Professor Guy Williams University positionProfessor Professor Guy Williams is pleased to consider applications from prospective PhD students. DepartmentsDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences InstitutesHome pageResearch ThemesInterestsOur group’s research interests lie broadly in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). This phenomenon allows data to be collected noninvasively on both the structure and function of the human brain. We research novel acquisition methods to provide contrasts relevant for neuroscience. As a group embedded in the WBIC, the common theme is to translate basic physics research into relevant tools for a range of neuroscience investigations. For example, we are developing and optimising pulse sequences for inferring the diffusion characteristics in the brain. These provide a useful tool for assessing tissue following head trauma and for dementia projects. We also have interests in novel MR acquisitions applied to psychology research areas such as learning and behaviour. Of equal importance is the subsequent processing and analysis of the acquired datasets, including machine learning approaches.  White matter visualised using DW-MRI Click image to view full-size Research Focus
EquipmentComputational modelling Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Collaborators
Associated News ItemsKey publicationsHosey TP, Harding SG, Carpenter TA, Ansorge RE, Williams GB (2008), “Application of a probabilistic double-fibre structure model to diffusion-weighted MR images of the human brain.” Magn Reson Imaging 26(2):236-45 Details Newcombe VF, Williams GB, Nortje J, Bradley PG, Harding SG, Smielewski P, Coles JP, Maiya B, Gillard JH, Hutchinson PJ, Pickard JD, Carpenter TA, Menon DK (2007), “Analysis of acute traumatic axonal injury using diffusion tensor imaging.” Br J Neurosurg 21(4):340-8 Details Williams GB, Nestor PJ, Hodges JR (2005), “Neural correlates of semantic and behavioural deficits in frontotemporal dementia” NeuroImage 24:1042-1051 Details Publications2014Diaz-de-Grenu LZ, Acosta-Cabronero J, Chong YF, Pereira JM, Sajjadi SA, Williams GB, Nestor PJ (2014), “A brief history of voxel-based grey matter analysis in Alzheimer's disease.” J Alzheimers Dis 38(3):647-59 Details Diaz-de-Grenu LZ, Acosta-Cabronero J, Williams GB, Nestor PJ (2014), “Comparing voxel-based iterative sensitivity and voxel-based morphometry to detect abnormalities in T2-weighted MRI.” Neuroimage 100C:379-384 Details Mak E, Su L, Williams GB, O'Brien JT (2014), “Neuroimaging characteristics of dementia with Lewy bodies.” Alzheimers Res Ther 6(2):18 Details Veenith TV, Carter EL, Grossac J, Newcombe VF, Outtrim JG, Nallapareddy S, Lupson V, Correia MM, Mada MM, Williams GB, Menon DK, Coles JP (2014), “Use of diffusion tensor imaging to assess the impact of normobaric hyperoxia within at-risk pericontusional tissue after traumatic brain injury.” J Cereb Blood Flow Metab Details 2013Acosta-Cabronero J, Williams GB, Cardenas-Blanco A, Arnold RJ, Lupson V, Nestor PJ (2013), “In vivo quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) in Alzheimer's disease.” PLoS One 8(11):e81093 Details Ersche KD, Jones PS, Williams GB, Robbins TW, Bullmore ET (2013), “Cocaine dependence: a fast-track for brain ageing?” Mol Psychiatry 18(2):134-5 Details Ersche KD, Jones PS, Williams GB, Smith DG, Bullmore ET, Robbins TW (2013), “Distinctive personality traits and neural correlates associated with stimulant drug use versus familial risk of stimulant dependence.” Biol Psychiatry 74(2):137-44 Details Ersche KD, Williams GB, Robbins TW, Bullmore ET (2013), “Meta-analysis of structural brain abnormalities associated with stimulant drug dependence and neuroimaging of addiction vulnerability and resilience.” Curr Opin Neurobiol 23(4):615-24 Details Newcombe VF, Williams GB, Outtrim JG, Chatfield D, Gulia Abate M, Geeraerts T, Manktelow A, Room H, Mariappen L, Hutchinson PJ, Coles JP, Menon DK (2013), “Microstructural basis of contusion expansion in traumatic brain injury: insights from diffusion tensor imaging.” J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 33(6):855-62 Details Pereira JM, Acosta-Cabronero J, Pengas