How does a memory become part of our conscious experience? In this episode, we explore cutting-edge research investigating what happens in the brain whenmemories come to mind. We discuss why memory retrieval may involve more than one stage, what brain activity can tell us about conscious awareness, and how this work could help improve future treatments for memory disorders.

We are joined by University of Nottingham researcher Dr Ben Griffiths.

Here are some of the resources discussed in the episode:

A publication discussed during the episode

Press release of the research

This is the last episode in Series 3. Follow the ⁠podcast⁠ to make sure you do not miss out on any future episodes.

You can also listen to Series 1 and 2 wherever you ⁠get your podcasts⁠.

Get in touch via ⁠X/Twitter⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠e-mail⁠.

Hosted by Dr Daniel Jolley (X: ⁠⁠DrDanielJolley)⁠⁠

Edited by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Produced by Rachel Grasmeder Allen (X: ⁠@Rachel_GA_⁠ / Instagram: ⁠@neuro_rachel)⁠

Logo creation by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Notts Psych Pod Series 3 team: Dr Daniel Jolley, Rachel Grasmeder Allen and Grace Baranowski.

Can we support memory as we age? In this episode, we explore how researchers are using cutting-edge brain stimulation and imaging techniques to better understand how memory changes across the lifespan. We discuss the science behind healthy cognitive ageing, why people respond differently to brain stimulation, and how personalised approaches could one day help maintain memory and brain health.

We are joined by University of Nottingham researchers, Dr JeYoung Jung and Izzy Ellis.

Here are some of the resources discussed in the episode:

Follow updates and activities via Dr JeyYoung Jung’s Profile and LinkedIn, and Izzy Ellis’ Linkedin.

You can view Izzy’s recruitment poster here.

A recommended book to learn more about memory: Memory: A Very Short Introduction by Jonathan K. Foster.

Episodes in Series 3 are released weekly. Follow the podcast to make sure you do not miss out.

You can also listen to Series 1 and 2 wherever you ⁠get your podcasts⁠.

Get in touch via ⁠X/Twitter⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠e-mail⁠.

Hosted by Dr Daniel Jolley (X: ⁠⁠DrDanielJolley)⁠⁠

Edited by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Produced by Rachel Grasmeder Allen (X: ⁠@Rachel_GA_⁠ / Instagram: ⁠@neuro_rachel)⁠

Logo creation by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Notts Psych Pod Series 3 team: Dr Daniel Jolley, Rachel Grasmeder Allen and Grace Baranowski.

When it comes to the brain, more activity isn't always better. In this episode, we explore why healthy memory depends on a careful balance between brain activity and inhibition, and how this research could help us better understand memory problems associated with conditions such as schizophrenia and age-related cognitive decline.

We are joined by University of Nottingham researchers, Dr Tobias Bast, Dr Charlie Taylor and Jacob Juty.

Here are some of the resources discussed in the episode:

 Have a look at our research webpages: Tobias, Charlie, and Jacob

Press releasesmpublished in 2017, 2022, and 2025

A short talk for a lay audience on ‘neuronal inhibition’.

Read an interview (in German) Popular science articles: Bast, 2019, Gehirn & Geist (in German); French, Spanish, Italian versions

Episodes in Series 3 are released weekly. Follow the podcast to make sure you do not miss out.

You can also listen to Series 1 and 2 wherever you ⁠get your podcasts⁠.

Get in touch via ⁠X/Twitter⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠e-mail⁠.

Hosted by Dr Daniel Jolley (X: ⁠⁠DrDanielJolley)⁠⁠

Edited by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Produced by Rachel Grasmeder Allen (X: ⁠@Rachel_GA_⁠ / Instagram: ⁠@neuro_rachel)⁠

Logo creation by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Notts Psych Pod Series 3 team: Dr Daniel Jolley, Rachel Grasmeder Allen and Grace Baranowski.

What really happens to our memory as we get older? Although ageing is often associated with memory decline, the story is much more positive - and more surprising - than many people realise. In this episode, we explore how our brains combine information from different senses, why older adults can remember important health information just as well as younger adults, and what this tells us about healthy ageing.

We are joined by Prof Harriet Allen, Professor of Lifespan Psychology at the University of Nottingham, and DrJemaine (Jammy) Stacey, an Early Career Fellow at the University of Leicester.

