Charlotte Stagg

Last updated
Charlotte Stagg
Alma mater University of Bristol
University of Oxford
Scientific career
InstitutionsUniversity of Oxford
Thesis Modulation of motor cortical plasticity by transcranial stimulation.  (2008)

Charlotte Stagg is a British neurophysiologist who is a professor at the University of Oxford. She leads the Physiological Neuroimaging Group.

Contents

Early life and education

Stagg studied physiology and medicine at the University of Bristol, graduating with pre-clinical and clinical honours and the Physiological Society prize. [1] For her doctoral degree, she moved to the University of Oxford and worked at the Oxford Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Brain (FMRIB) under the supervision of Paul Matthews and Heidi Johansen-Berg. [2] During her DPhil, she looked to understand how people acquire new motor skills. She joined the Neuroplasticity group for her first postdoctoral position. In 2010 she moved to the Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, where she worked with John Rothwell for half a year, before joining Andrew Maudsley at the University of Miami. [3] There she became interested in in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy. [4]

Research and career

After returning from Miami, Stagg started a GlaxoSmithKline Junior Research Fellowship at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. [1] She returned to the FMRIB, where she worked with Heidi Johansen-Berg. In 2014 Stagg was awarded a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship by the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society. Her research is focused on the neurophysiological processes associated with learning motor skills. [5] Her early work looked to understand why particular people struggled with dance and piano lessons. In a clinical study Stagg taught volunteers a sequence of finger motions and monitored the levels of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter. She showed that in people who quickly learned the finger motions, the levels of GABA fell quickly, which allowed neurons to create new circuitry.[ citation needed ]

Stagg demonstrated that ipsilesional anodal transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) [6] can support patients in recovery after stroke. [7] In this form of tDCS, a positive current is applied to the damaged area of the brain. [7] [8] They used MRI scans to better understand brain activity before and after the tDCS, and showed that the stimulated regions were more active in the regions relevant to motor skills. [9] Stagg has worked on magnetic resonance spectroscopy as a means to understand neuronal activity in vivo, through the measurement of glutamate and GABA. [10]

Stagg was promoted to Professor of Human Neurophysiology in 2018. [1]

Awards and honours

Selected publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transcranial magnetic stimulation</span> Form of brain stimulation using magnetic fields

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive form of brain stimulation in which a changing magnetic field is used to induce an electric current at a specific area of the brain through electromagnetic induction. An electric pulse generator, or stimulator, is connected to a magnetic coil connected to the scalp. The stimulator generates a changing electric current within the coil which creates a varying magnetic field, inducing a current within a region in the brain itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Functional neuroimaging</span>

Functional neuroimaging is the use of neuroimaging technology to measure an aspect of brain function, often with a view to understanding the relationship between activity in certain brain areas and specific mental functions. It is primarily used as a research tool in cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, and social neuroscience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brodmann area 46</span> Brain area

Brodmann area 46, or BA46, is part of the frontal cortex in the human brain. It is between BA10 and BA45.

Neurotechnology encompasses any method or electronic device which interfaces with the nervous system to monitor or modulate neural activity.

Neurohacking is a subclass of biohacking, focused specifically on the brain. Neurohackers seek to better themselves or others by “hacking the brain” to improve reflexes, learn faster, or treat psychological disorders. The modern neurohacking movement has been around since the 1980s. However, herbal supplements have been used to increase brain function for hundreds of years. After a brief period marked by a lack of research in the area, neurohacking started regaining interest in the early 2000s. Currently, most neurohacking is performed via do-it-yourself (DIY) methods by in-home users.

Monoplegia is paralysis of a single limb, usually an arm. Common symptoms associated with monoplegic patients are weakness, numbness, and pain in the affected limb. Monoplegia is a type of paralysis that falls under hemiplegia. While hemiplegia is paralysis of half of the body, monoplegia is localized to a single limb or to a specific region of the body. Monoplegia of the upper limb is sometimes referred to as brachial monoplegia, and that of the lower limb is called crural monoplegia. Monoplegia in the lower extremities is not as common of an occurrence as in the upper extremities. Monoparesis is a similar, but less severe, condition because one limb is very weak, not paralyzed. For more information, see paresis.

