![Nichola Thuvesholmen](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/2623?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Nichola Thuvesholmen
Research Fellow
- BrydgesN@caerdydd.ac.uk
- +44 29206 88339
- Adeilad Hadyn Ellis, Ystafell 3.40, Heol Maendy, Caerdydd, CF24 4HQ
Trosolwyg
My research group aims to elucidate the role that environmental factors play in the development of psychiatric disorders. Exposure to a variety of stressors during development increases the chances of developing neuropsychiatric disorders in adulthood.
Our research focusses mainly on stressors experienced in the childhood or pre-pubertal phase of life. Stressors during this developmental phase have been consistently shown to increase risk for a range of disorders in adulthood, including mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and psychosis.
Research in our group has revealed that pre-pubertal stress alters a variety of emotional and cognitive behaviours and gene expression later in life. Most striking are abnormal social behaviours and profound alterations in hippocampal function. Current research is focussing on the molecular mechanisms underlying these alterations, with the aim of developing novel therapeutic interventions
Cyhoeddiad
2020
- Reddaway, J. and Brydges, N. M. 2020. Enduring neuroimmunological consequences of developmental experiences: from vulnerability to resilience. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience 109, article number: 103567. (10.1016/j.mcn.2020.103567)
- Moon, A. L., Brydges, N. M., Wilkinson, L. S., Hall, J. and Thomas, K. L. 2020. Cacna1c hemizygosity results in aberrant fear conditioning to neutral stimuli. Schizophrenia Bulletin 46(5), pp. 1231-1238. (10.1093/schbul/sbz127)
- Brydges, N. and Reddaway, J. 2020. Neuroimmunological effects of early life experiences. Brain and Neuroscience Advances 4 (10.1177/2398212820953706)
- Brydges, N. M., Best, C. and Thomas, K. 2020. Female HPA axis displays heightened sensitivity to pre-pubertal stress. Stress 23(2), pp. 190-200. (10.1080/10253890.2019.1658738)
2019
- Moon, A., Brydges, N., Thomas, K. and Hall, J. 2019. Su13: Genetic variation in 'calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1c (cacna1c): interactions with prepubertal stress and impact on hippocampal dependent learning. European Neuropsychopharmacology 29(S4), pp. S1274-S1275. (10.1016/j.euroneuro.2018.08.377)
2018
- Brydges, N. M., Moon, A., Rule, L., Watkin, H., Thomas, K. L. and Hall, J. 2018. Sex specific effects of pre-pubertal stress on hippocampal neurogenesis and behaviour. Translational Psychiatry 8, article number: 271. (10.1038/s41398-018-0322-4)
- Merrifield, G. D., Brydges, N., Hall, L., Mullin, J., Gallagher, L., Pizzi, R. and Holmes, W. 2018. Measures of cardiac function in Theraphosidae spiders using in vivo magnetic resonance imaging. Physiological Entomology 43(3), pp. 207-213. (10.1111/phen.12245)
2017
- Brydges, N. and Hall, L. 2017. A shortened protocol for assessing cognitive bias in rats. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 286, pp. 1-5. (10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.05.015)
2016
- Brydges, N. M. 2016. Pre-pubertal stress and brain development in rodents. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences 7, pp. 8-14. (10.1016/j.cobeha.2015.08.003)
- Harris, A. P. et al. 2016. The role of brain derived neurotrophic factor in learned fear processing: an awake rat fMRI study. Genes, Brain and Behavior 15(2), pp. 221-230. (10.1111/gbb.12277)
2015
- Harris, A. P. et al. 2015. Imaging learned fear circuitry in awake mice using fMRI. European Journal of Neuroscience 42(5), pp. 2125-34. (10.1111/ejn.12939)
- Brydges, N., Holmes, M. C., Harris, A. P., Cardinal, R. N. and Hall, J. 2015. Early life stress produces compulsive-like, but not impulsive, behavior in females. Behavioral Neuroscience 129(3), pp. 300-308. (10.1037/bne0000059)
- Zeng, Y., Brydges, N., Wood, E. R., Drake, A. J. and Hall, J. 2015. Prenatal glucocorticoid exposure in rats: programming effects on stress reactivity and cognition in adult offspring. Stress 18(3), pp. 353-361. (10.3109/10253890.2015.1055725)
2014
- Brydges, N., Wood, E. R., Holmes, M. C. and Hall, J. 2014. Prepubertal stress and hippocampal function: Sex-specific effects. Hippocampus 24(6), pp. 684-692. (10.1002/hipo.22259)
