Professor Nicola Ray

Professor Nicola Jane Ray

Professor of Neuroscience

My profile

Biography

After obtaining my PhD from University of Oxford, I began working with people with Parkinson’s who were undergoing deep brain stimulation surgery. We recorded activity in the brain that we now know is associated with the severity of particular movement symptoms. These same signals are now targeted by new deep brain stimulation devices 

I  now use multiple imaging modalities to identify how the brain changes in movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease.  

Interests and expertise

Neuroimaging allows us to see and measure the changes in the brain that underpin neurological conditions. Our ability to measure these changes can help us understand how the symptoms of age and age-related diseases develop, and importantly how they can be treated.

Get in touch

0161 247 2566
Brooks Building

Research outputs

My lab uses neuroimaging to investigate the brain changes that underpin the symptoms seen in neurodegenerative conditions, especially Parkinson’s disease. We aim to provide low-cost predictive biomarkers that can stratify people in clinical trials, and that can identify people at risk of future disease-related complications.

  • Journal articles

    Buongiorno, M., Granell, E., Caruana, G., Sansa, G., Vives-Gilabert, Y., Cullell, N., Molina-Seguin, J., Almeria, M., Artero, C., Sanchez-Benevides, G., Ray, N.J., Correa, S.A.L., Krupinski, J. (2023) 'Impairments in sleep and brain molecular clearance in people with cognitive deterioration and biological evidence of AD: a report of four cases.' BMC Neurology, 23

    Schumacher, J., Ray, N.J., Hamilton, C.A., Bergamino, M., Donaghy, P.C., Firbank, M., Watson, R., Roberts, G., Allan, L., Barnett, N., O'Brien, J.T., Thomas, A.J., Taylor, J.P. (2023) 'Free water imaging of the cholinergic system in dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer's disease.' Alzheimer's and Dementia, 19(10) pp. 4549-4563.

    Ray, N.J., Kanel, P., Bohnen, N.I. (2023) 'Atrophy of the cholinergic basal forebrain can detect presynaptic cholinergic loss in Parkinson's Disease.' Annals of Neurology, 93(5) pp. 991-998.

    Bergamino, M., Keeling, E.G., Ray, N.J., Macerollo, A., Silverdale, M., Stokes, A.M. (2023) 'Structural connectivity and brain network analyses in Parkinson's disease: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study.' Frontiers in Neurology, 14pp. 1137780-1137780.

    Ray, N.J., Lawson, R.A., Martin, S.L., Sigurdsson, H.P., Wilson, J., Galna, B., Lord, S., Alcock, L., Duncan, G.W., Khoo, T.K., O'Brien, J.T., Burn, D.J., Taylor, J.P., Rea, R.C., Bergamino, M., Rochester, L., Yarnall, A.J. (2022) 'Free-water imaging of the cholinergic basal forebrain and pedunculopontine nucleus in Parkinson's disease.' Brain: a journal of neurology, 146(3) pp. 1053-1064.

    Berlot, R., Pirtošek, Z., Brezovar, S., Koritnik, B., Teipel, S.J., Grothe, M.J., Ray, N.J. (2022) 'Cholinergic basal forebrain and hippocampal structure influence visuospatial memory in Parkinson’s disease.' Brain Imaging and Behavior, 16(1) pp. 118-129.

    Schumacher, J., Ray, N.J., Hamilton, C.A., Donaghy, P.C., Firbank, M., Roberts, G., Allan, L., Durcan, R., Barnett, N., O'Brien, J.T., Taylor, J.P., Thomas, A.J. (2021) 'Cholinergic white matter pathways in dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer's disease.' Brain: a journal of neurology, 145(5) pp. 1773-1784.

    Berlot, R., Koritnik, B., Pirtošek, Z., Ray, N.J. (2021) 'Preserved cholinergic forebrain integrity reduces structural connectome vulnerability in mild cognitive impairment.' Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 425

    Rea, R.C., Berlot, R., Martin, S.L., Craig, C.E., Holmes, P.S., Wright, D.J., Bon, J., Pirtošek, Z., Ray, N.J. (2021) 'Quantitative EEG and cholinergic basal forebrain atrophy in Parkinson's disease and mild cognitive impairment.' Neurobiology of Aging, 106pp. 37-44.

    Wilson, J., Yarnall, A., Craig, C., Galna, B., Lord, S., Morris, R., Lawson, R., Alcock, L., Duncan, G.W., Khoo, T.K., O'Brien, J.T., Burn, D.J., Taylor, J.P., Ray, N., Rochester, L. (2021) 'Cholinergic basal forebrain volumes predict gait decline in Parkinson’s disease.' Movement Disorders, 36(3) pp. 611-621.

    Craig, C.E., Ray, N.J., Müller, M.L.T.M., Bohnen, N.I. (2020) 'New Developments in Cholinergic Imaging in Alzheimer and Lewy Body Disorders.' Current Behavioral Neuroscience Reports, 7(4) pp. 278-286.