Neuroergonomics is the application of neuroscience to ergonomics. Traditional ergonomic studies rely predominantly on psychological explanations to address human factors issues such as: work performance, operational safety, and workplace-related risks. Neuroergonomics, in contrast, addresses the biological substrates of ergonomic concerns, with an emphasis on the role of the human nervous system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transcranial direct-current stimulation</span> Technique of brain electric stimulation therapy

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of neuromodulation that uses constant, low direct current delivered via electrodes on the head. It was originally developed to help patients with brain injuries or neuropsychiatric conditions such as major depressive disorder. It can be contrasted with cranial electrotherapy stimulation, which generally uses alternating current the same way, as well as transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Integrative neuroscience is the study of neuroscience that works to unify functional organization data to better understand complex structures and behaviors. The relationship between structure and function, and how the regions and functions connect to each other. Different parts of the brain carrying out different tasks, interconnecting to come together allowing complex behavior. Integrative neuroscience works to fill gaps in knowledge that can largely be accomplished with data sharing, to create understanding of systems, currently being applied to simulation neuroscience: Computer Modeling of the brain that integrates functional groups together.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Restorative neurology</span>

Restorative neurology is a branch of neurology dedicated to improving functions of the impaired nervous system through selective structural or functional modification of abnormal neurocontrol according to underlying mechanisms and clinically unrecognized residual functions. When impaired, the body naturally reconstructs new neurological pathways and redirects activity. The field of restorative neurology works to accentuate these new pathways and primarily focuses on the theory of the plasticity of an impaired nervous system. Its main goal is to take a broken down and disordered nervous system and return it to a state of normal function. Certain treatment strategies are used to augment instead of fully replace any performance of surviving and also improving the potential of motor neuron functions. This rehabilitation of motor neurons allows patients a therapeutic approach to recovery opposed to physical structural reconstruction. It is applied in a wide range of disorders of the nervous system, including upper motor neuron dysfunctions like spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and acquired brain injury including stroke, and neuromuscular diseases as well as for control of pain and spasticity. Instead of applying a reconstructive neurobiological approach, i.e. structural modifications, restorative neurology relies on improving residual function. While subspecialties like neurosurgery and pharmacology exist and are useful in diagnosing and treating conditions of the nervous system, restorative neurology takes a pathophysiological approach. Instead of heavily relying on neurochemistry or perhaps an anatomical discipline, restorative neurology encompasses many fields and blends them together.

Functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the brain (fMRS) uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study brain metabolism during brain activation. The data generated by fMRS usually shows spectra of resonances, instead of a brain image, as with MRI. The area under peaks in the spectrum represents relative concentrations of metabolites.

Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique and a form of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES). Terney et al from Göttingen University was the first group to apply tRNS in humans in 2008. They showed that by using an alternate current along with random amplitude and frequency in healthy subjects, the motor cortex excitability increased for up to 60 minutes after 10 minutes of stimulation. The study included all the frequencies up to half of the sampling rate i.e. 640 Hz, however the positive effect was limited only to higher frequencies. Although tRNS has shown positive effects in various studies the optimal parameters, as well as the potential clinical effects of this technique, remain unclear.

Gait variability seen in Parkinson's Disorders arise due to cortical changes induced by pathophysiology of the disease process. Gait rehabilitation is focused to harness the adapted connections involved actively to control these variations during the disease progression. Gait variabilities seen are attributed to the defective inputs from the Basal Ganglia. However, there is altered activation of other cortical areas that support the deficient control to bring about a movement and maintain some functional mobility.