- Brydges, N., Seckl, J., Torrance, H. S., Holmes, M. C., Evans, K. L. and Hall, J. 2014. Juvenile stress produces long-lasting changes in hippocampal DISC1, GSK3ß and NRG1 expression. Molecular Psychiatry 19(8), pp. 854. (10.1038/mp.2013.193)
- Brydges, N., Jin, R., Seckl, J., Holmes, M. C., Drake, A. J. and Hall, J. 2014. Juvenile stress enhances anxiety and alters corticosteroid receptor expression in adulthood. Brain and Behavior 4(1), pp. 4-13. (10.1002/brb3.182)
2013
- Brydges, N. et al. 2013. Imaging conditioned fear circuitry using awake rodent fMRI. PLoS ONE 8(1), article number: e54197. (10.1371/journal.pone.0054197)
2012
- Brydges, N. M., Hall, L., Nicolson, R., Holmes, M. C. and Hall, J. 2012. The effects of juvenile stress on anxiety, cognitive bias and decision making in adulthood: A rat model. PLoS ONE 7(10), pp. e48143. (10.1371/journal.pone.0048143)
- Brydges, N., Argyle, D. J., Mosley, J. R., Duncan, J. C., Fleetwood-Walker, S. and Clements, D. N. 2012. Clinical assessments of increased sensory sensitivity in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Veterinary Journal 193(2), pp. 545-550. (10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.01.019)
2011
- Brydges, N., Leach, M., Nicol, K., Wright, R. and Bateson, M. 2011. Environmental enrichment induces optimistic cognitive bias in rats. Animal Behaviour 81(1), pp. 169-175. (10.1016/j.anbehav.2010.09.030)
2009
- Brydges, N. and Braithwaite, V. A. 2009. Does environmental enrichment affect the behaviour of fish commonly used in laboratory work?. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 118(3-4), pp. 137-143. (10.1016/j.applanim.2009.02.017)
- Brydges, N., Boulcott, P., Ellis, T. and Braithwaite, V. A. 2009. Quantifying stress responses induced by different handling methods in three species of fish. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 116(2-4), pp. 295-301. (10.1016/j.applanim.2008.09.003)
2008
- Brydges, N., Holmes, A. M. and Braithwaite, V. A. 2008. How do different populations of three-spined sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus combine spatial information?. Journal of Fish Biology 73(10), pp. 2580-2586. (10.1111/j.1095-8649.2008.02106.x)
- Brydges, N. and Braithwaite, V. A. 2008. Measuring animal welfare: what can cognition contribute?. Annual Review of Biomedical Sciences 10, pp. T91-T103.
- Brydges, N., Heathcote, R. J. P. and Braithwaite, V. A. 2008. Habitat stability and predation pressure influence learning and memory in populations of three-spined sticklebacks. Animal Behaviour 75(3), pp. 935-942. (10.1016/j.anbehav.2007.08.005)
- Brydges, N., Colegrave, N., Heathcote, R. J. P. and Braithwaite, V. A. 2008. Habitat stability and predation pressure affect temperament behaviours in populations of three-spined sticklebacks. Journal of Animal Ecology 77(2), pp. 229-235. (10.1111/j.1365-2656.2008.01343.x)
Articles
- Reddaway, J. and Brydges, N. M. 2020. Enduring neuroimmunological consequences of developmental experiences: from vulnerability to resilience. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience 109, article number: 103567. (10.1016/j.mcn.2020.103567)
- Moon, A. L., Brydges, N. M., Wilkinson, L. S., Hall, J. and Thomas, K. L. 2020. Cacna1c hemizygosity results in aberrant fear conditioning to neutral stimuli. Schizophrenia Bulletin 46(5), pp. 1231-1238. (10.1093/schbul/sbz127)
- Brydges, N. and Reddaway, J. 2020. Neuroimmunological effects of early life experiences. Brain and Neuroscience Advances 4 (10.1177/2398212820953706)
- Brydges, N. M., Best, C. and Thomas, K. 2020. Female HPA axis displays heightened sensitivity to pre-pubertal stress. Stress 23(2), pp. 190-200. (10.1080/10253890.2019.1658738)
- Moon, A., Brydges, N., Thomas, K. and Hall, J. 2019. Su13: Genetic variation in 'calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1c (cacna1c): interactions with prepubertal stress and impact on hippocampal dependent learning. European Neuropsychopharmacology 29(S4), pp. S1274-S1275. (10.1016/j.euroneuro.2018.08.377)
- Brydges, N. M., Moon, A., Rule, L., Watkin, H., Thomas, K. L. and Hall, J. 2018. Sex specific effects of pre-pubertal stress on hippocampal neurogenesis and behaviour. Translational Psychiatry 8, article number: 271. (10.1038/s41398-018-0322-4)
- Merrifield, G. D., Brydges, N., Hall, L., Mullin, J., Gallagher, L., Pizzi, R. and Holmes, W. 2018. Measures of cardiac function in Theraphosidae spiders using in vivo magnetic resonance imaging. Physiological Entomology 43(3), pp. 207-213. (10.1111/phen.12245)
