Dr Crawford Winlove

About me:

Crawford Winlove is an Associate Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience. He grew up in London, and was educated at the University of Bristol. Crawford was introduced by Dr Robert Meech to the possibility of identifying the biophysical basis of behaviour in simple animals. As a result, after a period of fundraising for Amnesty International, Crawford returned to Bristol to complete a PhD with Prof. Alan Roberts FRS. This research used in vivo patch-clamp electrophysiology to understand the role of spinal neurons in animal models of behaviour.

Following the completion of his PhD Crawford was invited to join the prestigious Human Brain project at the Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), but declined to pursue his developing interest in the roles of cognitive processes in human goal-directed behaviour. Crawford accepted an Honorary Research Fellowship at the University of Bristol, and a Teaching Fellowship at the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry in 2009. Crawford was appointed as a Lecturer in Neuroscience at the University of Exeter in 2011, a Senior Lecturer in 2018 and an Associate Professor in 2021.

Interests:

Crawford is a Cognitive Neuroscientist, with a general interest in how neural processes give rise to human behaviour.

Most recently, Crawford’s work has focused on Imagination – our capacity for sensory-like experiences in the absence of corresponding external stimuli. A key aspect of this has been elucidating the neural bases for marked differences in imagery vividness: its absence, Aphantasia, and its counter: Hyperphantasia. Much of this work, the Mind’s Eye Project, has been funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council – and forms the basis of an art exhibition currently touring the UK.

An earlier focus of his work was addiction and substance abuse, motivated by the appalling impact of these conditions. A particular interest has been the neural correlates of craving, an emotional state which appears to precipitate relapse in many substance abusers – and yet be unknown to others. Crawford’s computational modelling of previously published neuroimaging data is starting to reveal the neural basis of these clinically important differences.

Other research has encompassed analyses of the psychological factors underpinning undergraduate alcohol consumption with Dr Mark Tarrant, and the demographic factors associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, with Prof. Tamsin Ford.

Key methods:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): BOLD, Arterial Spin-Labelling, Voxel-based Morphometry, Diffusion-Tensor Imaging

Anatomical labelling: Implementation of the Connectome Workbench

Modelling: Neuroimaging data; Effect-size meta-analysis

Cognitive research methods: Electroencephalography (EEG); Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Psychological Testing In-person neuropsychological assessment; the design and development of computerised instruments; survey design and delivery.