Staff profile

Research Interests

My interests include the neuroscientific basis of vision; neuronal disruption in migraine headache; visuomotor systems; sensorimotor cortical interfacing; thalamocortical dysrhythmia and the rehabilitative benefits of TMS.

• 2018: PhD Examination: External examiner for PhD: University College London
• 2017: PhD Examination: External examiner for PhD: Birmingham City University
• 2017: International Lecture: University of Natural resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.

  Law, Technology and Society Lecture Series.

  Invited Lecture "The use of interdisciplinarity in solving societal problems"

• 2016: PhD Examination: External examiner for PhD: University of Glasgow
• 2016: PhD Examination: External examiner for PhD: University of Helsinki
• 2015: PhD Examination: External examiner for PhD: NIH
• 2014: Trustee of Animal Free Research UK: Animal Free Research UK is a charity which was founded in 1970 and is the UK’s leading non-animal medical research charity that funds and promotes the development of techniques and procedures to replace the use of animals in biomedical research.
• 2014: PhD Examination: External examiner for PhD: University College London
• 2011: PhD Examination: External examiner for PhD: University College London

Authored book

• Splitting; The Inside Story on Headaches
  Ellison, A. (2021). Splitting; The Inside Story on Headaches. Bloomsbury
• Getting your Head around the Brain
  Ellison, A. (2012). Getting your Head around the Brain. Palgrave Macmillan

Book review

• Itti et al, the Neurobiology of Attention. A Review.
  Ellison, A. (2006). Itti et al, the Neurobiology of Attention. A Review. Emotion, 35(6), 859-860. https://doi.org/10.1068/p3506rvw

Chapter in book

• Investigations of Spatial Attention
  Ellison, A. Investigations of Spatial Attention. In E. M. Wassermann, A. V. Peterchev, Z. Ulf, H. Lisanby Sarah, H. R. Siebner, & V. Walsh (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Transcranial Stimulation. (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198832256.013.28
• Real-world applications in vision and attention: How to help patients find their (golf) balls again
  Ellison, A., Dunne, S., & Lane, A. R. (2020). Real-world applications in vision and attention: How to help patients find their (golf) balls again. In B. L. Parkin (Ed.), Real-world applications in cognitive neuroscience (169-200). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pbr.2020.04.003
• Spatial representations and attentional systems for action in the parietal cortex.
  Rushworth, M., & Ellison, A. (2005). Spatial representations and attentional systems for action in the parietal cortex. In G. Humphreys, & M. Riddoch (Eds.), Attention in Action; Advances from Cognitive Neuroscience (233-262). Psychology Press
• Magnetic stimulation in studies of vision and attention.
  Ellison, A., Stewart, L., Walsh, V., & Cowey, A. (2003). Magnetic stimulation in studies of vision and attention. In M. Fahle, & M. Greenlee (Eds.), The Neuropsychology of Vision (163-178). Oxford University Press

Conference Paper

• Do the eye-movement system and the arm-movement system contribute independently to attentional orienting: a TMS study
  (2018, December). Do the eye-movement system and the arm-movement system contribute independently to attentional orienting: a TMS study. Presented at 41st European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP), Trieste, Italy

