Dr Jason Berwick
PhD, Bsc(Hons)
School of Psychology
Reader in Neurophysiology
Assistant Faculty Director of Research and Innovation
+44 114 222 6574
Full contact details
School of Psychology
Alfred Denny Building
Western Bank
91Ö±²¥
S10 2TN
- Profile
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I joined the Department of Psychology in 1996 as a PhD student in the laboratory of Professor John Mayhew. Our research uses multimodal imaging and electrophysiological techniques to measure a mechanism in the brain called Neurovascular coupling (NVC). This mechanism provides the image contrast for modern neuroimaging technologies such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and the early focus of the research was to understand NVC in order to provide a better understanding and interpretation of fMRI signals.
My position was made permanent in 2007 and our research has now expanded to investigate in neurodegenerations with a particular focus on Alzheimer’s disease and focal cortical epilepsy. Our laboratory is focussed on not only understanding NVC decline in disease but also in the development of novel therapies that target the cerebrovascular system to slow down or halt disease progression.
I am in the privileged position in that my job is also my hobby and I am passionate about encouraging students to experience research and to help develop the next generation of scientists.
- Qualifications
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- Bsc (Hons) Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of 91Ö±²¥.
- PhD Neuroscience, University of 91Ö±²¥
- Research interests
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Neurovascular coupling is a mechanism that ensures active regions of the brain are supplied with enough oxygen and glucose to function properly. Although first discovered over 130 years ago, to this day we still do not have a complete understanding about how neurovascular coupling works. Our laboratory uses multimodal neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques to measure and understand neurovascular coupling in normal function, how it goes wrong in disease and importantly to develop new therapies based on enhancing/restoring cerebrovascular function.
Current projects include:
- Neurovascular coupling and breakdown in Alzheimer’s Disease
- Neurovascular coupling in Focal Cortical Epilepsy
- Interpretation of the negative BOLD fMRI signal
- The role of temperature in Neurovascular coupling.
- The interaction between Atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s Disease
- Publications
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Show: Featured publications All publications
Featured publications
Journal articles
- . Cerebral Circulation - Cognition and Behavior, 5.
- . Communications Biology, 6.
- . Scientific Reports, 12.
- . eLife, 2022(11).
- . Scientific Reports, 10(1).
- . Cerebral Cortex, 30(4), 2452-2464.
- . Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism.
- . Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD.
- . BMC Neuroscience, 19.
- . Frontiers in Neuroscience, 12.
- . NeuroImage, 171, 165-175.
- . Clinical Science, 132(8), 851-868.
- . Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology, 43(7), 553-570.
- . Journal of Neuroinflammation, 13(1), 195-195.
- . Scientific Reports, 5.
- . Scientific Reports, 5, 11990-11990.
- . Journal of Neuroscience, 35(11), 4641-4656.
- . Epilepsia, 55(9), 1423-1430.
- . Neuroimage, 97, 62-70.
- . Behav Brain Res, 259, 274-283.
- . Neurophotonics, 1(1), 015003-015003.
- . J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 33(10), 1595-1604.
- . Eur J Neurosci, 38(6), 2902-2916.
- . J Magn Reson Imaging, 38(3), 739-744.
- . Neuroimage, 66, 1-8.
- Inter-trial variability in sensory-evoked cortical hemodynamic responses: the role of the magnitude of pre-stimulus fluctuations. Frontiers in Neuroenergetics, 4.
- . Neuroimage, 63(1), 81-94.
- . Neuroimage, 61(1), 10-20.
- . Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 32(3), 468-480.
- . Neuroimage, 59(3), 1997-2006.
- . PLoS One, 6(8), e23244.
- . Phys Med Biol, 55(8), 2203-2219.
- . J Neurosci, 30(12), 4285-4294.
- . Neuroimage, 52(3), 1135-1147.
- . Front Neuroenergetics, 2.
- . Front Neuroenergetics, 2.
- . Open Neuroimag J, 4, 1-8.
- . Neuroimage, 47(4), 1608-1619.
- . Eur J Neurosci, 27(10), 2758-2772.
- . J Neurophysiol, 99(2), 787-798.
- . Neuroimage, 32(1), 33-48.
- . Magn Reson Med, 54(2), 354-365.
- . Neuroimage, 28(4), 925-939.
- . Neuroscience, 132(2), 361-374.
- . Brain Res, 1030(2), 284-293.
- . J Neurosci Methods, 120(1), 25-34.
- . Neuroimage, 16(3 Pt 1), 617-637.
- . J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 22(6), 670-679.
- . Neuroimage, 15(3), 474-487.
