Prof John King

Research summary

My overarching interest is in human memory, particularly spatial and episodic memory, and how it fails. My background is in pure research in this area; using a variety of techniques including functional brain imaging and virtual realities I was able to observe large-scale spatial behaviour in a controlled environment and design tasks which are sensitive to hippocampal damage. I am now developing a clinical research programme in which I will apply these techniques in clinical populations where memory is impaired. This includes applying sensitive tests for subtle memory deficits, and understanding the role memory plays in a number of mental illnesses, such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, where there is currently considerable confusion about the cause of memory problems and their role in developmental psychopathology. The aim of this research is twofold - to further understand the fundamental neural processes of memory, and importantly, to generate new loci of treatment in mental disorder; by understanding the role of memory impairment in, say, PTSD, it may be possible to develop cognitive remediation treatments which can help in the recovery from these debilitating conditions.

Education

British Psychological Society

Doctorate, Professional degree in Psychology | 2009

University College London

Doctorate, Doctor of Philosophy | 1998

University of Birmingham

First Degree, Bachelor of Science (Honours) | 1990

Publications

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