Journal Article

• “Distress is probably the wrong word”: exploring uncertainty and ambivalence in non-clinical voice-hearing and the psychosis continuum
  Swyer, A., Woods, A., Ellison, A., & Alderson-Day, B. (online). “Distress is probably the wrong word”: exploring uncertainty and ambivalence in non-clinical voice-hearing and the psychosis continuum. Psychosis: Psychological, Social and Integrative Approaches, https://doi.org/10.1080/17522439.2024.2407138
• Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience Interventions for cognitive frailty: developing a Delphi consensus with multidisciplinary and multisectoral experts
  Holland, C. A., Dravecz, N., Broughton, S., Barker, L. A., Bature, F., Clarke, C., Danat, I. M., Das, S., Dias, I. H. K., Dawson, A., Dixon, M., Ellison, A., Façal, D., Finch, R., Gaffney, C. J., Gow, A., Kelaiditi, E., Klimczuk, A., Navarro-Pardo, E., Sharratt, P., …Davis, S. F. (2025). Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience Interventions for cognitive frailty: developing a Delphi consensus with multidisciplinary and multisectoral experts. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 17, Article 1541048. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1541048
• A Scoping Review of the Effects of Ambient Air Quality on Cognitive Frailty
  Hodgson, J. R., Benkowitz, C., Castellani, B. C., Ellison, A., Yassaie, R., Twohig, H., Bhudia, R., Jutila, O.-E. I., & Fowler-Davis, S. (2024). A Scoping Review of the Effects of Ambient Air Quality on Cognitive Frailty. Environments, 11(1), Article 4. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11010004
• Uncovering the social determinants of brain injury rehabilitation
  Dunne, S., Williams, G. P., Bradbury, C., Keyes, T., Lane, A. R., Yang, K., & Ellison, A. (2023). Uncovering the social determinants of brain injury rehabilitation. Journal of Health Psychology, 28(10), https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053231166263
• Mitigating the impact of air pollution on dementia and brain health: Setting the policy agenda
  Castellani, B., Bartington, S., Wistow, J., Heckels, N., Ellison, A., Van Tongeren, M., Arnold, S. R., Barbrook-Johnson, P., Bicket, M., Pope, F. D., Russ, T. C., Clarke, C. L., Pirani, M., Schwannauer, M., Vieno, M., Turnbull, R., Gilbert, N., & Reis, S. (2022). Mitigating the impact of air pollution on dementia and brain health: Setting the policy agenda. Environmental Research, 215(2), Article 114362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114362
• Mental health and wellbeing of retired elite and amateur rugby players and non-contact athletes and associations with sports-related concussion: the UK Rugby Health Project
  Hind, K., Konerth, N., Entwistle, I., Hume, P., Theadom, A., Lewis, G., King, D., Goodbourn, T., Bottiglieri, M., Ferraces-Riegas, P., Ellison, A., & Chazot, P. (2022). Mental health and wellbeing of retired elite and amateur rugby players and non-contact athletes and associations with sports-related concussion: the UK Rugby Health Project. Sports Medicine, 52(6), 1419-1431. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-021-01594-8
• The effects of induced optical blur on visual search performance and training
  Musa, A., Lane, A. R., & Ellison, A. (2022). The effects of induced optical blur on visual search performance and training. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 75(2), 277-288. https://doi.org/10.1177/17470218211050280
• The Role of the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Attentional Bias
  Knight, H. C., Smith, D. T., & Ellison, A. (2020). The Role of the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Attentional Bias. Neuropsychologia, 148, Article 107631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107631
• Maximizing Telerehabilitation for Patients With Visual Loss After Stroke: Interview and Focus Group Study With Stroke Survivors, Carers, and Occupational Therapists
  Dunne, S., Close, H., Richards, N., Ellison, A., & Lane, A. R. (2020). Maximizing Telerehabilitation for Patients With Visual Loss After Stroke: Interview and Focus Group Study With Stroke Survivors, Carers, and Occupational Therapists. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(10), Article e19604. https://doi.org/10.2196/19604
• The Limitations of Reward Effects on Saccade Latencies: An Exploration of Task-Specificity and Strength
  Dunne, S., Ellison, A., & Smith, D. (2019). The Limitations of Reward Effects on Saccade Latencies: An Exploration of Task-Specificity and Strength. Vision, 3(2), Article 20. https://doi.org/10.3390/vision3020020
• Investigating the roles of medial prefrontal and superior temporal cortex in source monitoring
  Moseley, P., Mitrenga, K., Ellison, A., & Fernyhough, C. (2018). Investigating the roles of medial prefrontal and superior temporal cortex in source monitoring. Neuropsychologia, 120, 113-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.10.001