- . Neuroimage, 13(6 Pt 1), 975-987.
- . Neuroimage, 13(6 Pt 1), 1002-1015.
- . Neuroimage, 13(3), 447-458.
- . Neuroimage, 12(6), 664-675.
- . Adv Exp Med Biol, 454, 139-148.
- . Neuroimage, 7(1), 49-71.
- . Frontiers in Neuroscience, 9.
Conference proceedings papers
- Spatiotemporal complexity in the haemodynamic response to somatosensory stimulation in the un-anaesthetized rat. JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM, Vol. 29 (pp S105-S105)
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging in un-anaesthetized rats using a chronically implanted surface coil. JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM, Vol. 29 (pp S606-S607)
- A mathematical model of the neurovascular coupling suggesting both vasodilation and vasoconstriction. JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM, Vol. 29 (pp S19-S20)
Preprints
All publications
Journal articles
- . Cerebral Circulation - Cognition and Behavior, 5.
- . Communications Biology, 6.
- . Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 145(3).
- . Alzheimer's & Dementia, 18(S6).
- . Scientific Reports, 12.
- . eLife, 2022(11).
- . Neuroimage, 237.
- . Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, 192, 111361-111361.
- . Scientific Reports, 10(1).
- . Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health, 5.
- . Cerebral Cortex, 30(4), 2452-2464.
- . Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism.
- . Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD.
- . BMC Neuroscience, 19.
- . Frontiers in Neuroscience, 12.
- . NeuroImage, 171, 165-175.
- . Clinical Science, 132(8), 851-868.
- . Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology, 43(7), 553-570.
- . NeuroImage, 146, 575-588.
- . Journal of Neuroinflammation, 13(1), 195-195.
- . Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 267, 21-34.
- . Scientific Reports, 5.
- . Scientific Reports, 5, 11990-11990.
- . Journal of Neuroscience, 35(11), 4641-4656.
- . Scientific Reports, 5(1).
- . Epilepsia, 55(9), 1423-1430.
- . Neuroimage, 97, 62-70.
- . Behav Brain Res, 259, 274-283.
- . Neurophotonics, 1(1), 015003-015003.
- . J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 33(10), 1595-1604.
- . Eur J Neurosci, 38(6), 2902-2916.
- . J Magn Reson Imaging, 38(3), 739-744.
- . Magn Reson Med, 70(4), 943-953.
- . Neuroimage, 66, 1-8.
- Inter-trial variability in sensory-evoked cortical hemodynamic responses: the role of the magnitude of pre-stimulus fluctuations. Frontiers in Neuroenergetics, 4.
- . Neuroimage, 63(1), 81-94.
- . Neuroimage, 61(1), 10-20.
- . Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 32(3), 468-480.
- . J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 32(3), 468-480.
- . Neuroimage, 59(3), 1997-2006.
- . PLoS One, 6(8), e23244.
- . Phys Med Biol, 55(8), 2203-2219.
- . J Neurosci, 30(12), 4285-4294.
- . Neuroimage, 52(3), 1135-1147.
- . Front Neuroenergetics, 2.
- . Front Neuroenergetics, 2.
- . Open Neuroimag J, 4, 1-8.
- . Neuroimage, 47(4), 1608-1619.
- . Eur J Neurosci, 27(10), 2758-2772.
- . J Neurophysiol, 99(2), 787-798.
- . EUR J NEUROSCI, 25(7), 1940-1948.
- . Neuroimage, 32(1), 33-48.
- . Eur J Neurosci, 22(7), 1655-1666.
- . Neuroimage, 27(3), 609-623.
- . Magn Reson Med, 54(2), 354-365.
- . J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 25(5), 651-661.
- . Magn Reson Med, 53(5), 1103-1111.
- . Neuroimage, 24(2), 565-574.
- . Neuroimage, 28(4), 925-939.
- . Neuroscience, 132(2), 361-374.
- . Brain Res, 1030(2), 284-293.
- . Neuroimage, 22(4), 1744-1753.
- . J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 23(5), 546-555.
- . J Neurosci Methods, 120(1), 25-34.
- . Neuroimage, 16(3 Pt 1), 617-637.
- . J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 22(6), 670-679.
- . Neuroimage, 15(3), 474-487.
- . Neuroimage, 13(6 Pt 1), 975-987.
- . Neuroimage, 13(6 Pt 1), 1002-1015.
- Visual cortical function in non-dystrophic and dystrophic RCS rats as revealed by intrinsic optical imaging.. INVEST OPHTH VIS SCI, 42(4), S787-S787.
- Spectroscopic analysis of neural activity in brain: Increased oxygen consumption following activation of barrel cortex (vol 12, pg 664, 2000). NEUROIMAGE, 13(3), 540-543.
