Psychology
How do we think and interact with the world? Why do we react in the ways we do? Explore the ways our minds work.
Our course covers all core elements of psychological study, from lifespan development,…
Dr Chesney Elizabeth Craig
Lecturer
I research fall prevention and rehabilitation in older adults and people living with Parkinson's
My profile
Biography
I completed my PhD in the School of Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast in 2017. My PhD examined how deficits in sensory integration may contribute to postural impairment and falls in older adults.
Following my PhD, I started working as a Research Associate in the Exercise and Sport Science department of the Manchester Metropolitan Cheshire campus. This work focused on establishing an experimental protocol to simultaneously measure brain activity, movement kinematics and eye movements during active gait in older people with and without a history of falls.
In 2018, I was promoted to Senior Research Associate in the Psychology department of Manchester Metropolitan. This research focused on neural correlates of postural and gait impairment and falls in people living with Parkinson’s.
In January 2023, I transitioned into my current role as Lecturer in the Psychology department. My teaching in this role predominantly focuses on neuropsychology and biopsychology.
Outside of academia, my primary interests include; being a twin mum, crafting, gaming and baking.
Academic and professional qualifications
PhD, Sensory Integration and Compensatory Mechanisms in Older Adults’ Postural Control, Queen’s University Belfast (2017)
BSc Psychology (International) 1st class (Hons), University of Leeds (2013)
Additional professional interests/experience
- Reviewer for numerous journals, including; The Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, Neuropsychologia, Human Movement Science, Frontiers in Neurology [Publons profile]
- External Relations Committee - International Society for Posture and Gait Research
- Grant reviewer for MRC, ESRC and NSERC
Interests and expertise
My academic interests primarily focus on ageing, falls and Parkinson’s Disease. My research employs a variety of multidisciplinary techniques to assess neurological, behavioural and psychological factors that determine fall outcomes in older adults and those living with Parkinson’s. Such techniques include, motion tracking, mobile EEG, structural MRI, prospective falls diaries, cognitive and physiological assessments, EMG and eye tracking.
Teaching
My current teaching primarily focuses on topics in neuropsychology and biopsychology. Including the following units:
BSc Units:
- Biopsychology
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Preparing for Your Dissertation
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Dissertation
MSc Units:
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Service Evaluation and Development Research Dissertation
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Biological Mechanisms and Neuropsychological Health
My favourite thing about teaching is introducing students to the world of research and fostering a passion for research in those I supervise.
Previously, I have taught on the following units:
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Applied Social and Developmental Psychology
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Lifespan Development
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Investigating Psychology 1
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Interdisciplinary Exercise Science
- Neuroscience in Exercise and Sport
Supervision
PhD completions
- Jodi Ventre - The Prevalence, Determinants, and Consequences of Falls in Middle-Aged Adults in Greater Manchester in 2018-2022 (joint primary supervisor)
- Dr River Rea (third supervisor)
Research outputs
My current research focuses on the neurological, psychological and behavioural determinants of falls in older adults and people living with Parkinson’s.
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Journal articles
Rea, R.C., Berlot, R., Martin, S.L., Craig, C.E., Holmes, P.S., Wright, D.J., Bon, J., Pirtošek, Z., Ray, N.J. 'Quantitative EEG and cholinergic basal forebrain atrophy in Parkinson's disease and mild cognitive impairment.' Neurobiology of Aging, 106pp. 37-44.
Bek, J., Holmes, P.S., Craig, C.E., Franklin, Z.C., Sullivan, M., Webb, J., Crawford, T.J., Vogt, S., Gowen, E., Poliakoff, E. 'Action Imagery and Observation in Neurorehabilitation for Parkinson's Disease (ACTION-PD): development of a user- informed home training intervention to improve functional hand movements.' Parkinson's Disease, 2021pp. 4559519-4559519.
Wilson, J., Yarnall, A., Craig, C., Galna, B., Lord, S., Morris, R., Lawson, R., Alcock, L., Duncan, G.W., Khoo, T.K., O'Brien, J.T., Burn, D.J., Taylor, J.P., Ray, N., Rochester, L. 'Cholinergic basal forebrain volumes predict gait decline in Parkinson’s disease.' Movement Disorders, 36(3) pp. 611-621.
Craig, C.E., Ray, N.J., Müller, M.L.T.M., Bohnen, N.I. 'New Developments in Cholinergic Imaging in Alzheimer and Lewy Body Disorders.' Current Behavioral Neuroscience Reports, 7(4) pp. 278-286.
Ray, N., Craig, C., Holmes, P., Rochester, L., Jenkinson, N., Brittain, J.S., Grothe, M., Silverdale, M., Alho, A., Alho, E. 'Pedunculopontine nucleus microstructure predicts postural and gait symptoms in Parkinson’s disease..' Movement Disorders, 35(7) pp. 1199-1207.
Craig, C.E., Doumas, M. 'Slowed Sensory Reweighting and Postural Illusions in Older Adults: The Moving Platform Illusion..' Journal of Neurophysiology, 121(2) pp. 690-700.
Craig, C., Calvert, G.H.M., Doumas, M. 'Effects of the availability of accurate proprioceptive information on older adults’ postural sway and muscle co-contraction.' European Journal of Neuroscience, 46(10) pp. 2548-2556.
Craig, C.E., Doumas, M. 'Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation shows minimal, measure-specific effects on dynamic postural control in young and older adults: A double blind, sham-controlled study.' PLoS ONE, 12(1)
Craig, C.E., Goble, D.J., Doumas, M. 'Proprioceptive acuity predicts muscle co-contraction of the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius medialis in older adults’ dynamic postural control.' Neuroscience, 322pp. 251-261.