• Light social drinkers are more distracted by irrelevant information from an induced attentional bias than heavy social drinkers
  Knight, H. C., Smith, D. T., Knight, D. C., & Ellison, A. (2018). Light social drinkers are more distracted by irrelevant information from an induced attentional bias than heavy social drinkers. Psychopharmacology, 235(10), 2967-2978. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-018-4987-4
• The Pain Divide: a cross-sectional analysis of chronic pain prevalence, pain intensity and opioid utilisation in England
  Todd, A., Akhter, N., Cairns, J.-M., Kasim, A., Walton, N., Ellison, A., Chazot, P., Eldabe, S., & Bambra, C. (2018). The Pain Divide: a cross-sectional analysis of chronic pain prevalence, pain intensity and opioid utilisation in England. BMJ Open, 8(7), Article e023391. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023391
• The Behavioral Effects of tDCS on Visual Search Performance Are Not Influenced by the Location of the Reference Electrode
  Ellison, A., Ball, K. L., & Lane, A. R. (2017). The Behavioral Effects of tDCS on Visual Search Performance Are Not Influenced by the Location of the Reference Electrode. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 11, Article 520. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2017.00520
• Comparing the effect of temporal delay on the availability of egocentric and allocentric information in visual search
  Ball, K., Birch, Y., Lane, A., Ellison, A., & Schenk, T. (2017). Comparing the effect of temporal delay on the availability of egocentric and allocentric information in visual search. Behavioural Brain Research, 331, 38-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2017.05.018
• Non-invasive Brain Stimulation and Auditory Verbal Hallucinations: New Techniques and Future Directions
  Moseley, P., Alderson-Day, B., Ellison, A., Jardri, R., & Fernyhough, C. (2016). Non-invasive Brain Stimulation and Auditory Verbal Hallucinations: New Techniques and Future Directions. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 9, Article 515. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2015.00515
• The effect of auditory verbal imagery on signal detection in hallucination-prone individuals
  Moseley, P., Smailes, D., Ellison, A., & Fernyhough, C. (2016). The effect of auditory verbal imagery on signal detection in hallucination-prone individuals. Cognition, 146, 206-216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2015.09.015
• Rewards modulate saccade latency but not exogenous spatial attention
  Dunne, S., Ellison, A., & Smith, D. (2015). Rewards modulate saccade latency but not exogenous spatial attention. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, Article 1080. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01080
• Dissociating the neural mechanisms of distance and spatial reference frames
  Lane, A. R., Ball, K., & Ellison, A. (2015). Dissociating the neural mechanisms of distance and spatial reference frames. Neuropsychologia, 74, 42-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.12.019
• Altering attentional control settings causes persistent biases of visual attention
  Knight, H., Smith, D., Knight, D., & Ellison, A. (2015). Altering attentional control settings causes persistent biases of visual attention. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 69(1), 129-149. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2015.1031144
• The role of the superior temporal lobe in auditory false perceptions: A transcranial direct current stimulation study
  Moseley, P., Fernyhough, C., & Ellison, A. (2014). The role of the superior temporal lobe in auditory false perceptions: A transcranial direct current stimulation study. Neuropsychologia, 62, 202-208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.07.032
• Functional Interaction between Right Parietal and Bilateral Frontal Cortices during Visual Search Tasks Revealed Using Functional Magnetic Imaging and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
  Ellison, A., Ball, K., Moseley, P., Dowsett, J., Smith, D., Weis, S., & Lane, A. (2014). Functional Interaction between Right Parietal and Bilateral Frontal Cortices during Visual Search Tasks Revealed Using Functional Magnetic Imaging and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation. PLoS ONE, 9(4), Article e93767. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0093767
• Covert visual search within and beyond the effective oculomotor range
  Smith, D., Ball, K., & Ellison, A. (2014). Covert visual search within and beyond the effective oculomotor range. Vision Research, 95, 11-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2013.12.003
• Auditory verbal hallucinations as atypical inner speech monitoring, and the potential of neurostimulation as a treatment option