Non-invasive cerebellar stimulation is the application of non-invasive neurostimulation techniques on the cerebellum to modify its electrical activity. Techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can be used. The cerebellum is a high potential target for neuromodulation of neurological and psychiatric disorders due to the high density of neurons in its superficial layer, its electrical properties, and its participation in numerous closed-loop circuits involved in motor, cognitive, and emotional functions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irene Tracey</span> British neuroscientist (born 1966)

Irene Mary Carmel Tracey is Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford and former Warden of Merton College, Oxford. She is also Professor of Anaesthetic Neuroscience in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences and formerly Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Oxford. She is a co-founder of the Oxford Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain (FMRIB), now the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging. Her team’s research is focused on the neuroscience of pain, specifically pain perception and analgesia as well as how anaesthetics produce altered states of consciousness. Her team uses multidisciplinary approaches including neuroimaging.

Kathryn Emma Watkins is an experimental psychologist in the Wellcome Trust centre for integrative neuroimaging at the University of Oxford and a tutorial fellow at St Anne's College, Oxford. Her research investigates the brain processes that underlie speech, language and development.

Heidi Johansen-Berg is a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience and Director of the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging at the University of Oxford. She studies brain plasticity in the context of stroke rehabilitation and aging.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedhelm Hummel</span> German neuroscientist and neurologist

Friedhelm Christoph Hummel is a German neuroscientist and neurologist. A full professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, he is the Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, and the head of the Hummel Laboratory at EPFL's School of Life Sciences. He also is an associate professor of clinical neuroscience at the University of Geneva.

Valeria Gazzola is an Italian neuroscientist, associate professor at the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and member of the Young Academy of Europe. She is also a tenured department head at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN) in Amsterdam, where she leads her own research group and the Social Brain Lab together with neuroscientist Christian Keysers. She is a specialist in the neural basis of empathy and embodied cognition: Her research focusses on how the brain makes individuals sensitive to the actions and emotions of others and how this affects decision-making.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alberto Priori</span> Italian neurologist

Alberto Priori is an Italian neurologist, academic, and author. He is a Professor of Neurology at the University of Milan, Director of Neurology 1 Unit at San Paolo Hospital, and the Founder and Coordinator of Aldo Ravelli Center of the University of Milan. He also serves as President of the Neurophysiopatology Tecniques Course, and Professor of Postgraduate Schools - Medicine, Healthcare, Dental Medicine at the same University.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Charlotte Stagg | Fellow by Special Election in Neuroscience". St Edmund Hall. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  2. "Prof. Charlotte Stagg | mrcbndu". www.mrcbndu.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  3. "Professor Charlotte Stagg". Brainbox Initiative. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  4. Stagg, Charlotte J.; Knight, Steven; Talbot, Kevin; Jenkinson, Mark; Maudsley, Andrew A.; Turner, Martin R. (2013-02-12). "Whole-brain magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging measures are related to disability in ALS". Neurology. 80 (7): 610–615. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e318281ccec. ISSN   0028-3878. PMC   3590062 . PMID   23325907.
  5. "Professor Charlotte Stagg | University of Oxford". www.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  6. "Unexpected ways to wake up your brain". BBC News. 2014-10-30. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  7. 1 2 "Electrical brain stimulation could support stroke recovery — Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences". www.ndcn.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  8. Mundasad, Smitha (2016-03-17). "Electric therapy 'aids stroke recovery'". BBC News. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  9. Scutti, Susan (2016-03-17). "An Electric Zap Could Help Stroke-Damaged Brains Recover". Medical Daily. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  10. Stagg, Charlotte J. (2014-02-01). "Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy as a tool to study the role of GABA in motor-cortical plasticity". NeuroImage. 86: 19–27. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.01.009. ISSN   1095-9572. PMID   23333699. S2CID   5203174.
  11. "Dr. Charlotte Stagg - AcademiaNet". www.academia-net.org. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  12. "Dr Charlotte Stagg receives Early Career Researcher's Prize". St Edmund Hall. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  13. "The 2017 winners of the Sieratzki UK-Israel Prize for Advances in Neuroscience - Israel Society for Neuroscience (ISFN)". www.isfn.org.il. Retrieved 2020-06-27.