Profile

I have lots of hobbies but my faviourite thing to do is play computer games. People might not know this but Scientists are huge geeks! We love playing computer games – my favourites include role playing games like Assassins Creed, puzzle games like Myst, and retro games such as Sonic, Mario, and Alex the Kidd (you probably won’t know that last one). I also like taking my kids and small puppy (Stella) out for works around Perthshire where I live.

During my PhD I studied different strategies that people use to try and remember new information. For example, I discovered that if we combine two unrelated words (for example, vegetable light) into a single mental image (a turnip lamp) we are more likely to remember that both words go together than if we create mental images of each word seperately. I used Electro-Encephalo-Graphy (EEG) – a big word that describes using a swimming cap with little round electrodes that allow us to record and measure electrical activity generated in the brain. Different electrical signals are associated with different aspects of human cognition (such as memory), allowing scientists to investigate how the brain responds in different tasks.

Normally we use EEG in a dedicated labroatory and test people sitting in a dark room in front of the computer. However, we now have the technology to fit all the equipment needed into a backpack so that people can wear EEG caps and move around in the real world. One of my previous jobs, for example, was to look at how the brain responds when athletes are super focused. I worked with rugby players, olympic rifle shooters, and I even got to meet the footballer Alan Shearer.

My work at Glasgow is focused on how we might apply what we know from cognitive neuroscience to help students learn more effectively in the classroom.

Working at a University involves lots of different jobs. For example, I have to prepare and deliver lectures to students – I teach both Physiological Psychology and Research Design, grade assessments and exams (much like your Teacher), supervise student projects, and run my own experiments and studies. I also have lots of administration duties, for instance, I help students to study Psychology in another country – an opportunity open to most University students.

If I’m carrying out an EEG study, this can take a lot of time. You need to set aside a few hours for every participant (a fancy word we use for volunteer in Psychology). You start before the participant arrives to the laboratory, preparing the equipment and setting up the computer. When the participant arrives they will read information about the study and give their consent to take part. We then sit the participant in front of a mirror and use alcohol wipes to clean the skin around the face where we will place electrodes. Face electrodes are placed around the eyes so that we can measure eye blinks and movements. Next, the EEG cap is fitted and positioned by using measuring tape – we need to make sure all the electrodes are in the correct position. Once the electrodes are in place, you have to insert a gel into each electrode that creates a connection between the skin on the scalp and the electrode. The skin on your head can also be quite tough and will often be covered in a layer of dead skin cells (yuck!). So we often have to use a small stick to rub the dead skin cells off to ensure that we can measure a nice clear signal. This whole process can take up to an hour. Once complete, the student will begin the experiment – which often involves taking part in a task on the computer. Once complete, we remove the cap and help the participant clean all the gel out of their hair. Thankfully, most EEG studies pay the participant for their time and some students take part to make some extra money.