  Moseley, P., Fernyhough, C., & Ellison, A. (2013). Auditory verbal hallucinations as atypical inner speech monitoring, and the potential of neurostimulation as a treatment option. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 37(10), 2794-2805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.10.001
• Site-Dependent Effects of tDCS Uncover Dissociations in the Communication Network Underlying the Processing of Visual Search
  Ball, K., Lane, A., Smith, D., & Ellison, A. (2013). Site-Dependent Effects of tDCS Uncover Dissociations in the Communication Network Underlying the Processing of Visual Search. Brain Stimulation, 6(6), 959-965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2013.06.001
• Near and far space: understanding the neural mechanisms of spatial attention
  Lane, A., Ball, K., Smith, D., Schenk, T., & Ellison, A. (2013). Near and far space: understanding the neural mechanisms of spatial attention. Human Brain Mapping, 34(2), 356-366. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.21433
• Modulation of cortical excitability can speed up blindsight but not improve it
  Cowey, A., Alexander, I., & Ellison, A. (2013). Modulation of cortical excitability can speed up blindsight but not improve it. Experimental Brain Research, 224(3), 469-475. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-012-3327-x
• Inhibition of Return impairs phosphene detection
  Smith, D., Ball, K., & Ellison, A. (2012). Inhibition of Return impairs phosphene detection. The Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 24(11), 2262-2267. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_00276
• Decoding emotional prosody: Resolving differences in functional neuroanatomy from fMRI & lesion studies using TMS
  Alba-Ferrara, L., Ellison, A., & Mitchell, R. (2012). Decoding emotional prosody: Resolving differences in functional neuroanatomy from fMRI & lesion studies using TMS. Brain Stimulation, 5(3), 347-353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2011.06.004
• The involvement of posterior parietal cortex and frontal eye fields in spatially primed visual search
  Lane, A., Smith, D., Schenk, T., & Ellison, A. (2012). The involvement of posterior parietal cortex and frontal eye fields in spatially primed visual search. Brain Stimulation, 5(1), 11-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2011.01.005
• Event-related repetitive TMS reveals distinct, critical roles for right OFA and bilateral posterior STS in judging the sex and trustworthiness of faces
  Dzhelyova, M., Ellison, A., & Atkinson, A. (2011). Event-related repetitive TMS reveals distinct, critical roles for right OFA and bilateral posterior STS in judging the sex and trustworthiness of faces. The Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 23(10), 2782-2796. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn.2011.21604
• The involvement of posterior parietal cortex in feature and conjunction visuomotor search
  Lane, A., Smith, D., Schenk, T., & Ellison, A. (2011). The involvement of posterior parietal cortex in feature and conjunction visuomotor search. The Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 23(8), 1964-1972. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn.2010.21576
• Spatial priming in visual search: memory for body-centred information
  Ball, K., Lane, A., Ellison, A., & Schenk, T. (2011). Spatial priming in visual search: memory for body-centred information. Experimental Brain Research, 212(3), 477-485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-011-2754-4
• TMS over the left angular gyrus impairs the ability to discriminate left from right.
  Hirnstein, M., Bayer, U., Ellison, A., & Hausmann, M. (2011). TMS over the left angular gyrus impairs the ability to discriminate left from right. Neuropsychologia, 49(1), 29-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.10.028
• A body-centred frame of reference drives spatial priming in visual search
  Ball, K., Smith, D., Ellison, A., & Schenk, T. (2010). A body-centred frame of reference drives spatial priming in visual search. Experimental Brain Research, 204(4), 585-594. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-010-2327-y
• Visual exploration training is no better than attention training for treating hemianopia
  Lane, A., Smith, D., Ellison, A., & Schenk, T. (2010). Visual exploration training is no better than attention training for treating hemianopia. Brain, 133(6), 1717-1728. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awq088
• Deficits of reflexive attention induced by abduction of the eye
  Smith, D., Ball, K., Ellison, A., & Schenk, T. (2010). Deficits of reflexive attention induced by abduction of the eye. Neuropsychologia, 48(5), 1269-1276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2009.12.028
• Differential and co-involvement of areas of the temporal and parietal streams in visual tasks
  Ellison, A., & Cowey, A. (2009). Differential and co-involvement of areas of the temporal and parietal streams in visual tasks. Neuropsychologia, 47(6), 1609-1614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2008.12.013
