Academic staff

HomeAcademic staffDr Rachael Elward
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I am Course Leader for Psychology - BSc (Hons).

I specialise in the cognitive neuroscience of learning and memory. I use a range of neuroscience techniques including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), eye-tracking, and cognitive science. The combination of these methods enable me to investigate the areas of the brain involved in memory-related processing, the time-course of these processes during memory tasks, and ontogeny of episodic memory across development.

My research has an impact on the diagnosis and management of children with life-altering memory disorders.

I hold an honorary lectureship with the UCL Institute of Child Health and collaborate with colleagues there on patient-focused research in Neuropsychology and cardiology. I have been invited to speak at the South East Paediatric Neuropsychology Special Interest Group so that clinicians can better identify and support children with memory disorders. I have been approached by clinicians from the US to advise on patient support. In recent years, I have been invited to speak at the Center for the Developing Brain in Kings College London. I give annual guest lectures at UCL on their MSc course in Paediatric Neuropsychology. My research is important for the care of patients but also contributes to the understanding of the processes that support cognitive development in typically-developing people.

I am running three research projects at LSBU

1. A study investigating learning in children with memory disorders and controls.

2. A study investigating spatial memory in children with memory disorders and controls.

3. An EEG project investigating the neural correlates of memory in typically developing adults and adults with memory disorders.

I am also a collaborator on a research grant with a neuroscience group in Dallas, Texas focused on memory declines associated with older age and have an ongoing collaboration with the university of Notre Dame in Indiana.

In terms of public engagement, I have been involved in a theatre production to teach children about the consequences of brain injury. I have been interviewed for parents.com on the topic of children’s memory abilities.

I am a member of the Memory Disorders Research Society.

Courses taught

Psychology - BSc (Hons)

Psychology (Child Development) - BSc (Hons)

Psychology (Clinical Psychology) - BSc (Hons)

Psychology (Forensic Psychology) - BSc (Hons)

Psychology - MSc

Postgraduate Research Supervision
Current
Miss Christina ProtopapaDoctoral Research ProjectPhD

Filter publications

Embedding student-centred active learning environment with upside-down pedagogies in teaching practice: What works for psychology?
Premkumar, P., Churchill, T., Elward, R. and Alford,A. (2024). Embedding student-centred active learning environment with upside-down pedagogies in teaching practice: What works for psychology? Psychology Teaching Review. 30 (1), pp. 7-31. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpsptr.2024.30.1.7

Using recognition testing to support semantic learning in developmental amnesia
Elward, R., Limond, J., Chareyron, L.J., Ethapemi, J. and Vargha-Khadem, F. (2023). Using recognition testing to support semantic learning in developmental amnesia. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.1080/09602011.2023.2275825

When the brain, but not the person, remembers: Cortical reinstatement is modulated by retrieval goal in developmental amnesia.
Elward, R.L, Rugg, M.D and Vargha-Khadem, F. (2021). When the brain, but not the person, remembers: Cortical reinstatement is modulated by retrieval goal in developmental amnesia. Neuropsychologia. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107788

Effects of age on goal-dependent modulation of episodic memory retrieval.
Srokova, S., Hill, P.F., Elward, R.L. and Rugg, M.D. (2021). Effects of age on goal-dependent modulation of episodic memory retrieval. Neurobiology of aging. 102, pp. 73-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.02.004

Functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Liégeois, F. and Elward, R. (2020). Functional magnetic resonance imaging. Handbook of clinical neurology. 174, pp. 265-275. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-64148-9.00019-3

Little evidence for fast mapping in adults with developmental amnesia.
Elward, R., Dzieciol A.M. and Vargha-Khadem, F. (2019). Little evidence for fast mapping in adults with developmental amnesia. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. 10 (4). https://doi.org/10.1080/17588928.2019.1593123

Semantic memory in developmental amnesia
Elward, R. and Vargha-Khadem, F. (2018). Semantic memory in developmental amnesia. Neuroscience Letters. 680, pp. 23-30.

Dissociation between the neural correlates of recollection and familiarity in the striatum and hippocampus: Across-study convergence
King, D.R., Chastelaine, M.D., Elward, R., Wang, T.H. and Rugg, M.D. (2017). Dissociation between the neural correlates of recollection and familiarity in the striatum and hippocampus: Across-study convergence. Behavioural Brain Research. 354, pp. 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2017.07.031

Retrieval Goal Modulates Memory for Context
Elward, R. and Rugg, M.D. (2015). Retrieval Goal Modulates Memory for Context. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. 27 (12). https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_00878

Recollection-Related Increases in Functional Connectivity Predict Individual Differences in Memory Accuracy
King, D.R., Chastelaine, M., Elward, R., Wang, T.H. and Rugg, M.D. (2015). Recollection-Related Increases in Functional Connectivity Predict Individual Differences in Memory Accuracy. Journal of Neuroscience. 35 (4), pp. 1763-1772. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3219-14.2015

Motivated Memories: Effects of reward and recollection in the core recollection network and beyond
Elward, R., Vilberg, K.L. and Rugg, M.D. (2015). Motivated Memories: Effects of reward and recollection in the core recollection network and beyond. Cerebral Cortex. 25 (9), pp. 3159-3166. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhu109

The role of working memory capacity in the control of recollection
Elward, R., Evans, L.H. and Wilding, E.L. (2013). The role of working memory capacity in the control of recollection. Cortex. 46 (6), pp. 1452-1462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2012.07.003

Cross-modal face identity aftereffects and their relation to priming
Hills, P.J., Elward, R. and Lewis, M.B. (2010). Cross-modal face identity aftereffects and their relation to priming. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance. 36 (4), pp. 876-891. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018731

Working memory capacity is related to variations in the magnitude of an electrophysiological marker of recollection
Elward, R. and Wilding, E.L. (2010). Working memory capacity is related to variations in the magnitude of an electrophysiological marker of recollection. Brain Research. 1342, pp. 55-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2010.04.040

Reduced specificity of autobiographical memory and depression: The role of executive control
Dalgleish, T., Williams, J.M.G., Golden, A-M. J., Perkins, N., Barrett, L.F., Barnard, P.J., Au Yeung, C., Murphy, V., Elward, R., Tchanturia, K. and Watkins, E. (2007). Reduced specificity of autobiographical memory and depression: The role of executive control. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. 136 (1), p. 23/42. https://doi.org/10.1037/0096-3445.136.1.23