The Richardson Lab, headed by Professor Mark Richardson, comprises a team of researchers from several different disciplines, including neurology, psychology, engineering and physics. We study the brain as an entire functioning system, rather than studying small components of the brain. Most of our work involves the direct study of people with epilepsy, their relatives, and people unaffected by epilepsy.
Current work aims to understand the brain networks underlying epilepsy, how these network abnormalities affect cognition, and whether interventions targeting specific components of the network can improve epilepsy.
Research methods/focus
In order to study the brain as an entire functioning system, we use brain scanning techniques (especially MRI) and electroencephalography (EEG, a method to record electrical activity from the brain), as well as transcranial magnetic brain stimulation (TMS). We are especially interested to create simplified models of the brain using computers, which can provide important insights into the workings of the highly complex brain.
We collaborate very closely with mathematicians, engineers and computer scientists to achieve this goal, especially with the lab of Professor John Terry.