- . Neuroimage, 13(3), 447-458.
- Catheter tracking for MR fluoroscopy: Design of a transmit/receive coil for use with a nasogastric tube. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 13(1), 127-130.
- Design and initial evaluation of a low-cost 3-Tesla research system for combined optical and functional MR imaging with interventional capability.. J Magn Reson Imaging, 13(1), 87-92.
- . Neuroimage, 12(6), 664-675.
- . Neuroreport, 11(10), 2247-2252.
- Spectroscopic analysis of the action of 7-NI on the coupling of neural activity and the haemodynamic response in barrel cortex.. EUR J NEUROSCI, 12, 425-425.
- . Neuroimage, 10(3 Pt 1), 304-326.
- The spatio-temporal characteristics of the response to increased neural activity. NeuroImage, 9(6 PART II).
- . Adv Exp Med Biol, 454, 139-148.
- . Neuroimage, 7(1), 49-71.
- . Frontiers in Neuroscience, 9.
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Chapters
- , Encyclopedia of Computational Neuroscience (pp. 3628-3631).
- , Encyclopedia of Computational Neuroscience (pp. 3144-3147). Springer New York
- , Encyclopedia of Computational Neuroscience (pp. 3025-3025). Springer New York
- , Encyclopedia of Computational Neuroscience (pp. 1-4). Springer New York
- , Neurovascular Coupling Methods (pp. 3-20). Springer New York
Conference proceedings papers
- The influence of mild hypercapnia on brain intracellular pH, phosphate metabolites and cerebral blood flow: A multi-nuclear (1H/31P) MR study at 7T. Proc. Intl. Soc. Mag. Reson. Med. (2017), 22 April 2017 - 27 April 2017.
- Spatiotemporal complexity in the haemodynamic response to somatosensory stimulation in the un-anaesthetized rat. JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM, Vol. 29 (pp S105-S105)
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging in un-anaesthetized rats using a chronically implanted surface coil. JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM, Vol. 29 (pp S606-S607)
- A mathematical model of the neurovascular coupling suggesting both vasodilation and vasoconstriction. JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM, Vol. 29 (pp S19-S20)
- . Biomedical Topical Meeting, 2004.
- Optical imaging of visual cortex in unanaesthetised rat. INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, Vol. 43 (pp U1339-U1339)
- Analysis of optical imaging data using weak models and ICA. ADVANCES IN INDEPENDENT COMPONENT ANALYSIS (pp 217-233)
- Optical imaging of visual cortex in congenic and dystrophic royal college of surgeons rats. INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, Vol. 40(4) (pp S124-S124)
Preprints
- Research group
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Part of the Neuroscience and Cognition Group
Postdoctoral Researcher
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Dr Osman Shabir – Investigating the links between Atherosclerosis and Dementia
Research Associates
- Beth Eyre Llywelyn Lee
Postgraduate students
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Naomi King - "Developing chronic implants for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in pre-clinical models"
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Shannon O'Connor - "Neurotransmitters, brain blood flow and functional brain imaging signals"
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Rahul Sidhu - "Two diseases, one brain: The effects of cardiovascular disease on the speed, progression and severity of Alzheimer's Disease"
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Runchong Wang - "Neuronal coupling across spatiotemporal scales and dimensions of cortical population activity"
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Marilina Douloudi
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- Grants
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Recent Grants:
- 2023-2026 Medical Research Council project grant - Massaging brain vessels with vasomotion: Targeting the vasculature to alter disease progression in mouse models of dementia. Dr Jason Berwick and Dr Clare Howarth (Joint PI’s). Dr Chris Martin and Dr Julie Simpson. £1.24M full fec.
- 2021-2024 91Ö±²¥ Neuroscience Institute PhD studentship award : Cortical hyperexcitability as a novel therapeutic target in neurodegenerative disease : Dr Richard Mead (Primary Supervisor), Dr Matthew Livesey, Dr Clare Howarth, Dr Jason Berwick and Dr Jodie Stephenson (Co-supervisors). - £140K.
- 2021-2024 91Ö±²¥ Neuroscience Institute PhD studentship award : Developing chronic implants for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in pre-clinical models. Dr Jason Berwick (Primary Supervisor), Dr Clare Howarth and Professor Ivan Minev (Co-supervisors). - £80K
- 2022-2025 MRC DiMen DTP PhD studentship award : Two diseases, one brain: The effects of cardiovascular disease on the speed, progression and severity of Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr Clare Howarth (Primary Supervisor), Dr Jason Berwick and Professor Sheila Francis (Co-supervisors) - £80K.