    Ray, N., Craig, C., Holmes, P., Rochester, L., Jenkinson, N., Brittain, J.S., Grothe, M., Silverdale, M., Alho, A., Alho, E. (2020) 'Pedunculopontine nucleus microstructure predicts postural and gait symptoms in Parkinson’s disease..' Movement Disorders, 35(7) pp. 1199-1207.

    Madan, H., Berlot, R., Ray, N.J., Pernuš, F., Špiclin, Ž. (2020) 'Practical Priors for Bayesian Inference of Latent Biomarkers.' IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics, 24(2) pp. 396-406.

    Hartopp, N., Wright, P., Ray, N.J., Evans, T.E., Metzler-Baddeley, C., Aggleton, J.P., O’Sullivan, M.J. (2019) 'A key role for subiculum-fornix connectivity in recollection in older age.' Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 12

    Bradburn, S., Murgatroyd, C., Ray, N. (2019) 'Neuroinflammation in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: a meta-analysis.' Ageing Research Reviews, 50pp. 1-8.

    Fritz, H., Ray, N., Dyrba, M., Sorg, C., Teipel, S., Grothe, M. (2018) 'The corticotopic organization of the human basal forebrain as revealed by regionally selective functional connectivity profiles.' Human Brain Mapping, 40(3) pp. 868-878.

    Bohnen, N., Grothe, M., Ray, N.J., Muller, M., Teipel, S. (2018) 'Recent Advances in Cholinergic Imaging and Cognitive Decline—Revisiting the Cholinergic Hypothesis of Dementia.' Current Geriatrics Reports, 7(1)

    Ray, N.J., Bradburn, S., Murgatroyd, C., Toseeb, U., Mir, P., Kountouriotis, G.K., Teipel, S., Grothe, M.J. (2017) 'In vivo cholinergic basal forebrain atrophy predicts cognitive decline in de novo Parkinson’s disease.' Brain, 141(1) pp. 165-176.

    Ray, N.J., Metzler-Baddeley, C., Khondoker, M.R., Grothe, M.J., Teipel, S., Wright, P., Heinsen, H., Jones, D.K., Aggleton, J.P., O'Sullivan, M.J. (2015) 'Cholinergic Basal Forebrain Structure Influences the Reconfiguration of White Matter Connections to Support Residual Memory in Mild Cognitive Impairment.' Journal of Neuroscience, 35

    Antonelli, F., Ko, J.H., Miyasaki, J., Lang, A.E., Houle, S., Valzania, F., Ray, N.J., Strafella, A.P. (2014) 'Dopamine-agonists and impulsivity in Parkinson's disease: impulsive choices vs. impulsive actions..' Hum Brain Mapp, 35(6) pp. 2499-2506.

    Ko, J.H., Antonelli, F., Monchi, O., Ray, N., Rusjan, P., Houle, S., Lang, A.E., Christopher, L., Strafella, A.P. (2013) 'Prefrontal dopaminergic receptor abnormalities and executive functions in Parkinson's disease.' Human Brain Mapping, 34(7) pp. 1591-1604.

    Cho, S.S., Pellecchia, G., Aminian, K., Ray, N., Segura, B., Obeso, I., Strafella, A.P. (2013) 'Morphometric correlation of impulsivity in medial prefrontal cortex.' Brain Topography, 26(3) pp. 479-487.

    Ray, N.J., Strafella, A.P. (2013) 'Imaging impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease and their relationship to addiction.' Journal of Neural Transmission, 120(4) pp. 659-664.

    Ray, N.J., Miyasaki, J.M., Zurowski, M., Ko, J.H., Cho, S.S., Pellecchia, G., Antonelli, F., Houle, S., Lang, A.E., Strafella, A.P. (2012) 'Extrastriatal dopaminergic abnormalities of DA homeostasis in Parkinson's patients with medication-induced pathological gambling: A [11C] FLB-457 and PET study.' Neurobiology of Disease, 48(3) pp. 519-525.

    Ray, N.J., Strafella, A.P. (2012) 'The neurobiology and neural circuitry of cognitive changes in Parkinson's disease revealed by functional neuroimaging.' Movement Disorders, 27(12) pp. 1484-1492.

    Brittain, J.S., Watkins, K.E., Joundi, R.A., Ray, N.J., Holland, P., Green, A.L., Aziz, T.Z., Jenkinson, N. (2012) 'A role for the subthalamic nucleus in response inhibition during conflict.' Journal of Neuroscience, 32(39) pp. 13396-13401.

    Cho, S.S., Pellecchia, G., Ko, J.H., Ray, N., Obeso, I., Houle, S., Strafella, A.P. (2012) 'Effect of continuous theta burst stimulation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on cerebral blood flow changes during decision making.' Brain Stimulation, 5(2) pp. 116-123.

    Ray, N.J., Brittain, J.S., Holland, P., Joundi, R.A., Stein, J.F., Aziz, T.Z., Jenkinson, N. (2012) 'The role of the subthalamic nucleus in response inhibition: Evidence from local field potential recordings in the human subthalamic nucleus.' NeuroImage, 60(1) pp. 271-278.

    Antonelli, F., Ray, N., Strafella, A.P. (2011) 'Impulsivity and Parkinson's disease: More than just disinhibition.' Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 310(1-2) pp. 202-207.

