Contact
Email: a.lawson@bbk.ac.uk | amy.lawson@kcl.ac.uk
Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development
Department of Psychological Sciences
Birkbeck, University of London
Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience
Kings College London
Supervisors
Dr Samuel Cooke (Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King’s College London)
Prof Emily Jones (CBCD, Birkbeck, University of London)
Prof Robert Leech (Neuroimaging, King’s College London)
Research interests
My research is focussed on the neuroscience behind how memory and learning occur in the developing brain. I am interested in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of memory and learning and how this is affected by dysregulation, for example in neurodevelopmental disorders. To investigate this, I am researching a fundamental form of learning and memory – habituation and novelty.
A large aspect of my work is focussing on translational techniques, I will therefore be using a variety of methods throughout my PhD to investigate habituation and novelty in the developing brain. My PhD will include in vivo and in vitro work at the King’s College London, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, as well as non-invasive neuroimaging techniques, such as EEG, at the CBCD.
Education
PhD Neuroscience – King’s College London & Birkbeck, University of London (2021 - present)
BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science - Sheffield Hallam University (2014 - 2018)
Research Experience
2021 – PhD Rotation Project
Understanding the mechano-regulation of ovarian aging, King’s College London
2018-2021 – Clinical Research Assistant
Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia, University of Oxford/ Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
2018 – BSc Final year research project
Investigating aquaporin 1 expression in the brain in relation to temporal lobe epilepsy, Sheffield Hallam University
2016-2017 – Year in Industry Placement student
Academic Unit of Bone Metabolism, University of Sheffield/ Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
2014 – Project Assistant
MBRRACE-UK, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford
Publications
Webb, A. J., Feakins, K., Lawson, A., Stewart, C., Thomas, J., & Llwyd, O. (2025). White matter hyperintensities are independently associated with systemic vascular aging and cerebrovascular dysfunction. Int J Stroke, 17474930241306987. https://doi.org/10.1177/17474930241306987
Webb, A. J. S., Birks, J. S., Feakins, K. A., Lawson, A., Dawson, J., Rothman, A. M. K., Werring, D. J., Llwyd, O., Stewart, C. R., & Thomas, J. (2024). Cerebrovascular Effects of Sildenafil in Small Vessel Disease: The OxHARP Trial. Circ Res, 135(2), 320-331. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.124.324327
Webb, A., Werring, D., Dawson, J., Rothman, A., Lawson, A., & Wartolowska, K. (2021). Design of a randomised, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled trial of effects of sildenafil on cerebrovascular function in small vessel disease: Oxford haemodynamic adaptation to reduce pulsatility trial (OxHARP). Eur Stroke J, 6(3), 283-290. https://doi.org/10.1177/23969873211026698
Webb, A. J., Lawson, A., Li, L., Mazzucco, S., Rothwell, P. M., & Oxford Vascular Study Phenotyped Cohort. (2021). Physiological determinants of residual cerebral arterial pulsatility on best medical treatment after TIA or minor stroke. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 41(6), 1463-1471. https://doi.org/10.1177/0271678X20969984
Webb, A. J., Lawson, A., Mazzucco, S., Li, L., & Rothwell, P. M. (2021). Age and sex distribution of beat-to-beat blood pressure variability after transient ischemic attack and minor stroke: A population-based study. Int J Stroke, 16(6), 683-691. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747493020971905
Webb, A. J. S., Lawson, A., Mazzucco, S., Li, L., Rothwell, P. M., & Oxford Vascular Study Phenotyped Cohort. (2021). Body Mass Index and Arterial Stiffness Are Associated With Greater Beat-to-Beat Blood Pressure Variability After Transient Ischemic Attack or Minor Stroke. Stroke, 52(4), 1330-1338. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.031179
Webb, A. J. S., Lawson, A., Wartolowska, K., Mazzucco, S., & Rothwell, P. M. (2021). Progression of Beat-to-Beat Blood Pressure Variability Despite Best Medical Management. Hypertension, 77(1), 193-201. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.16290
Webb, A. J. S., Lawson, A., Wartolowska, K., Mazzucco, S., Rothwell, P. M., & the Oxford Vascular Study Phenotyped Cohort. (2021). Aortic Stiffness, Pulse Pressure, and Cerebral Pulsatility Progress Despite Best Medical Management: The OXVASC Cohort. Stroke, STROKEAHA121035560. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.121.035560
Conference Presentations / Posters
Lawson, A., Begum Ali, J., Cooke, S.F., Jones, E.J., and The BASIS Team. (September 2024) Differential contributions of inhibitory neuronal subtypes to Mismatch Negativity and 1/f slope. The 25th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience (ISDN). (Poster)
Lawson, A., Begum Ali, J., Cooke, S.F., Jones, E.J., and The BASIS Team. (July 2024) Cortical markers of habituation in infants with a family history of autism. The International Congress of Infant Studies. (Poster)
Lawson, A., Cooke, S.F. & Jones, E.J. Investigating the cortical mechanisms of habituation and novelty in the developing brain. (2022) LIDo 10 Year Anniversary Gala (Poster)
Awards / funding
PhD studentship: London Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programme (LIDo), funded by BBSRC and King’s College London