G, Xiong L, Nestor PJ, Williams GB (2013), “VBM with viscous fluid registration of gray matter segments in SPM.” Front Aging Neurosci 5:30 Details Sajjadi SA, Acosta-Cabronero J, Patterson K, Diaz-de-Grenu LZ, Williams GB, Nestor PJ (2013), “Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging for single subject diagnosis in neurodegenerative diseases.” Brain 136(Pt 7):2253-61 Details Sawiak SJ, Wood NI, Williams GB, Morton AJ, Carpenter TA (2013), “Voxel-based morphometry with templates and validation in a mouse model of Huntington's disease.” Magn Reson Imaging 31(9):1522-31 Details Smith DG, Jones PS, Williams GB, Bullmore ET, Robbins TW, Ersche KD (2013), “Overlapping decline in orbitofrontal gray matter volume related to cocaine use and body mass index.” Addict Biol Details Veenith TV, Carter E, Grossac J, Newcombe VF, Outtrim JG, Lupson V, Williams GB, Menon DK, Coles JP (2013), “Inter subject variability and reproducibility of diffusion tensor imaging within and between different imaging sessions.” PLoS One 8(6):e65941 Details 2012Acosta-Cabronero J, Alley S, Williams GB, Pengas G, Nestor PJ (2012), “Diffusion tensor metrics as biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease.” PLoS One 7(11):e49072 Details Ersche KD, Jones PS, Williams GB, Turton AJ, Robbins TW, Bullmore ET (2012), “Abnormal brain structure implicated in stimulant drug addiction.” Science 335(6068):601-4 Details Garyfallidis E, Brett M, Correia MM, Williams GB, Nimmo-Smith I (2012), “QuickBundles, a Method for Tractography Simplification.” Front Neurosci 6:175 Details Pengas G, Williams GB, Acosta-Cabronero J, Ash TW, Hong YT, Izquierdo-Garcia D, Fryer TD, Hodges JR, Nestor PJ (2012), “The relationship of topographical memory performance to regional neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease.” Front Aging Neurosci 4:17 Details 2011Acosta-Cabronero J, Patterson K, Fryer TD, Hodges JR, Pengas G, Williams GB, Nestor PJ (2011), “Atrophy, hypometabolism and white matter abnormalities in semantic dementia tell a coherent story.” Brain 134(Pt 7):2025-35 Details Ash T, Suckling J, Walter M, Ooi C, Tempelmann C, Carpenter A, Williams G (2011), “Detection of physiological noise in resting state fMRI using machine learning.” Hum Brain Mapp Details Correia MM, Newcombe VF, Williams GB (2011), “Contrast-to-noise ratios for indices of anisotropy obtained from diffusion MRI: A study with standard clinical b-values at 3T.” Neuroimage Details Diaz-de-Grenu LZ, Acosta-Cabronero J, Pereira JM, Pengas G, Williams GB, Nestor PJ (2011), “MRI detection of tissue pathology beyond atrophy in Alzheimer's disease: Introducing T2-VBM.” Neuroimage Details Dickson JD, Ash TW, Williams GB, Sukstanskii AL, Ansorge RE, Yablonskiy DA (2011), “Quantitative phenomenological model of the BOLD contrast mechanism.” J Magn Reson Details Malone IB, Ansorge RE, Williams GB, Nestor PJ, Carpenter TA, Fryer TD (2011), “Attenuation Correction Methods Suitable for Brain Imaging with a PET/MRI Scanner: A Comparison of Tissue Atlas and Template Attenuation Map Approaches.” J Nucl Med 52(7):1142-9 Details Newcombe V, Chatfield D, Outtrim J, Vowler S, Manktelow A, Cross J, Scoffings D, Coleman M, Hutchinson P, Coles J, Carpenter TA, Pickard J, Williams G, Menon D (2011), “Mapping traumatic axonal injury using diffusion tensor imaging: correlations with functional outcome.” PLoS One 6(5):e19214 Details Newcombe VF, Outtrim JG, Chatfield DA, Manktelow A, Hutchinson PJ, Coles JP, Williams GB, Sahakian BJ, Menon DK (2011), “Parcellating the neuroanatomical basis of impaired decision-making in traumatic brain injury.” Brain 134(Pt 3):759-68 Details Ronan L, Pienaar R, Williams G, Bullmore E, Crow TJ, Roberts N, Jones PB, Suckling J, Fletcher PC (2011), “Intrinsic curvature: a marker of millimeter-scale tangential cortico-cortical connectivity?” Int J Neural Syst 21(5):351-66 Details Stamatakis EA, Shafto MA, Williams G, Tam P, Tyler LK (2011), “White matter changes and word finding failures with increasing age.” PLoS One 6(1):e14496 Details 2010Acosta-Cabronero J, Williams GB, Pengas G, Nestor PJ (2010), “Absolute diffusivities define the landscape of white matter degeneration in Alzheimer's