Overview
The Richardson Lab, headed by Professor Mark Richardson, comprises a team of epilepsy researchers from several different disciplines, including neurology, psychology, engineering and physics. We study the human brain as an entire functioning system, rather than studying small components of the brain. In order to do this, we use brain scanning techniques (especially MRI) and electroencephalography (EEG, a method to record electrical activity from the brain), as well as transcranial magnetic brain stimulation (TMS). We are especially interested to create simplified models of the brain using computers, which can provide important insights into the workings of the highly complex brain. Our current programme is focussed on understanding how seizures emerge as the result of the complex interplay between the neuronal dynamics of localised brain regions, and the interconnectivity between these regions. We are particularly interested to discover whether these features are genetically determined, and how these features develop through childhood and into adult life.
