The Ageing Brain

The Ageing Brain research group is focused on using the tools of cognitive neuroscience to understand how learning ability, neuroplasticity, memory, and emotional cognition change over the lifespan. It has special interests in cognitive techniques that promote neuroplasticity in older people, and early behavioural and biomarkers of cognitive decline.

Our approaches include: non-invasive brain stimulation, EEG (Dr Stergios Makris , Esteban Correa, Dr Antonio Capozio); learning and forgetting in spatial memory and navigation (Dr Dorothy Tse); Emotion perception (Dr Nicola van Rijsbergen) and Emotional Health (Eleanor Clarke, Dr Felicity Wolohan); Age effects in eye-witness memory (Dr Joyce Humphries), recovery from stroke and brain injury (Dr Alex Balani), and memory ability in reading effectiveness (Dr Nicola Currie)

Public engagement and intervention

We are keen to use our research insights to make a difference in the world. We are interested in promoting healthy ageing through behavioural change (throughout the life span, as the best way to age healthily is to start young) and many of our projects involve local communities (e.g. The Aging better project with the Aughton & Ormskirk u3a; local youth groups).

Awards

Our “Ageing Better with an Active Mind” community work has been shortlisted for an Educate North “Mental Health and Well-being Award” (2024)

Dr Dorothy Tse has been a finalist in the Women in Neuroscience UK Awards 2024

Key projects

Virtual Learning Landscapes: Improving Spatial Learning

Dr Dorothy Tse and Dr Diana Tham

Learning and memory are crucial cognitive functions, essential for navigating daily life. Spatial navigation, a key aspect of these functions, is shared across species, yet its study has faced challenges in bridging animal and human research due to differences in experimental conditions. To tackle this issue, our project employs the digital platform Minecraft to explore the influence of prior knowledge (schemas) on spatial learning and memory. Building on research that demonstrates the role of schemas in facilitating the rapid integration of information (Tse et al., 2007, 2011; van Kesteren, 2012), we investigate how people form schemas and acquire knowledge in Minecraft. This approach will help us explore how spatial memory is consolidated in virtual environments, shedding light on the mechanisms behind learning efficiency. Aligned with the United Nations’ sustainable development goal to promote well-being at all ages, this project aims to develop innovative interventions for cognitive health. By leveraging Minecraft’s immersive environment, we seek to create effective strategies that promote mental health and resilience. This research will provide deeper insights into cognitive processes and open new avenues for enhancing well-being.

Featured Projects

Ageing better with an active mind

Led by Dr Dorothy Tse and Dr Nicola van Rijsbergen, “Ageing better with an active mind” is an exciting project focused on fundamental health issues confronting our society. This project was created to address the disconnection between national advice on healthy ageing and practice in Lancashire and Merseyside where the elderly population with dementia is higher than the national average.

Motor system adaptions in ageing

Led by Dr Antonio Capozio from a cognitive neuroscientific approach, this project is investigating how the motor system adapts in response to ageing or injury, and how we can use innovative neurorehabilitation tools such as brain and spinal stimulation to improve hand function.

Find out more about how brain and spinal stimulation can improve arm function

Healthy Brain, Healthy Life

Led by Dr Dorothy Tse and funded by a grant from Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Inspire Fund, the Healthy Brain, Healthy Life public engagement project aims to create dialogue and engage with minority ethnic communities around brain health and dementia. The goal is to increase knowledge around brain health and the positive steps people can take to improve their brain health and reduce their risk of dementia.

View the Healthy Brain, Healthy Life project