Sensory processing and brain development in humans

- Developmental human neurophysiology
- Maturation of sensory systems in premature infants (focus on somatosensation and pain)
- Early formation of cortical circuits
- Non-invasive brain monitoring: EEG, MRI, NIRS and simultaneous EEG-fMRI
We use non-invasive techniques such as EEG, fMRI and NIRS to study normal and pathological spontaneous and sensory driven perinatal brain maturation and consequences of preterm birth and hospitalisation. The neonatal brain should not be regarded as an incomplete version of the adult brain, but as something different altogether. Indeed, we have shown for example that brain responses to a painful stimulus in infancy are ever-changing and present unique characteristics compared which are absent in adults, pointing at fundamentally different information processing.
We also investigate spontaneous electroencephalographic patterns, which are thought to be fundamental for healthy brain growth and development and ways to promote their occurrence. For example, we have shown the importance of subcortically initiated movements and muscle contractions during different vigilance phases in the generation and maintenance of these key activity patterns.
Clinincal:
Dr Meek, consultant neonatologist, UCLH
Dr Arichi, consultant paediatric neurologist, St Thomas’ Hospital
Dr Pressler, consultant clinical neurophysiologist, Great Ormond Street Hospital
Academic:
Dr Whitehead, UCL, Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology
Prof Pillai-Riddell, York University, Canada
Dr Cooper, UCL, Medical Physics and Bioengineering
Prof Burdet, Imperial College London
Prof Olhede, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
Prof Khazipov, Kazan Federal University, Russia
Prof Papadelis, TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine, Texas, US
Industry:
Brain Product, EEG system manufacturer, Germany