Here are some of the resources discussed in the episode:

You can find more about our work online: Harriet and Jammy.

The paper we discuss in the episode can be read here.

Harriet also gives a shoutout to Episode 2: What Really Happens During the Menopause

Episodes in Series 3 are released weekly. Follow the podcast to make sure you do not miss out.

You can also listen to Series 1 and 2 wherever you ⁠get your podcasts⁠.

Get in touch via ⁠X/Twitter⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠e-mail⁠.

Hosted by Dr Daniel Jolley (X: ⁠⁠DrDanielJolley)⁠⁠

Edited by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Produced by Rachel Grasmeder Allen (X: ⁠@Rachel_GA_⁠ / Instagram: ⁠@neuro_rachel)⁠

Logo creation by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Notts Psych Pod Series 3 team: Dr Daniel Jolley, Rachel Grasmeder Allen and Grace Baranowski.

Can educational apps really help children learn, or are they simply another form of screen time? In this episode, we explore the science of digital learning, cognitive training, and the home learning environment. We discuss what researchers have discovered about using apps to support children's literacy, numeracy, memory, and attention, and why parents may need better tools to identify genuinely educational digital content.

We are joined by University of Nottingham researcher Dr Efsun Birtwistle.  

Here are some of the resources discussed in the episode:

Learning4Kids Project Details

Learning4Kids study published articles.

Meta-Analysis of Cognitive Training Interventions

TrainKids Project Details

Episodes in Series 3 are released weekly. Follow the podcast to make sure you do not miss out.

You can also listen to Series 1 and 2 wherever you ⁠get your podcasts⁠.

Get in touch via ⁠X/Twitter⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠e-mail⁠.

Hosted by Dr Daniel Jolley (X: ⁠⁠DrDanielJolley)⁠⁠

Edited by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Produced by Rachel Grasmeder Allen (X: ⁠@Rachel_GA_⁠ / Instagram: ⁠@neuro_rachel)⁠

Logo creation by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Notts Psych Pod Series 3 team: Dr Daniel Jolley, Rachel Grasmeder Allen and Grace Baranowski.

Notts Psych Pod is a podcast series brought to you by the School of Psychology at the University of Nottingham. In Series 3, we’re diving into some of the biggest questions in psychology and neuroscience - from children’s learning and digital technology to healthy ageing, memory, brain stimulation, and the science of consciousness.

Each episode features psychologists, neuroscientists, and researchers working across cutting-edge areas of science at the University of Nottingham - and unpack their work in a way that’s accessible, engaging, and relevant to everyday life.

Episodes will be available on Mondays, beginning 6th July 2026. 

Follow the podcast to make sure you do not miss out.

If you cannot wait that long, Series 1 and 2 are already available wherever you ⁠get your podcasts⁠.

Get in touch via ⁠X/Twitter⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠e-mail⁠.

Hosted by Dr Daniel Jolley (X: ⁠DrDanielJolley)⁠

Edited by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Produced by Rachel Grasmeder Allen (X: ⁠@Rachel_GA_⁠/ Instagram: ⁠@neuro_rachel)⁠

Logo creation by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Notts Psych Pod Series 3 team: Dr Daniel Jolley, Rachel Grasmeder Allen and Grace Baranowski.

This episode focuses on a project that encourages blood donation within Black communities, where University of Nottingham researchers work with Action on Blood. As part of the project, videos were produced with the communities to inspire people to donate blood. This unique, arts-based approach has been very effective at increasing blood donation.

We are joined by University of Nottingham researchers, Prof Eamonn Ferguson and Dr Richard Mills, and Abiola Okubanjo, Founder & CEO of Action On Blood.

Here are some of the resources discussed in the episode:

Action on Blood

Read a press release on this work

A paper on the film’s evaluation

Reflections on the co-design process

This is the last episode in Series 2. Follow the podcast to make sure you do not miss out on Series 3.

Catch up on all our episodes wherever you get your podcasts.

Get in touch via ⁠X/Twitter⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠e-mail⁠.

Hosted by Dr Daniel Jolley (X: ⁠⁠DrDanielJolley)⁠⁠

Edited by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Produced by Rachel Grasmeder Allen (X: ⁠@Rachel_GA_⁠/ Instagram: ⁠@neuro_rachel)⁠

Logo creation by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Notts Psych Pod Series 2 team: Dr Daniel Jolley, Rachel Grasmeder Allen and Grace Baranowski.

