Thomas James

Email: t.james1@aston.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)121 204 4012

Room: SW513

I joined Aston University in 2017 as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for taught Psychology courses. Alongside my teaching and administrative responsibilities, I am completing a part-time PhD in Neuroscience. 

Undergraduate

Y1: PY1501 (Key Skills 1), PY1502 (Key Skills 2).

Y2: PY2501 (Research Methods & Data Analysis), PY2504 (Brain & Behaviour).

FY: PY3021 (Perspectives on Improving Methods in Psychological Science), PY3346 (Final Year Project).

Postgraduate

PY4016 (Cognitive & Affective Neuroscience: Theories and Applications), PY4019 (Research Practicals II), PY4307 (Research Dissertation in Cognitive Neuroscience).

Primarily using electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG), I will be utilising the Firefly model’s TSynch measure (Burgess, 2012). TSynch denotes the time at which neural oscillations become temporarily phase aligned via gradual alterations in their ongoing frequencies. In the context of ageing research, TSynch has received minimal attention thus far. However, preliminary research indicates that there may be a relationship between TSynch and cognitive changes associated with ageing. Whilst lacking clarity, these preliminary results indicate that TSynch could be a candidate biomarker, with utility to detect age-related decline in cognitive function. This is because EEG can detect covert abnormalities of the brain, even before their manifestation as abnormal behaviour. Prof. Adrian Burgess is my principal supervisor.

Burgess, A.P. (2012). Towards a unified understanding of event-related changes in the EEG: The firefly model of synchronisation through cross-frequency phase modulation. PLoS ONE, 7, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0045630 

Groups

Cognition and Neuroscience Research Group (CNRG)

Institute of Health & Neurodevelopment (IHN)

Aston Research Centre for Healthy Ageing (ARCHA)

Other academic interests

Metascience, primarily Open Research

Brain stimulation methodology, primarily Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Personal Tutor (2018-current)

Outreach Team Member (2018-current)

IHN PGR Representative (2019-2021)

ARCHA Panel Coordinator (2017-2021)

PG Mentor (2018-2020)

Aston Canal Group Lead (2017-2020)

PhD. Research Neuroscience, Aston University (2018-2023), TBC

PGCert. Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, Aston University (2017-2018), Distinction

MSc. Neuroimaging and Neurostimulation: Methods and Applications, Cardiff University CUBRIC (2016-2017), Distinction

BSc. Psychology, Swansea University (2013-2016), First Class Honours

British Psychological Society (MBPsS)

British Neuroscience Association

Federation of European Neuroscience Societies

Higher Education Academy (FHEA)