disease.” Brain 133(Pt 2):529-39 Details Clatworthy PL, Williams GB, Acosta-Cabronero J, Jones SP, Harding SG, Johansen-Berg H, Baron JC (2010), “Probabilistic tractography of the optic radiations--an automated method and anatomical validation.” Neuroimage 49(3):2001-12 Details Dickson JD, Ash TW, Williams GB, Harding SG, Carpenter TA, Menon DK, Ansorge RE (2010), “Quantitative BOLD: the effect of diffusion.” J Magn Reson Imaging 32(4):953-61 Details Mion M, Patterson K, Acosta-Cabronero J, Pengas G, Izquierdo-Garcia D, Hong YT, Fryer TD, Williams GB, Hodges JR, Nestor PJ (2010), “What the left and right anterior fusiform gyri tell us about semantic memory.” Brain 133(11):3256-68 Details Newcombe VF, Williams GB, Scoffings D, Cross J, Carpenter TA, Pickard JD, Menon DK (2010), “Aetiological differences in neuroanatomy of the vegetative state: insights from diffusion tensor imaging and functional implications.” J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 81(5):552-61 Details Pereira JM, Xiong L, Acosta-Cabronero J, Pengas G, Williams GB, Nestor PJ (2010), “Registration accuracy for VBM studies varies according to region and degenerative disease grouping.” Neuroimage 49(3):2205-15 Details Tasker RC, Westland AG, White DK, Williams GB (2010), “Corpus callosum and inferior forebrain white matter microstructure are related to functional outcome from raised intracranial pressure in child traumatic brain injury.” Dev Neurosci 32(5-6):374-84 Details 2009Correia MM, Carpenter TA, Williams GB (2009), “Looking for the optimal DTI acquisition scheme given a maximum scan time: are more b-values a waste of time?” Magn Reson Imaging 27(2):163-75 Details Davies RR, Scahill VL, Graham A, Williams GB, Graham KS, Hodges JR (2009), “Development of an MRI rating scale for multiple brain regions: comparison with volumetrics and with voxel-based morphometry.” Neuroradiology 51(8):491-503 Details Pengas G, Pereira JM, Williams GB, Nestor PJ (2009), “Comparative reliability of total intracranial volume estimation methods and the influence of atrophy in a longitudinal semantic dementia cohort.” J Neuroimaging 19(1):37-46 Details Pereira JM, Williams GB, Acosta-Cabronero J, Pengas G, Spillantini MG, Xuereb JH, Hodges JR, Nestor PJ (2009), “Atrophy patterns in histologic vs clinical groupings of frontotemporal lobar degeneration.” Neurology 72(19):1653-60 Details Slawik H, Salmond CH, Taylor-Tavares JV, Williams GB, Sahakian BJ, Tasker RC (2009), “Frontal cerebral vulnerability and executive deficits from raised intracranial pressure in child traumatic brain injury.” J Neurotrauma 26(11):1891-903 Details 2008Abate MG, Trivedi M, Fryer TD, Smielewski P, Chatfield DA, Williams GB, Aigbirhio F, Carpenter TA, Pickard JD, Menon DK, Coles JP (2008), “Early derangements in oxygen and glucose metabolism following head injury: the ischemic penumbra and pathophysiological heterogeneity.” Neurocrit Care 9(3):319-25 Details Acosta-Cabronero J, Williams GB, Pereira JM, Pengas G, Nestor PJ (2008), “The impact of skull-stripping and radio-frequency bias correction on grey-matter segmentation for voxel-based morphometry.” Neuroimage 39(4):1654-65 Details Menzies L, Williams GB, Chamberlain SR, Ooi C, Fineberg N, Suckling J, Sahakian BJ, Robbins TW, Bullmore ET (2008), “White matter abnormalities in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and their first-degree relatives.” Am J Psychiatry 165(10):1308-15 Details Newcombe VF, Williams GB, Nortje J, Bradley PG, Chatfield DA, Outtrim JG, Harding SG, Coles JP, Maiya B, Gillard JH, Hutchinson PJ, Pickard JD, Carpenter TA, Menon DK (2008), “Concordant biology underlies discordant imaging findings: diffusivity behaves differently in grey and white matter post acute neurotrauma.” Acta Neurochir Suppl 102:247-51 Details Pereira JM, Nestor PJ, Williams GB (2008), “Impact of inconsistent resolution on VBM studies.” Neuroimage 40(4):1711-7 Details Stevick JW, Harding SG, Paquet U, Ansorge RE, Carpenter TA, Williams GB (2008), “Gaussian process modeling for image distortion correction in echo planar imaging.” Magn Reson Med 59(3):598-606 Details Takasawa M, Jones PS, Guadagno JV, Christensen S, Fryer TD, Harding S, Gillard