 2004 Horizon documentary ‘Your Life in Their Hands’ and his widely acclaimed memoir ‘Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery’.

November 2014

Research & Careers I

For our first research and careers talk we welcomed:

• Dr Barney Bryson - the optogenetic control of movement.
• Dr Bill Andrews - the role of Robo in neocortical development.
• Dr Curtis Asante (Senior Editor at Nature Communications) - a careers talk.
• Alex Bates (UCL undergraduate neuroscience student) - his summer research experience.

October 2014