- 2020-2023 British Heart Foundation Project grant: Atherosclerosis, the brain and vascular dementia – the role of inflammation in neurovascular function. Professor Sheila Francis (PI),Dr Jason Berwick (CO-I), Dr Clare Howarth, Professor Stuart Allan, Dr Emmanuel Pinteaux: £256K
- 2019-2022 Battelle PhD studentship: Understanding neurovascular breakdown in the APP/PS1 mouse. Berwick J and Howarth (Joint PI’s), Vazquez A (CO-I) - £137K
Past Grants:
- 2016 MRC-KHIDI UK-KOREA PARTNERING AWARDS Title: Integrating multimodal imaging technologies to investigate neurovascular dysfunction in neurological disorders 91Ö±²¥ University Team: Dr Jason Berwick (PI), Dr Luke Boorman, Dr Sam Harris, Dr Paul Sharp Sungkyunkwan University Team: Professor Minah Suh (PI). Dr Eunha Baeg, Dr Chaejeong Heo, Dr Sohee Lee. Total value: £20K
- 2016-2018. Brain Research New Zealand. Dysfunctional Neurovascular Coupling: A precursor to Alzheimer’s? David T (PI), Berwick J (CO-I). $180K NZ Dollar.
- 2015 FRIENZ study tour of New Zealand – ‘Living a Long and Healthy Life. ~£10K
- 2015-2018 Epilepsy Research UK project grant. How activation of sensory regions can promote propagation of adjacent focal neocortical seizures. Berwick J (PI), Harris S, Schwartz T, Overton PG, Kennerley A, Zheng Y. £147K
- 2015-2018 Medical Research Council. Investigating the thermoregulatory role of neurovascular coupling and the anti-epileptogenic and neuroprotective effects of focal cerebral cooling. Berwick J (PI), Harris S, Martin C, Redgrave P, Boorman L, Kennerley A. ~£558K Full Fec
- 2014-2016 Interdisciplinary Research Grant Alzheimer’s Research UK. Neurovascular dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease: the search for early biomarkers. Berwick J (PI), Wharton S, Heath P. ~£507K full fec
- 2015-2019 Wellcome Trust Health Innovation Challenge Fund – Round 8. GOLD imaging in acute stroke: further technology development incorporating a perfluorocarbon oxygen carrier. Muir K (PI), Santosh C (PI), Macrae IM, Deuchar G, Berwick J (CO-I), Kennerley AJ. £1.79M full fec (£120K to 91Ö±²¥)
- 2013-2016 Biotechnology and biological sciences research council. Understanding neural excitation and inhibition: implications for the interpretation of extracellular field potentials and neurovascular coupling. Zheng Y (PI), Berwick J, Jones M, Billings S, Coca D, Milne E, Redgrave P. ~£850K full fec
- 2011-2014 Medical Research Council. The neurophysiological basis of negative BOLD signals – Berwick J (PI), Jones M, Kennerley A, Boorman L, Martin C, Redgrave P, Zheng Y. £655K full fec
- 2011-2014 Wellcome Trust. Understanding Epilepsy in the active brain - Berwick J (PI), Overton PG, Schwartz T, Kennerley A, Ma H, Zhao M. ~£519K full fec
- 2009- 2012 EPSRC. "Engineering virus-like nanoparticles for targeting the central nervous system". G Battaglia (PI), S P. Armes, M. Azzouz, O. Bandmann, J. Berwick, P.G. Ince , A.J. Kennerley, M. Jones, R. Golestanian, R. Hose, R. Mead, K. Ning, A.J. Ryan, P. Shaw, R. Smallwood, D. Walker & Y. Zheng. £ 2,060,808;
- 2007 – 2010 Medical Research Council New Investigator Award entitled ‘Neurovascular Coupling under the microscope’ – Principal Investigator £415K
- Teaching activities
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Teach across all Clinical/Neuro undergraduate streams including :
- PSY1003: Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology
- PSY2003: Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology II
- PSY303: Neural Basis of Learning and Memory
- PSY331- Extended essay
- PSY346 - Research project Teach across masters courses in Cognitive neuroscience
- PSY6306 - Fundamentals of Neuroscience
- PSY6424 - Neuroimaging 2
- Professional activities and memberships
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- Assistant Faculty Director of Research and Innovation (2021-present)
- BBRSC Grant Panel member (2017-2023)
- Member of 91Ö±²¥ Neuroscience Executive Board (2019-present)
- PhD Opportunities
We advertise PhD opportunities (Funded or Self-Funded) on
For further information, please see the department PhD Opportunities page.