Mr Nick Donnelly

Interests

I am interested in understanding how different brain regions, containing different types of neurons, and with different architectures, are able to work together to process information and produce adaptive behaviour.

Currently I am investigating the relationship between local field potentials, the activity in individual neurons and decision making behaviour, with a particular focus on the generation of impulsive behaviours. Given the role of impulsivity in drug addiction, and the prevalence of impaired decision making in a range of other neuro-psychiatric disorders such as ADHD, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, this research could contribute to the development of new treatments for these disorders.

I carry out these investigations using wireless, multisite- electrophysiological recording in awake animals performing behavioural tasks.

Research Focus

Equipment

Behavioural analysis

Electrophysiological recording techniques

Field potential recording