Dr Emma Ward


Dr Emma Ward
NameDr Emma Ward
Job titleAssociate Professor in Psychology
Research institute
Primary appointmentPsychology
Email addressE.Ward@mdx.ac.uk
ORCIDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2076-832X
Contact categoryAcademic staff

Biography

Biography

Dr Ward joined Middlesex University in September 2013. Prior to this she was based at the University of York (2012-2013), and completed her PhD on the distinction between explicit and implicit memory at University College London (2009-2012).

BSc, MSc, PhD, PGCHE

Teaching

PhD Supervision:

I welcome enquires from prospective PhD students with an interest in undertaking research on memory or cognitive ageing. Of particular interest are topics around explicit (conscious, declarative) and implicit (unsoncsious, nondeclarative) memory, including changes in these forms of memory with age. I'm also interested in memory processing, and the effects of attention, processing style, context, and temporal expectation. 

MSc by Research in Cognitive Neuroscience:

Operated through the Jones, Silas, & Ward Lab, we welcome enquiries from prospective students. Broad staff expertise and techniques mean that a range of topics are possible. Further information here

Current & Past Research Students:

  • Director of Studies for PhD student Maryam Al-Abdulla (Effects of aging and processing style on priming and recognition) (Completed 2024)
  • Director of Studies for MSc by Research student Nicola Lloyd (Effects of temporal structure on item and source recognition) (Completed 2023)
  • Supervisory panel for PhD student Murad Ali (A User-guided Personalization Methodology for New Smart Homes) (Completed 2022)
  • Director of Studies for MSc by Research student Petter Moller (Effects of temporal structure on recognition in aging) (Completed 2021)

Education and qualifications

Grants

MusiCare: Protecting Cognitive Functions and Wellbeing Using Music Therapy & Innovative Technology in an Aging Population

£299k (Co-I, transitioned to PI Feb 2024)

01 May 2021
Dunhill Medical Trust
Experimental Psychology Society Small Grants Scheme

£9,876 (PI)

01 Jul 2021
Experimental Psychology Society Small Grants Scheme
Does implicit memory decline with age? Providing conclusive evidence

£49k (PI)

08 Apr 2020
Leverhulme Trust
Does rhythm enhance recognition memory? Evidence from behaviour and neural processing

€48k (PI)

01 Apr 2019
BIAL Foundation
Experimental Psychology Society Small Grants Scheme

£3.5k (PI)

16 Jul 2018
Experimental Psychology Society Small Grants Scheme
The Musical Cognitive Test

£2.8k (Co-I)

09 Jul 2018
SEMPRE
Experimental Psychology Society Research Bursary Scheme

£1.8k (PI)

16 Jul 2016
Experimental Psychology Society Research Bursary Scheme

Prizes and Awards

European Cognitive Aging Society Presidential Award

2019-04-04

European Cognitive Aging Society

Evidence to public body

How much of what we see do we remember?
Science Museum, London
12 Nov 2018

Residency at the Science Museum, South Kensington (2018): How much of what we see do we remember?. Funded by the Experimental Psychology Society Small Grants Scheme, this project examined changes in different kinds of memory over the lifespan, and engaged over 1000 members of the public aged between 12 and 82 years. The project gained coverage in The Guardian, on BBC Turkey, and on social media (>5000 YouTube views)

https://blog.sciencemuseum.org.uk/how-much-of-what-we-see-do-we-remember/

Research outputs

Age differences in priming as a function of processing at encoding

Ward, E. 2024. Age differences in priming as a function of processing at encoding. Consciousness and Cognition. 117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2023.103626

Null effects of temporal prediction on recognition memory but evidence for differential neural activity at encoding. A registered report

Jones, A., Silas, J., Anderson, W. and Ward, E. 2023. Null effects of temporal prediction on recognition memory but evidence for differential neural activity at encoding. A registered report. Cortex. 169, pp. 130-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2023.09.006

Temporal expectation improves recognition memory for spatially attended objects

Jones, A., Ward, E., Csiszer, E. and Szymczak, J. 2022. Temporal expectation improves recognition memory for spatially attended objects. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. 34 (9), pp. 1616-1629. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_01872

Development and validation of the Music Cognitive Test: A music-based cognitive screening test

Mangiacotti, A., Cipriani, G., Ward, E., Franco, F. and Biasutti, M. 2023. Development and validation of the Music Cognitive Test: A music-based cognitive screening test. Psychology of Music. 51 (2), pp. 373-394. https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356221100851

A user-guided personalization methodology to facilitate new smart home occupancy

Ali, S.M.M., Augusto, J., Windridge, D. and Ward, E. 2023. A user-guided personalization methodology to facilitate new smart home occupancy. Universal Access in the Information Society. 22 (3), pp. 869-891. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-022-00883-x

