We spend 1/3 rd of our life asleep, and the brain is very busy during this time. Memories are spontaneously reinstated during sleep, and this reinstatement has been linked to consolidation, or strengthening of the memories involved. This can lead to integration of new memories with each other and with existing knowledge, providing a basis for creativity. Intriguingly, scientists can control this reactivation, and thus selectively strengthen and weaken specifically targeted memories using a method called Targeted Memory Consolidation (TMR). In future, this may lead to a sci-fi like scenario in which we can actively manipulate people’s memories, see my TEDx talk on sleep engineering for an easy intro. You can also check out our Sleep Science Podcast.
However, much remains to be understood about what neural replays in sleep is actually doing. We aim to understand how replay impacts on neuroplasticity and interactions between the brain structures such as the quick learning hippocampus and slow learning neocortex. Furthermore, we aim to understand how TMR during different sleep stages (e.g. REM/NREM) or during different phases of the signature oscillations of sleep (e.g. slow oscillations, sleep spindles, and theta) impact on memory. This This PhD will investigate some of these questions – however we are open to several different methods of investigation as outlined below.
We would particularly encourage applicants from three different backgrounds, as this project can be approached in 3 different ways.
Applicants with a computational modelling background would be encouraged to create a computational model which incorporates not only a learning phase (in wake) but also ‘offline’ processing of memories in the various stages of sleep. The student will use computational modelling (likely PDP and/or Deep nets) to gain a better understanding of how memories are consolidated in sleep, and how memory replay in sleep underpins integration of new memories with old and the recombination of ideas which is involved in creativity.
Computer science or engineering students with a good background in classifiers, EEG analysis or other timeseries signal processing would be encouraged to work on detection of memory replay using EEG data. As this is a challenging problem we aim to explore and combine techniques from areas such as time series analysis (dynamic time warping), neuroimaging (representation similarity analysis) and deep learning (LSTM, convolutional NN). An initial paper we’ve written on this is here.
Candidates with a strong background in Psychology or Cognitive Neuroscience with or without an EEG or signal processing background will be able to study this system by running behavioural/EEG experiments and applying Targeted Memory Reactivation during sleep. The bulk of our work to date has used these methods, so please see our lab publications.
The Neuroscience and Psychology of Sleep (Naps) lab is a thriving community of computer scientists and sleep researchers studying all aspects of how sleep impacts on cognition (see our nascent web pages).
Cardiff University’s Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) opened in Spring 2016, housing a unique combination of facilities and expertise that will further its world-leading research in Neuroimaging, Cognitive Neuroscience and Biological Psychiatry.
The studentship start date is flexible but must commence by July 2022 and will cover your tuition fees (at UK level) as well as a maintenance grant. In 2021-2022 the maintenance grant for full-time students is £15,609 per annum. As well as tuition fees and a maintenance grant, all School of Psychology students receive access to courses offered by the University’s Doctoral Academy and become members of the University Doctoral Academy
Typically a very high standard of applications is received. The successful applicant is likely to have a very good first degree (a First or Upper Second class BSc Honours or equivalent) and/or be distinguished by having relevant research experience.