Writing
Curiosity has led me to write about many things, from videogames to mind-machine interfacing, from what music does to the brain to how obesity is threatening the future of Britain's children. Whatever your writing needs, I'm always happy to discuss the possibility of providing you with a piece that perfectly matches your needs.
The Rough Guide to the Brain has been my biggest project. A vast amount of information was researched and compiled into a format suitable for anyone who has ever wanted to understand more about what lies under their skull. Available now.
Starting (quite literally) at the beginning, this highly accessible book starts with how it's thought we evolved such a large, powerful brain - and how we discovered what we know about how it works. From there, we launch into some of the most fundamental areas of mental exploration, from the nature of memory and intelligence to consciousness, mental health, and how we affect the brain through the use of drugs - from caffeine to cannabis. Acknowledging there's still much to learn about this remarkable organ, we then delve into less certain terrain, such as the power of positive thinking and extra sensory perception. Finally, we end at a new beginning, a chapter dealing with the future of our - still evolving - brain. What exactly are 'artificial intelligence' and 'neural networks' - how far are we from creating machines that can act as intelligently (or more so) than humans? Do videogames hold the key to what makes us believe something is 'alive' and will we one day succumb to silicon, using technology to augment our natural capabilities...
Articles - written publications
Engaging Science: Thoughts, deeds, analysis and action: a new, high profile publication from The Wellcome Trust, which can be found here. Featuring essays from leading researchers, practitioners and commentators in the realm of public engagment, 'Engaging Science' also includes summaries of key Trust-funded projects and initiatives, which I provided (July 2006).
The Lancet Neurology: Paycheck film review • Vol 3 • March 2004
The Lancet: Food minus exercise equals fat (concerning obesity in the UK) • Vol 363 • April 10, 2004
The Lancet Neurology: The Cognitive Neuroscience of Music book review • Vol 3 • May 2004
The Lancet Neurology: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind film review • Vol 3 • July 2004
The Science Reporter: Building a Blockbuster • 2004
Articles - web
Nanomedicine: using nanotechnology to cure
Neuromarketing: seeing thoughts in action
Deadly snails?: how sea snails could revolutionize pain management
Neuroengineering: the mind-machine interface