This episode focuses on the Scouting and Guiding Initiative – or SAGI. SAGI is a group of researchers at the University of Nottingham who aim to inspire the next generation of scientists. SAGI organise fun sessions all about science and how the brain works at Scouting, Girl Guiding and Boys Brigade groups.

We are joined by University of Nottingham researchers, Dr Lee Parkin and Dr Nikki Dean Marshall, two of the co-founders of SAGI, and Dylann Patel, an undergraduate student who is part of the SAGI team.

Here are some of the resources discussed in the episode:

X account and BlueSky

Scouting and Guiding Initiative - Science Night Interest Form

The team also wish to acknowledge the following team members:

Dr Ellen Taylor

Dr Aneeza Pervez

Samantha Martins

Emily Mason

Catch up on all our episodes ⁠wherever you get your podcasts⁠. 

Get in touch via ⁠X⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠e-mail⁠.

Hosted by Dr Daniel Jolley (X: ⁠⁠DrDanielJolley)⁠⁠

Edited by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Produced by Rachel Grasmeder Allen (X: ⁠@Rachel_GA_⁠/ Instagram: ⁠@neuro_rachel)⁠

Logo creation by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Notts Psych Pod Series 2 team: Dr Daniel Jolley, Rachel Grasmeder Allen and Grace Baranowski.

This episode focuses on a Wellcome Trust funded project called EPIC – or otherwise known as Early Psychosis: Investigating Cognition.

Problems with memory and attention affect a large proportion of people with psychosis. However, much of the focus is on “positive” symptoms like hallucinations. The EPIC project aims to fill this gap by understanding the changes in memory and attention in daily life during early psychosis.

We are joined by University of Nottingham researchers, Dr Claudia Danielmeier, Dr Laura Blackie and Dr Ryan Elson, alongside Advisory Group Member, Richard Falvey.

Here are some of the resources discussed in the episode:

Project Website

X account and BlueSky

How to join the advisory group

Healthy individuals with an interest in Study 1 can contact Dr Ryan Elson ([email protected])

Watch Dr Claudia Danielmeier talk about the project

The team also wish to acknowledge the following people:

Dr Zia Katshu

Dr Katherine Dyke

Dr Adam Berrington

Dr Daniel Cocking

Dr Amal Jolly

All members of the advisory group

Catch up on all our episodes ⁠wherever you get your podcasts⁠.

Get in touch via ⁠X⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠e-mail⁠.

Hosted by Dr Daniel Jolley (X: ⁠⁠DrDanielJolley)⁠⁠

Edited by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Produced by Rachel Grasmeder Allen (X: ⁠@Rachel_GA_⁠/ Instagram: ⁠@neuro_rachel)⁠

Logo creation by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Notts Psych Pod Series 2 team: Dr Daniel Jolley, Rachel Grasmeder Allen and Grace Baranowski.

This episode focuses on a research programme which explores what happens to the mind as we navigate one of life’s major transitions, the menopause.

Such a transition is under-researched, despite affecting half the population. Here, we dive into the science of attention, memory and hormones, and hear from researchers about how cognitive performance is affected across the stages of menopause. 

We are joined by University of Nottingham researchers Prof Lucy Cragg, Karen Barnor and Chhanda Karmaker.

Here are some of the resources discussed in the episode:

MenoCog – Cognition in Menopause Research

Get Involved

Press Release: Menopauseresearch to investigate memory and concentration

The team also wish to acknowledge the following researchers:

Prof Harriet Allen

Prerita Chawla

Catch up on all our episodes ⁠wherever you get your podcasts⁠.

Get in touch via ⁠X⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠e-mail⁠.

Hosted by Dr Daniel Jolley (X: ⁠⁠DrDanielJolley)⁠⁠

Edited by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: @graceebaranowski⁠)

Produced by Rachel Grasmeder Allen (X: ⁠@Rachel_GA_⁠ / Instagram: ⁠@neuro_rachel)⁠

Logo creation by Grace Baranowski (Instagram: ⁠@graceebaranowski⁠)

Notts Psych Pod Series 2 team: Dr Daniel Jolley, Rachel Grasmeder Allen and Grace Baranowski.