    Obeso, I., Ray, N.J., Antonelli, F., Cho, S.S., Strafella, A.P. (2011) 'Combining functional imaging with brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease.' International Review of Psychiatry, 23(5) pp. 467-475.

    Ko, J.H., Reilhac, A., Ray, N., Rusjan, P., Bloomfield, P., Pellecchia, G., Houle, S., Strafella, A.P. (2011) 'Analysis of variance in neuroreceptor ligand imaging studies..' PLoS One, 6(8)

    Ray, N., Antonelli, F., Strafella, A.P. (2011) 'Imaging impulsivity in Parkinson's disease and the contribution of the subthalamic nucleus.' Parkinson's Disease, 2011pp. 594860-594860.

    Thevathasan, W., Schweder, P., Joint, C., Ray, N., Pretorius, P., Gregory, R., Aziz, T. (2011) 'Permanent tremor reduction during thalamic stimulation in multiple sclerosis.' Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 82(4) pp. 419-422.

    Antonelli, F., Ray, N., Strafella, A.P. (2010) 'Imaging cognitive and behavioral symptoms in Parkinson's disease.' Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 10(12) pp. 1827-1838.

    Ray, N., Strafella, A.P. (2010) 'Dopamine, reward, and frontostriatal circuitry in impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease: Insights from functional imaging.' Clinical EEG and Neuroscience, 41(2) pp. 87-93.

    Brittain, J.S., Green, A., Jenkinson, N., Ray, N., Holland, P., Stein, J., Aziz, T., Davies, P. (2009) 'Local field potentials reveal a distinctive neural signature of cluster headache in the hypothalamus.' Cephalalgia, 29(11) pp. 1165-1173.

    Ray, N.J., Jenkinson, N., Brittain, J., Holland, P., Joint, C., Nandi, D., Bain, P.G., Yousif, N., Green, A., Stein, J.S., Aziz, T.Z. (2009) 'The role of the subthalamic nucleus in response inhibition: Evidence from deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease.' Neuropsychologia, 47(13) pp. 2828-2834.

    Jenkinson, N., Nandi, D., Muthusamy, K., Ray, N.J., Gregory, R., Stein, J.F., Aziz, T.Z. (2009) 'Anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the pedunculopontine nucleus.' Movement Disorders, 24(3) pp. 319-328.

    Kühn, A.A., Tsui, A., Aziz, T., Ray, N., Brücke, C., Kupsch, A., Schneider, G.H., Brown, P. (2009) 'Pathological synchronisation in the subthalamic nucleus of patients with Parkinson's disease relates to both bradykinesia and rigidity.' Experimental Neurology, 215(2) pp. 380-387.

    Ray, N.J., Jenkinson, N., Kringelbach, M.L., Hansen, P.C., Pereira, E.A., Brittain, J.S., Holland, P., Holliday, I.E., Owen, S., Stein, J., Aziz, T. (2009) 'Abnormal thalamocortical dynamics may be altered by deep brain stimulation: Using magnetoencephalography to study phantom limb pain.' Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 16(1) pp. 32-36.

    Ray, N.J., Jenkinson, N., Wang, S., Holland, P., Brittain, J.S., Joint, C., Stein, J.F., Aziz, T. (2008) 'Local field potential beta activity in the subthalamic nucleus of patients with Parkinson's disease is associated with improvements in bradykinesia after dopamine and deep brain stimulation.' Experimental Neurology, 213(1) pp. 108-113.

    Ray, N.J., Kringelbach, M.L., Jenkinson, N., Owen, S.L.F., Davies, P., Wang, S., De Pennington, N., Hansen, P.C., Stein, J., Aziz, T.Z. (2007) 'Using magnetoencephalography to investigate brain activity during high frequency deep brain stimulation in a cluster headache patient.' Biomedical Imaging and Intervention Journal, 3(1)

    Chase, C., Dougherty, R.F., Ray, N., Fowler, S., Stein, J. (2007) 'L/M speed-matching ratio predicts reading in children.' Optometry and Vision Science, 84(3) pp. 229-236.

    Ray, N.J., Fowler, S., Stein, J.F. (2005) 'Yellow filters can improve magnocellular function: motion sensitivity, convergence, accommodation, and reading..' Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1039pp. 283-293.

  • Conference papers

    Altham, C., Zhang, H., Trovati, M., Pereira, E., Ray, N., Keller, S., Macerollo, A., Wieshmann, H. (2023) 'Early Detection of Parkinson’s Disease Dementia Using Dual-Sided Multi-scale Convolutional Neural Networks (DSMS-CNN).' 810 LNEE. pp. 191-201.

    Ray, N.J., Wright, P. (2017) 'Fornix Microstructure Correlates with Post-stroke Memory Impairment Independently of Lesion Volume.' In INTERNATIONAL STROKE CONFERENCE.

    Stoodley, C.J., Ray, N.J., Jack, A., Stein, J.F. (2008) 'Implicit learning in control, dyslexic, and garden-variety poor readers.' 1145. pp. 173-183.