JH, Williams GB, Aigbirhio FI, Warburton EA, Østergaard L, Baron JC (2008), “How reliable is perfusion MR in acute stroke? Validation and determination of the penumbra threshold against quantitative PET.” Stroke 39(3):870-7 Details Taylor Tavares JV, Clark L, Furey ML, Williams GB, Sahakian BJ, Drevets WC (2008), “Neural basis of abnormal response to negative feedback in unmedicated mood disorders.” Neuroimage 42(3):1118-26 Details 2007Coles JP, Fryer TD, Coleman MR, Smielewski P, Gupta AK, Minhas PS, Aigbirhio F, Chatfield DA, Williams GB, Boniface S, Carpenter TA, Clark JC, Pickard JD, Menon DK (2007), “Hyperventilation following head injury: effect on ischemic burden and cerebral oxidative metabolism.” Crit Care Med 35(2):568-78 Details 2006Lucas AJ, Hawkes RC, Ansorge RE, Williams GB, Nutt RE, Clark JC, Fryer TD, Carpenter TA (2006), “Development of a combined microPET-MR system.” Technol Cancer Res Treat 5(4):337-41 Details Perry RJ, Graham A, Williams G, Rosen H, Erzinçlioglu S, Weiner M, Miller B, Hodges J (2006), “Patterns of frontal lobe atrophy in frontotemporal dementia: a volumetric MRI study.” Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 22(4):278-87 Details Salmond CH, Menon DK, Chatfield DA, Williams GB, Pena A, Sahakian BJ, Pickard JD (2006), “Diffusion tensor imaging in chronic head injury survivors: correlations with learning and memory indices.” Neuroimage 29(1):117-24 Details 2005Cunningham AS, Salvador R, Coles JP, Chatfield DA, Bradley PG, Johnston AJ, Steiner LA, Fryer TD, Aigbirhio FI, Smielewski P, Williams GB, Carpenter TA, Gillard JH, Pickard JD, Menon DK (2005), “Physiological thresholds for irreversible tissue damage in contusional regions following traumatic brain injury.” Brain 128(Pt 8):1931-42 Details Hosey T, Williams G, Ansorge R (2005), “Inference of multiple fiber orientations in high angular resolution diffusion imaging.” Magn Reson Med 54(6):1480-9 Details Pickard JD, Hutchinson PJ, Coles JP, Steiner LA, Johnston AJ, Fryer TD, Coleman MR, Smielewski P, Chatfield DA, Aigbirhio F, Williams GB, Rice K, Clark JC, Salmond CH, Sahakian BJ, Bradley PG, Carpenter TA, Salvador R, Pena A, Gillard JH, Cunningham AS, Piechnik S, Czosnyka M, Menon DK (2005), “Imaging of cerebral blood flow and metabolism in brain injury in the ICU.” Acta Neurochir Suppl 95:459-64 Details 2004Coles JP, Fryer TD, Smielewski P, Chatfield DA, Steiner LA, Johnston AJ, Downey SP, Williams GB, Aigbirhio F, Hutchinson PJ, Rice K, Carpenter TA, Clark JC, Pickard JD, Menon DK (2004), “Incidence and mechanisms of cerebral ischemia in early clinical head injury.” J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 24(2):202-11 Details Coles JP, Steiner LA, Johnston AJ, Fryer TD, Coleman MR, Smieleweski P, Chatfield DA, Aigbirhio F, Williams GB, Boniface S, Rice K, Clark JC, Pickard JD, Menon DK (2004), “Does induced hypertension reduce cerebral ischaemia within the traumatized human brain?” Brain 127(Pt 11):2479-90 Details Davies RR, Graham KS, Xuereb JH, Williams GB, Hodges JR (2004), “The human perirhinal cortex and semantic memory.” Eur J Neurosci 20(9):2441-6 Details Ho AK, Nestor PJ, Williams GB, Bradshaw JL, Sahakian BJ, Robbins TW, Barker RA (2004), “Pseudo-neglect in Huntington's disease correlates with decreased angular gyrus density.” Neuroreport 15(6):1061-4 Details Thompson SA, Graham KS, Williams G, Patterson K, Kapur N, Hodges JR (2004), “Dissociating person-specific from general semantic knowledge: roles of the left and right temporal lobes.” Neuropsychologia 42(3):359-70 Details 2003Nestor PJ, Graham NL, Fryer TD, Williams GB, Patterson K, Hodges JR (2003), “Progressive non-fluent aphasia is associated with hypometabolism centred on the left anterior insula.” Brain 126(Pt 11):2406-18 Details 2001Galton CJ, Patterson K, Graham K, Lambon-Ralph MA, Williams G, Antoun N, Sahakian BJ, Hodges JR (2001), “Differing patterns of temporal atrophy in Alzheimer's disease and semantic dementia.” Neurology 57(2):216-25 Details 1999Williams GB, Fisher BJ, Huang CL, Carpenter TA, Hall LD (1999), “Design of biplanar gradient coils for magnetic resonance imaging of the human torso and limbs.” Magn Reson Imaging 17(5):739-54 Details |