Professor Joseph Galea

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

School of Psychology, University of Birmingham

Scientific Background

Research Interests

Professor Galea is broadly interested in motor control. This ranges from the neural correlates of motor learning to stroke rehabilitation. At present, he is particularly interested in how reward/punishment influences our actions and can be used to alter the speed at which our motor system learns or retains new movements.

Motor learning, Motor control, Brain stimulation, Brain imaging, Stroke rehabilitation, Genetics.

Scientific Inspiration

David Marr; A fundamental believer in the importance of investigating behaviour ‘‘trying to understand perception by understanding neurons is like trying to understand a bird’s flight by studying only feathers. It just cannot be done’’ (Marr, 1982).

Research Groups

Perception, Cognition and Action

Centre for Neurogenetics

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: Organised; Supportive; Outcome-oriented.

Provision of Training

I will take responsibility for your training at first, with greater independence being expected as the PhD progresses.

Progression Monitoring and Management

I like to have a weekly meeting with my PhD students in which we discuss all aspects of the PhD. Although I have high expectations and expect consistent progression, I am always free for advice and guidance to help you reach these goals.

Communication

For most communication, we have a ‘slack’ lab page with different channels for different projects. Although communication may occur evenings/weekends, I do not expect responses out of hours. I am happy to discuss any issues that are impacting your ability to fulfil your potential or my/our expectations.

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me:

In a group meeting

At least once per week

In year 1 of PhD study

At least once per week

In year 2 of PhD study

At least once per week

In year 3 of PhD study

At least once per week

These meetings will be face to face and I am usually contactable for an instant response (if required) on every working day.

Working Pattern

The timing of work in my lab is completely flexible, and (other than attending pre-arranged meetings), I expect students to manage their own time.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 2 week’s notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Current Projects (2025-26)

Primary supervisor for:

Examining the neural substrates of motor control and learning with transcranial ultrasound stimulation

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Examining the neural substrates of motor control and learning with transcranial ultrasound stimulation

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Davinia Fernandez-Espejo

University of Registration: University of Birmingham

BBSRC Research Themes: Understanding the Rules of Life (Neuroscience and Behaviour)

Project Outline

Humans have an amazing capacity to perform a wide range of complex motor behaviours, but we have limited ability to assess the neural mechanisms which underpin them. Specifically, non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial electrical stimulation, have been used to causally examine the role of specific brain regions in motor control (e.g. disrupting the activity of a brain region and assessing its impact on a motor task). However, these techniques suffer from a lack of spatial and temporal specificity in addition to an inability to modulate deeper, subcortical, brain regions. Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) provides a novel solution as it can non-invasively modulate deep regions of the brain (cortical and subcortical) with a high level of temporal (milliseconds) and spatial (millimeters) precision. Whilst TUS has significant potential as a tool to characterise, and possibly enhance, motor function in humans it is still a very new technique with only a few institutions in the UK having access to the equipment.

The School of Psychology at the University of Birmingham has recently been awarded a £300k equipment grant to buy a TUS device providing an exciting opportunity for the School to establish itself as leader in the field of TUS research. In light of this award, the aim of this project is to perform a range of studies examining the capacity of TUS to modulate, and possibly enhance, the neural substrates which underlie motor control in humans. Specifically, the project will involve:

Study 1: will investigate how TUS of the primary motor cortex (M1) influences neural excitability (measured with transcranial magnetic stimulation) and behaviour (speed and accuracy on a simple motor task).

Study 2: will investigate how TUS of the cerebellum influences a range of motor learning tasks which are dependent on specific regions of the cerebellum (visuomotor adaptation, force-field adaptation, saccade adaptation).

Study 3: will combine TUS with neuroimaging (fMRI and MRS) to examine the impact of TUS on cerebellar function and how these changes are linked to behaviour.

These set of studies will enable the student to become an expert in a state-of-the-art neurostimulation technique providing an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of this emerging field. The outcome of this project has significant mechanistic and translational potential with it opening the door to potential new treatments for movement disorders such as ataxia.

Key method

Ultrasound: involves generating an acoustic wave through piezoelectricity, where electrical current passes through a crystal, inducing vibrations that release energy through an ultrasound transducer. The design of the TUS transducer enables precise focusing of acoustic energy on a specific spatial point. This capability allows the acoustic wave to be concentrated at unprecedented depths beneath the cortical surface while maintaining high spatial resolution without any loss.

Key publications

Neural substrates for motor control/learning

Shadmehr & Krakauer (2008). A computational neuroanatomy for motor control. Exp Brain Res, 185(3):359-81.

Ultrasound

Nakajima, K., Osada, T., Ogawa, A., Tanaka, M., Oka, S., Kamagata, K., ... Konishi, S. (2022). A causal role of anterior prefrontal-putamen circuit for response inhibition revealed by transcranial ultrasound stimulation in humans. Cell Rep, 40(7), 111197.

Yaakub, S. N., White, T. A., Roberts, J., Martin, E., Verhagen, L., Stagg, C. J., ... Fouragnan, E. F. (2023). Transcranial focused ultrasound-mediated neurochemical and functional connectivity changes in deep cortical regions in humans. Nat Commun, 14(1), 5318.

Zeng, K., Darmani, G., Fomenko, A., Xia, X., Tran, S., Nankoo, J. F., ... Chen, R. (2022). Induction of Human Motor Cortex Plasticity by Theta Burst Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation. Ann Neurol, 91(2), 238-252.