Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Overview
Brain plasticity refers to the ability of the brain to undergo change in response to various life events, training, learning or simple external stimulation. Recently, non-invasive brain stimulation tools have been developed that allow manipulation of brain plasticity. I am using these techniques (transcranial alternating current stimulation, tACS and transcranial magnetic stimulation, TMS) to try to enhance plasticity, especially in the elderly brain, where it may be diminished. I also combine these tools with brain imaging to understand how different parts of the brain contribute to our ability to focus our attention.
Research Interests
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Mapping and modulating attention in the human brain
The ability to focus our attention over space, time, or object features is controlled by a network of brain regions. I am interested in using brain stimulation in combination with recordings of electrical brain activity to probe the state of these brain regions during attentional deployment. Understanding these latent states better may help us tailor our tools to modulate brain activity and attentional control, with possible implications for rehabilitation in brain-injured patients. This NHMRC-funded project is being led by Prof. Jason Mattingley, in collaboration with Prof. Paul Dux at the University of Queensland, and with Dr. Nigel Rogash (Monash University) and Prof. Hartwig Siebner (Copenhagen University Hospital). -
Boosting neuroplasticity using brain stimulation in elderly people
Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to change in response to its environment. It is a key mechanism behind learning and memory and it is known to decline with age. Given that sleep is crucial to memory function, and that sleep quality usually decreases with age, I am interested in using brain stimulation to mimick the effects of sleep in awake, elderly people in the hope of increasing neuroplasticity. This project, headed by Dr. Martin Sale and Prof. Jason Mattingley, has potential implications for rehabilitation following brain injury or sleep disorders, but is currently explored in healthy, pathology-free individuals. -
Pain and brain stimulation
Stimulation of the motor cortex can alleviate pain in chronic neuropathic pain patients, but the mechanisms sub-tending this effect are still debated. I have used brain activity recordings to understand the effects of brain stimulation on pain perception. I am interested in finding new targets for non-invasive brain stimulation that would allow modulation of pain perception - I am currently focusing on a region known as the insula.
Qualifications
- Docotor of Philosophy (PhD in Neuroscience), UCBL
Publications
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Samartin-Veiga, Noelia, Pidal-Miranda, Marina, González-Villar, Alberto J., Bradley, Claire, Garcia-Larrea, Luis, O’Brien, Anthony T. and Carrillo-de-la-Peña, María T. (2022). Transcranial direct current stimulation of three cortical targets is no more effective than placebo as treatment for fibromyalgia: a double-blind sham-controlled clinical trial. Pain, 163 (7), e850-e861. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002493
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Journal Article: State-dependent effects of neural stimulation on brain function and cognition
Bradley, Claire, Nydam, Abbey S., Dux, Paul E. and Mattingley, Jason B. (2022). State-dependent effects of neural stimulation on brain function and cognition. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. doi: 10.1038/s41583-022-00598-1
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Journal Article: Slow-oscillatory tACS does not modulate human motor cortical response to repeated plasticity paradigms
Bradley, Claire, Elliott, Jessica, Dudley, Samuel, Kieseker, Genevieve, Mattingley, Jason and Sale, Martin (2021). Slow-oscillatory tACS does not modulate human motor cortical response to repeated plasticity paradigms.
Publications
Journal Article
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Samartin-Veiga, Noelia, Pidal-Miranda, Marina, González-Villar, Alberto J., Bradley, Claire, Garcia-Larrea, Luis, O’Brien, Anthony T. and Carrillo-de-la-Peña, María T. (2022). Transcranial direct current stimulation of three cortical targets is no more effective than placebo as treatment for fibromyalgia: a double-blind sham-controlled clinical trial. Pain, 163 (7), e850-e861. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002493
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State-dependent effects of neural stimulation on brain function and cognition
Bradley, Claire, Nydam, Abbey S., Dux, Paul E. and Mattingley, Jason B. (2022). State-dependent effects of neural stimulation on brain function and cognition. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. doi: 10.1038/s41583-022-00598-1
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Bradley, Claire, Elliott, Jessica, Dudley, Samuel, Kieseker, Genevieve, Mattingley, Jason and Sale, Martin (2021). Slow-oscillatory tACS does not modulate human motor cortical response to repeated plasticity paradigms.
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Brainhack: Developing a culture of open, inclusive, community-driven neuroscience
Gau, Rémi, Noble, Stephanie, Heuer, Katja, Bottenhorn, Katherine L., Bilgin, Isil P., Yang, Yu-Fang, Huntenburg, Julia M., Bayer, Johanna M.M., Bethlehem, Richard A.I., Rhoads, Shawn A., Vogelbacher, Christoph, Borghesani, Valentina, Levitis, Elizabeth, Wang, Hao-Ting, Van Den Bossche, Sofie, Kobeleva, Xenia, Legarreta, Jon Haitz, Guay, Samuel, Atay, Selim Melvin, Varoquaux, Gael P., Huijser, Dorien C., Sandström, Malin S., Herholz, Peer, Nastase, Samuel A., Badhwar, AmanPreet, Dumas, Guillaume, Schwab, Simon, Moia, Stefano, Dayan, Michael ... Zuo, Xi-Nian (2021). Brainhack: Developing a culture of open, inclusive, community-driven neuroscience. Neuron, 109 (11), 1769-1775. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.04.001
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Quesada, Charles, Pommier, Benjamin, Fauchon, Camille, Bradley, Claire, Créacʼh, Christelle, Murat, Marion, Vassal, François and Peyron, Roland (2020). New procedure of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for central neuropathic pain: a placebo-controlled randomized crossover study. Pain, 161 (4), 718-728. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001760
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Quesada, Charles, Pommier, Benjamin, Fauchon, Camille, Bradley, Claire, Creac'h, Christelle, Vassal, François and Peyron, Roland (2018). Robot-guided neuronavigated repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in central neuropathic pain. An update of long-term follow-up. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 99 (11), 2203-2215.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2018.04.013
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Bradley, Claire, Bastuji, Helene and Garcia-Larrea, Luis (2017). Evidence-based source modeling of nociceptive cortical responses: a direct comparison of scalp and intracranial activity in humans. Human Brain Mapping, 38 (12), 6083-6095. doi: 10.1002/hbm.23812
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Bradley, Claire, Joyce, Niamh and Garcia-Larrea, Luis (2016). Adaptation in human somatosensory cortex as a model of sensory memory construction: a study using high-density EEG. Brain Structure and Function, 221 (1), 421-431. doi: 10.1007/s00429-014-0915-5
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Bradley, Claire, Perchet, Caroline, Lelekov-Boissard, Taissia, Magnin, Michel and Garcia-Larrea, Luis (2016). Not an aspirin: No evidence for acute anti-nociception to laser-evoked pain after motor cortex rTMS in healthy humans. Brain Stimulation, 9 (1), 48-57. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2015.08.015
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Houze, Berengere, Bradley, Claire, Magnin, Michel and Garcia-Larrea, Luis (2013). Changes in sensory hand representation and pain thresholds induced by motor cortex stimulation in humans. Cerebral Cortex, 23 (11), 2667-2676. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhs255
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The sensory components of high-capacity iconic memory and visual working memory
Bradley, Claire and Pearson, Joel (2012). The sensory components of high-capacity iconic memory and visual working memory. Frontiers in Psychology, 3 (SEP) Article 355. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00355