Age and processing effects on perceptual and conceptual priming

Ward, E. 2023. Age and processing effects on perceptual and conceptual priming. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 76 (1), pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1177/17470218221090128

Paranoid and misidentification subtypes of psychosis in dementia

Pearce, D., Gould, R., Roughley, M., Reynolds, G., Ward, E., Bhome, R. and Reeves, S. 2022. Paranoid and misidentification subtypes of psychosis in dementia. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 134, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104529

Memory improvement in aging as a function of exposure to mood-matching music

Ward, E., Isac, A., Donnelly, M., Van Puyvelde, M. and Franco, F. 2021. Memory improvement in aging as a function of exposure to mood-matching music. Acta Psychologica. 212, pp. 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2020.103206

Aging predicts decline in explicit and implicit memory: a life-span study

Ward, E., Berry, C., Shanks, D., Moller, P. and Czsiser, E. 2020. Aging predicts decline in explicit and implicit memory: a life-span study. Psychological Science. 31 (9), pp. 1071-1083. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797620927648

Rhythmic temporal structure at encoding enhances recognition memory

Jones, A. and Ward, E. 2019. Rhythmic temporal structure at encoding enhances recognition memory. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. 31 (10), pp. 1549-1562. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_01431

Multicomponent frailty assessment tools for older people with psychiatric disorders: a systematic review

Sutton, J., Gould, R., Coulson, M., Ward, E., Butler, A., Smith, M., Lavelle, G., Rosa, A., Langridge, M. and Howard, R. 2019. Multicomponent frailty assessment tools for older people with psychiatric disorders: a systematic review. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 67 (5), pp. 1085-1095. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15710

Implicit memory and cognitive aging

Ward, E. and Shanks, D. 2018. Implicit memory and cognitive aging. in: Braddick, O. (ed.) Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology Oxford University Press (OUP).

Reduced recognition and priming in older relative to young adults for incidental and intentional information

Ward, E. 2018. Reduced recognition and priming in older relative to young adults for incidental and intentional information. Consciousness and Cognition. 57, pp. 62-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2017.11.006

Predictors of treatment outcome in depression in later life: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Tunvirachaisakul, C., Gould, R., Coulson, M., Ward, E., Reynolds, G., Gathercole, R., Grocott, H., Supasitthumrong, T., Tunvirachaisakul, A., Kimona, K. and Howard, R. 2018. Predictors of treatment outcome in depression in later life: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders. 227, pp. 164-182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.10.008

Does study duration have opposite effects on recognition and repetition priming?

Berry, C., Ward, E. and Shanks, D. 2017. Does study duration have opposite effects on recognition and repetition priming? Journal of Memory and Language. 97, pp. 154-174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jml.2017.07.004

A benefit of context reinstatement to recognition memory in aging: the role of familiarity processes

Ward, E., Maylor, E., Poirier, M., Korko, M. and Ruud, J. 2017. A benefit of context reinstatement to recognition memory in aging: the role of familiarity processes. Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition. 24 (6), pp. 735-754. https://doi.org/10.1080/13825585.2016.1256371

Editorial: The aging decision-maker: advances in understanding the impact of cognitive change on decision-making

Ward, E. and Dhami, M. 2016. Editorial: The aging decision-maker: advances in understanding the impact of cognitive change on decision-making. Frontiers in Psychology. 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01622

Psychometric properties of multicomponent tools designed to assess frailty in older adults: A systematic review

Sutton, J., Gould, R., Daley, S., Coulson, M., Ward, E., Butler, A., Nunn, S. and Howard, R. 2016. Psychometric properties of multicomponent tools designed to assess frailty in older adults: A systematic review. BMC Geriatrics. 16 (1), pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-016-0225-2

Tests of pattern separation and pattern completion in humans - a systematic review

Liu, K., Gould, R., Coulson, M., Ward, E. and Howard, R. 2016. Tests of pattern separation and pattern completion in humans - a systematic review. Hippocampus. 26 (6), pp. 705-717. https://doi.org/10.1002/hipo.22561

Greater priming for previously distracting information in young than older adults when suppression is ruled out

Ward, E., De Mornay Davies, P. and Politimou, N. 2015. Greater priming for previously distracting information in young than older adults when suppression is ruled out. Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition. 22 (6), pp. 712-730. https://doi.org/10.1080/13825585.2015.1035224

Age effects on explicit and implicit memory

Ward, E., Berry, C. and Shanks, D. 2013. Age effects on explicit and implicit memory. Frontiers in Psychology. 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00639

An effect of age on implicit memory that is not due to explicit contamination: implications for single and multiple-systems theories

Ward, E., Berry, C. and Shanks, D. 2013. An effect of age on implicit memory that is not due to explicit contamination: implications for single and multiple-systems theories. Psychology and Aging. 28 (2), pp. 429-442. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031888
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