Worldwide, depression affects more than 300 million people of all ages and is the leading cause of lifelong disability, according to the World Health Organization. For many patients, classic therapies with drugs and psychotherapy do not have immediate or long-lasting effects. Recently, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) became accepted as an alternative treatment for major depressive disorder. A standard TMS protocol involves stimulation over 20-30 sessions, which is costly for the health authorities and requires commitment from the depression patient. While the TMS treatment is efficient for many patients, some patients do not benefit and even discontinue the treatment. Currently, no established screening tool would assess the potential efficacy of the TMS treatment before it starts. In this project, we propose to develop electroencephalography (EEG) based neural markers of TMS efficacy that could be assessed during a single TMS-EEG session before the treatment begins. In Study 1, the student will analyse the existing TMS-EEG datasets and extract cortical reactivity markers (potentials, time-frequency, connectivity, complexity) that best predict a single-session modulation of depression symptoms. In Study 2, the identified EEG markers will be measured at the start of the clinic-based treatment of depression patients (N=40), aiming to assess whether EEG can predict treatment success. In Study 3, a larger sample of depression patients will be screened (N=100), and patients showing the largest EEG cortical reactivity to TMS will be recruited for treatment. Using their data and meta-analysis, the student will assess whether EEG screening increases TMS efficacy compared to current TMS trials that do not involve EEG.
Dr Valdas Noreika leads a research program on mental health, sleep, and cognition, using a range of cognitive neuroscience techniques, including electroencephalography and transcranial brain stimulation. He would support the experimental side of the project. Dr Nikolina Jovanovic is a Consultant Psychiatrist and would support the clinical side of the project. The PhD student will have access to a Researcher Development Programme designed to help recognise and develop critical skills and attributes needed to manage research effectively and prepare for the next stages of their career. Lab members will individually train the PhD student in developing coding, statistics, cognitive neuroscience and clinical assessment knowledge and skills.
Find out more about the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences on our website.
We are looking for candidates to have or expecting to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree and a Master’s degree in an area relevant to the project such as Psychology, Neuroscience, Medicine (Psychiatry, Neurology).
Knowledge of neuroimaging, in particular, machine learning, time series analysis or other signal processing techniques would be highly advantageous but are not required.
You must meet the IELTS requirements for your course and upload evidence before CSC’s application deadline, ideally by 1st March 2025. You are therefore strongly advised to sit an approved English Language test as soon as possible, where your IELTS test must still be valid when you enrol for the programme.
Please find further details on our English Language requirements page.
Formal applications must be submitted through our online form by 29th January 2025 for consideration. Please identify yourself as a ‘CSC Scholar’ in the funding section of the application.
Applicants are required to submit the following documents:
Find out more about our application process on our SBBS website.
Informal enquiries about the project can be sent to Dr Valdas Noreika AT v.noreika@qmul.ac.uk Admissions-related queries can be sent to sbbs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a formal interview by the supervisor. If you are successful in your QMUL application, then you will be issued an QMUL Offer Letter, conditional on securing a CSC scholarship along with academic conditions still required to meet our entry requirements.
Once applicants have obtained their QMUL Offer Letter, they should then apply to CSC for the scholarship with the support of the supervisor.
For further information, please go to the QMUL China Scholarship Council webpage.
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