Penelope Tilsley

Doctoral Researcher

Contact details

Email: pat624@student.bham.ac.uk

Address: School of Psychology
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

My name is Penny and I am currently studying towards a Masters by Research degree in the School of Psychology. My research is looking at how neurostimulation combined with passive or active movements modulates motor networks of the brain. Within my research I will be using techniques including functional magnetic resonance imaging, transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation. I am hoping to follow on from this with a PhD which will aim to optimize a neurostimulation-passive movement paradigm to promote active motor recovery in patients with disorders of consciousness.

Qualifications

BSc Biological Sciences from the University of Warwick (1^st Class Honours)

Biography

I previously studied Biological Sciences BSc at the University of Warwick where I obtained a 1^st Class Honours level degree. My 3^rd year dissertation was titled ‘Is anybody in there? Interpersonal communication using fMRI’ which focused on fMRI paradigms which could allow communication and spelling with brain damaged patients who were unable to behaviourally communicate with the outside world but showed signs of conscious awareness. I am now currently undertaking a Master’s by Research degree within the School of Psychology at the University of Birmingham. Here I will be using neuroimaging to see how brain stimulation combined with movement influences motor networks and motor ability in healthy volunteers.

Doctoral research

PhD title: Neuroimaging in disorders of consciousness
Supervisor: Dr Davinia Fernández-Espejo

Research

Research interests

Disorders of consciousness
Motor rehabilitation
Neuroimaging
Non-invasive brain stimulation
Brain networks

Other activities

Whilst I was at Warwick I was on the women’s tennis 1st team and was also an active executive member of the tennis club. My first executive role was tour secretary where I organized for the tennis club to travel to an abroad location, the next year I was nominated to be women’s vice captain where I assisted the captain in organizing social tennis events and matches whilst assisting in any administration work.