Professor Nicola Jane Ray

Professor Nicola Ray

Professor Nicola Jane Ray

Professor of Neuroscience

My profile

Biography

I have been working with people with Parkinson’s who are undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery for most of my career. I was working with neurosurgeon Professor Tipu Aziz at the University of Oxford when this surgery was first approved. Back then, the devices used for DBS were designed to stimulate the brain, but did not allow us to record brain activity very easily. With Tipu’s help however, we were able to record activity from inside the brain during a short time window. This window opened after Tipu had implanted the electrodes inside the person’s brain, and closed a few days later when he connected them to a battery that would be eventually placed in the chest wall. This allowed our group to record brain activity from people living with Parkinson’s, an opportunity that was previously only possible in animal models. Because of this, we were able to contribute to the growing understanding that brain signals in people with Parkinson’s are different to people without Parkinson’s, and these signals “normalise” when people take dopamine-replacement medications. 

Following my time working with Tipu, I moved to Canada to work with Professor Antonio Strafella at the University of Toronto. Here, I learned how to use brain images to understand how the brain changes in Parkinson’s. It was very different to the work I had done previously. For one, the people who took part in my studies were at a much earlier stage in their disease than they had been in Oxford. For another, they were not in the middle of brain surgery when I was interacting with them. This meant I was able to chat more deeply with people about their experiences of living with Parkinson’s. I became good friends with one of my participants, and probably learned more from him about the disease than all the text books I’d read combined. 

After Toronto, and after having children, I came to Manchester Met to continue my research. I quickly connected with Professor Monty Silverdale in Manchester and Dr Antonella Macerollo in Liverpool. Both were managing busy deep brain stimulation services, and both were interested in understanding how the Parkinson’s-related changes in brain structure might influence those pathological brain signals I was recording in Oxford all those years previously. Medtronic, a leading manufacturer of deep brain stimulation devices, had just made it possible to record brain activity wirelessly, long after the electrodes had been connected to the battery. This advance allows the device to detect those same pathological brain signals we recorded all those years ago during Tipu’s surgeries, and to provide stimulation when it’s needed most, called “adaptive deep brain stimulation”.      

Interests and expertise

Neuroimaging

Deep brain stimulation

Parkinson’s disease

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.

  • Chapters in books

    Shepherd, H., Osman-Farah, J., Ray, N., Macerollo, A. (2024) 'Parkinson's disease: The use of new technology in the titration of deep brain stimulation parameters.' Learning Deep Brain Stimulation Management through Clinical Cases. pp. 223-237.

  • Journal articles

    Clark, O., Delgado Sanchez, A., Cullell, N., Correa-Muller, S.A.L., Krupinski, J., Ray, N. (2024) 'Diffusion Tensor Imaging Analysis Along the Perivascular Space in the UK Biobank.' Sleep Medicine, 119pp. 399-405.

    Schumacher, J., Ray, N., Teipel, S., Storch, A. (2024) 'Associations of cholinergic system integrity with cognitive decline in GBA1 and LRRK2 mutation carriers.' npj Parkinson's Disease, 10(1)

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.