NCMD Theme seminar 17th July 2026
NCMD Theme seminar 17th July 2026
Talk 1. Speaker: Megan James, Undergraduate Psychology Student, Â鶹´«Ã½.
Presentation title: UG Dissertation: The Association of the Implant Contraceptive and Sex Hormones with Sustained Attention and Mood.
The menstrual cycle is characterised by cyclical changes in oestradiol and progesterone, both of which have been previously identified to hold implications regarding sustained attention and mood. Methods of hormonal contraception (HC) act by suppressing these hormones, yet they pose risks of adverse effects, including depressive symptoms. Newer forms of HC are designed to reduce such risks, such as the progestin-only Nexplanon implant; however, limited research has considered how these may influence mood and cognitive domains. This study aimed to assess associations between the Nexplanon implant and endogenous sex hormones within late-follicular and mid-luteal menstrual phases with sustained attention and mood, hypothesising that group differences will occur in these domains. Oestradiol and progesterone were anticipated to drive sustained attention and mood changes across group and phase, while improved sustained attention was expected to correlate with increased mood. Participants completed standardised measures of sustained attention and mood across both phases, with Ex-Gaussian analysis conducted to examine sustained attention performance. Linear mixed models were used within analysis, with generalised linear mixed models utilised where model assumptions violated. No group differences were observed for both sustained attention and mood; however, mood differed by phase within NC participants. Sustained attention performance improved across time point, indicating potential learning effects, but decreased with increasing oestradiol within the NC follicular phase. Findings suggest cognitive task may mediate sustained attention, regardless of contraceptive
use, while the Nexplanon implant has no effect upon mood or attention. However, initial power analysis outcomes mean conclusions should be interpreted with caution.
Megan has just completed her undergraduate BSc Psychology degree at Â鶹´«Ã½. She has a profound interest in neuropsychology, particularly children's neuropsychology, and aims to one day specialise within Paediatric Clinical Neuropsychology in order to pursue this interest and to make a difference to the lives of children and young people.
Talk 2, Speaker: Imogen Tate, Undergraduate Psychology Student, Â鶹´«Ã½ (supervisor, Susanna Carella).
Presentation title: UG dissertation – The Interaction Between Low Mood and Bipolar Risk on Reinforcement Learning.
This study used a lab-based Probabilistic Instrumental Learning Task to measure performance across self reported depressive symptoms and proneness to hypomania (bipolar risk) in students. The aim of this design was to attempt to provide insight into bipolar depression.
A choice accuracy behavioural parameter was measured, as well as two underlying decision-making processes using computational models of reinforcement learning: inverse decision temperature (choice exploitation) and learning rate (updating using previously learned values). She will discuss her unexpected findings during this talk.
Imogen is a recent BSc Psychology with Professional Placement graduate from Â鶹´«Ã½. She completed her placement year with the Regional Affective Disorders Service and CaPE Clinic in Â鶹´«Ã½ upon Tyne between stage 2 and 3 of her degree, during which she developed an interest in mood disorders and cognitive neuroscience.