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Staff Profile

Dr Hilmar Sigurdsson

Research Associate

  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 2099
  • Address: Brain and Movement (BAM) Research Group
    Biomedical Research Building, 2.13
    Translational and Clinical Research Institute
    Faculty of Medical Sciences
    Â鶹´«Ã½
    Â鶹´«Ã½ upon Tyne
    NE4 5PL
Background

I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Iceland and an MRes degree in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience specialising in Neuropsychology from Maastricht University in the Netherlands. I was then awarded the Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarship for Research Excellence to complete my PhD studies at the University of Nottingham. In 2019 I moved to Â鶹´«Ã½ to work as a research associate with the Brain and Movement (BAM) Research Group at the Translational and Clinical Research Institute.My primary research interests are in the understanding of neural control of the human motor system and how this is altered in movement disorders (particularly Parkinson's) using advanced neuroimaging techniques.

Links:  | | 

Research

I joined the Brain and Movement group in March 2019 working with Profs. Lynn Rochester and Alison Yarnall. My work involves developing novel stepped protocols to dynamically track changes in FDG metabolism to differentiate gait related brain activity from postural control using Positron Emission Tomography [PET]/MRI. Furthermore, I will attempt to investigate the interaction of FDG-PET activation with structural and functional connectivity networks to ascertain mechanisms underpinning any age or disease related changes. At present I am investigating a novel neuromodulation tool that stimulates the cholinergic vagus nerve to improve gait and cognitive function in people with Parkinson's.

Publications

  • Articles

    • Sigurdsson HP, Alcock L, Firbank M, Wilson R, Brown P, Maxwell R, Bennett E, Pavese N, Brooks DJ, Rochester L. . NeuroImage 2024, 288, 120531.
    • Sigurdsson HP, Hunter H, Alcock L, Wilson R, Pienaar I, Want E, Baker MR, Taylor J-P, Rochester L, Yarnall AJ. . BMC Neurology 2023, 23(1), 58.
    • Sigurdsson HP, Yarnall AJ, Galna B, Lord S, Alcock L, Lawson RA, Colloby SJ, Firbank MJ, Taylor JP, Pavese N, Brooks DJ, O'Brien JT, Burn DJ, Rochester L. . Movement Disorders 2022, 37(6), 1222-1234.
    • Ray NH, Lawson RA, Martin SL, Sigurdsson HP, Wilson J, Galna B, Lord S, Alcock L, Duncan GW, Khoo TK, O'Brien JT, Burn DJ, Taylor JP, Rea R, Bergamino M, Rochester L, Yarnall AJ. . Brain 2022, 146(3), 1053–1064.
    • Jackson SR, Sigurdsson HP, Dyke K, Condon M, Jackson GM. . Journal of Neuropsychology 2021, 15(3), 340-362.
    • Dyke K, Pépés SE, Babourina-Brooks Ben, Chen C, Kim S, Sigurdsson HP, Draper A, Husain M, Nachev P, Gowland P, Morris PG, Jackson SR. . Neuroimage: Reports 2021, 1(1), 100003.
    • Jackson SR, Loayza J, Crighton M, Sigurdsson HP, Dyke K, Jackson GM. . Cortex 2020, 126, 119-133.
    • Morera Maiquez, B, Sigurdsson, HP, Dyke, K, Clarke, E, McGrath, P, Pasche, M, Rajendran, A, Jackson, GM, Jackson, SR. Entraining Movement-Related Brain Oscillations to Suppress Tics in Tourette Syndrome. Current Biology 2024, 30(12), 2334-2342. In Preparation.
    • Sigurdsson, HP, Jackson, SR, Jolley, L, Mitchell, E, Jackson, GM. Alterations in cerebellar grey matter structure and covariance networks in young people with Tourette syndrome. Cortex 2020, 126.
    • Sigurdsson, HP, Jackson, SR, Kim, S, Dyke, K, Jackson, GM. A feasibility study for somatomotor cortical mapping in Tourette syndrome using neuronavigated transcranial magnetic stimulation. Cirtex 2020, 129, 175-187. In Preparation.
    • Sigurdsson HP, Pépés SE, Jackson GM, Draper A, Morgan PS, Jackson SR. . Cortex 2018, 104, 75-89.
    • Dyke, K, Pépés, SE, Chen, C, Kim, S, Sigurdsson, HP, Draper, A, Husain, M, Nachev, P, Gowland, PA, Morris, PG, Jackson, SR. Comparing GABA-dependent physiological measures of inhibition with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurement of GABA using ultra-high-field MRI. Neuroimage 2017, 15, 360-370.
    • Chen C, Sigurdsson HP, Pépés SE, Auer DP, Morris PG, Morgan PS, Gowland PA, Jackson SR. . NeuroImage 2017, 156, 207-213.
    • Sigurdsson HP, Hefner G, Ben-Omar N, Köstlbacher A, Wenzel-Seifert K, Hiemke C, Haen E. . Journal of Neural Transmission 2015, 122(5), 721-729.
    • Hefner, G, Laib, AK, Sigurdsson, H, Hohner, M, Hiemke, C. The value of drug and metabolite concentration in blood as a biomarker of psychopharmacological therapy. International Review of Psychiatry 2013, 25(5), 494-508.

  • Review

    • Sigurdsson HP, Raw R, Hunter H, Baker MR, Taylor J-P, Rochester L, Yarnall AJ. . Expert Review of Medical Devices 2021, 18(10), 971-984.