- Vacancy Reference Number
- MRC AIM DTP CASE
- Closing Date
- 10 Jan 2025
- Salary
- UKRI PhD stipend (£19,237 in 24/25))
- Address
- School of Psychology
University of Nottingham
University Park
NG7 2RD
UK
- Duration
- 4 years
Human brain imaging studies have linked activity of the insula brain region to action/movement control and motor tics – repetitive movements that resemble normal movements but are produced outside the normal context of these movements and are characteristic of Tourette’s.
However, such studies cannot tell us if insula activity causes tics.
In rats, the insula is similarly organised to humans and we can study tic-like movements and other Tourette’s-related behaviours. Therefore, studies in rats, where we can combine experimental brain manipulations with behavioural and neurophysiological measurements, allow us to determine if changes in insula activity cause Tourette’s-related behavioural changes.
In this project, the student will combine manipulations of insula activity, using intracerebral drug microinfusions, with behavioural, electrophysiological and translational neuroimaging measurements in rats.
The project will reveal insula contributions to movement control and other behaviours relevant to Tourette’s and inform the development of new treatments, including non-invasive neuromodulation approaches. The student will spend 3 months with Neupulse, a neurotechnology start-up focusing on neuromodulation devices, where they will learn about translating and commercialising research findings. The translational neuroimaging studies in rats will be completed with our collaborators at the Leibniz Institute of Neurobiology (Magdeburg, Germany).
Further Information
The project is offered as part of the MRC AIM (Advanced Interdisciplinary Models) DTP (Doctoral Training Programme).
Further information on how to apply can be found here: https://more.bham.ac.uk/mrc-aim/phd-opportunities/
For informal inquiries about the project, please email Tobias Bast (tobias.bast@nottingham.ac.uk).
Contact Details
Tobias Bast, tobias.bast@nottingham.ac.uk