- Brydges, N. and Hall, L. 2017. A shortened protocol for assessing cognitive bias in rats. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 286, pp. 1-5. (10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.05.015)
- Brydges, N. M. 2016. Pre-pubertal stress and brain development in rodents. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences 7, pp. 8-14. (10.1016/j.cobeha.2015.08.003)
- Harris, A. P. et al. 2016. The role of brain derived neurotrophic factor in learned fear processing: an awake rat fMRI study. Genes, Brain and Behavior 15(2), pp. 221-230. (10.1111/gbb.12277)
- Harris, A. P. et al. 2015. Imaging learned fear circuitry in awake mice using fMRI. European Journal of Neuroscience 42(5), pp. 2125-34. (10.1111/ejn.12939)
- Brydges, N., Holmes, M. C., Harris, A. P., Cardinal, R. N. and Hall, J. 2015. Early life stress produces compulsive-like, but not impulsive, behavior in females. Behavioral Neuroscience 129(3), pp. 300-308. (10.1037/bne0000059)
- Zeng, Y., Brydges, N., Wood, E. R., Drake, A. J. and Hall, J. 2015. Prenatal glucocorticoid exposure in rats: programming effects on stress reactivity and cognition in adult offspring. Stress 18(3), pp. 353-361. (10.3109/10253890.2015.1055725)
- Brydges, N., Wood, E. R., Holmes, M. C. and Hall, J. 2014. Prepubertal stress and hippocampal function: Sex-specific effects. Hippocampus 24(6), pp. 684-692. (10.1002/hipo.22259)
- Brydges, N., Seckl, J., Torrance, H. S., Holmes, M. C., Evans, K. L. and Hall, J. 2014. Juvenile stress produces long-lasting changes in hippocampal DISC1, GSK3ß and NRG1 expression. Molecular Psychiatry 19(8), pp. 854. (10.1038/mp.2013.193)
- Brydges, N., Jin, R., Seckl, J., Holmes, M. C., Drake, A. J. and Hall, J. 2014. Juvenile stress enhances anxiety and alters corticosteroid receptor expression in adulthood. Brain and Behavior 4(1), pp. 4-13. (10.1002/brb3.182)
- Brydges, N. et al. 2013. Imaging conditioned fear circuitry using awake rodent fMRI. PLoS ONE 8(1), article number: e54197. (10.1371/journal.pone.0054197)
- Brydges, N. M., Hall, L., Nicolson, R., Holmes, M. C. and Hall, J. 2012. The effects of juvenile stress on anxiety, cognitive bias and decision making in adulthood: A rat model. PLoS ONE 7(10), pp. e48143. (10.1371/journal.pone.0048143)
- Brydges, N., Argyle, D. J., Mosley, J. R., Duncan, J. C., Fleetwood-Walker, S. and Clements, D. N. 2012. Clinical assessments of increased sensory sensitivity in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Veterinary Journal 193(2), pp. 545-550. (10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.01.019)
- Brydges, N., Leach, M., Nicol, K., Wright, R. and Bateson, M. 2011. Environmental enrichment induces optimistic cognitive bias in rats. Animal Behaviour 81(1), pp. 169-175. (10.1016/j.anbehav.2010.09.030)
- Brydges, N. and Braithwaite, V. A. 2009. Does environmental enrichment affect the behaviour of fish commonly used in laboratory work?. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 118(3-4), pp. 137-143. (10.1016/j.applanim.2009.02.017)
- Brydges, N., Boulcott, P., Ellis, T. and Braithwaite, V. A. 2009. Quantifying stress responses induced by different handling methods in three species of fish. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 116(2-4), pp. 295-301. (10.1016/j.applanim.2008.09.003)
- Brydges, N., Holmes, A. M. and Braithwaite, V. A. 2008. How do different populations of three-spined sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus combine spatial information?. Journal of Fish Biology 73(10), pp. 2580-2586. (10.1111/j.1095-8649.2008.02106.x)
- Brydges, N. and Braithwaite, V. A. 2008. Measuring animal welfare: what can cognition contribute?. Annual Review of Biomedical Sciences 10, pp. T91-T103.
- Brydges, N., Heathcote, R. J. P. and Braithwaite, V. A. 2008. Habitat stability and predation pressure influence learning and memory in populations of three-spined sticklebacks. Animal Behaviour 75(3), pp. 935-942. (10.1016/j.anbehav.2007.08.005)
- Brydges, N., Colegrave, N., Heathcote, R. J. P. and Braithwaite, V. A. 2008. Habitat stability and predation pressure affect temperament behaviours in populations of three-spined sticklebacks. Journal of Animal Ecology 77(2), pp. 229-235. (10.1111/j.1365-2656.2008.01343.x)
- Brydges, N. M., Hall, L., Nicolson, R., Holmes, M. C. and Hall, J. 2012. The effects of juvenile stress on anxiety, cognitive bias and decision making in adulthood: A rat model. PLoS ONE 7(10), pp. e48143. (10.1371/journal.pone.0048143)