• Both egocentric and allocentric cues support spatial priming in visual search
  Ball, K., Smith, D., Ellison, A., & Schenk, T. (2009). Both egocentric and allocentric cues support spatial priming in visual search. Neuropsychologia, 47(6), 1585-1591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2008.11.017
• Contralateral visual search deficits following TMS
  Schindler, I., Ellison, A., & Milner, A. (2008). Contralateral visual search deficits following TMS. Journal of Neuropsychology, 2(2), 501-508. https://doi.org/10.1348/174866407x227024
• Are results from different techniques mutually exclusive in the study of how the brain processes visual search?
  Ellison, A. (2008). Are results from different techniques mutually exclusive in the study of how the brain processes visual search?. Cortex, 44(1), 99-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2006.06.002
• The interaction of brain regions during visual search processing as revealed by transcranial magnetic stimulation
  Ellison, A., Lane, A., & Schenk, T. (2007). The interaction of brain regions during visual search processing as revealed by transcranial magnetic stimulation. Cerebral Cortex, 17(11), 2579-2584. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhl165
• Visually Guided Reaching Depends on Motion Area MT+
  Whitney, D., Ellison, A., Rice, N., Arnold, D., Goodale, M., Walsh, V., & Milner, A. (2007). Visually Guided Reaching Depends on Motion Area MT+. Cerebral Cortex, 17(11), 2644-2649. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhl172
• Time course of the involvement of the ventral and dorsal visual processing streams in a visuospatial task
  Ellison, A., & Cowey, A. (2007). Time course of the involvement of the ventral and dorsal visual processing streams in a visuospatial task. Neuropsychologia, 45(14), 3335-3339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2007.06.014
• TMS can reveal contrasting functions of the dorsal and ventral visual processing streams
  Ellison, A., & Cowey, A. (2006). TMS can reveal contrasting functions of the dorsal and ventral visual processing streams. Experimental Brain Research, 175(4), 618-625. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-006-0582-8
• The role of V5/MT+ in the control of catching movements: an rTMS study
  Schenk, T., Ellison, A., Rice, N., & Milner, A. (2005). The role of V5/MT+ in the control of catching movements: an rTMS study. Neuropsychologia, 43(2), 189-198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2004.11.006
• An exploration of the role of the superior temporal gyrus in visual search and spatial perception using TMS
  Ellison, A., Schindler, I., Pattison, L., & Milner, A. (2004). An exploration of the role of the superior temporal gyrus in visual search and spatial perception using TMS. Brain, 127(10), 2307-2315. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awh244
• The effect of expectation on facilitation of colour/form conjunction tasks by TMS over area V5
  Ellison, A., Battelli, L., Walsh, V., & Cowey, A. (2003). The effect of expectation on facilitation of colour/form conjunction tasks by TMS over area V5. Neuropsychologia, 41(13), 1794-1801. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0028-3932%2803%2900180-5
• The cortical representation of centrally presented words: a magnetic stimulation study
  Lavidor, M., Ellison, A., & Walsh, V. (2003). The cortical representation of centrally presented words: a magnetic stimulation study. Visual Cognition, 10(3), 341-362. https://doi.org/10.1080/13506280244000131
• The parietal cortex in visual search: a visuomotor hypothesis.
  Ellison, A., Rushworth, M., & Walsh, V. (2003). The parietal cortex in visual search: a visuomotor hypothesis. Clinical Neurophysiology, 56, 321-330
• Complementary localization and lateralization of orienting and motor attention
  Rushworth, M., Ellison, A., & Walsh, V. (2001). Complementary localization and lateralization of orienting and motor attention. Nature Neuroscience, 4(6), 656-661. https://doi.org/10.1038/88492
• The role of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in studies of vision, attention and cognition
  Stewart, L., Ellison, A., Walsh, V., & Cowey, A. (2001). The role of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in studies of vision, attention and cognition. Acta Psychologica, 107(1-3), 275-291. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0001-6918%2801%2900035-x
• Visual Field asymmetries in attention and learning
  Ellison, A., & Walsh, V. (2001). Visual Field asymmetries in attention and learning. Spatial vision, 14(1), 3-9. https://doi.org/10.1163/156856801741323
• The role of the parietal cortex in visual attention - hemispheric asymmetires and the effects of learning: A magnetic stimulation study
  Walsh, V., Ellison, A., Ashbridge, E., & Cowey, A. (1998). The role of the parietal cortex in visual attention - hemispheric asymmetires and the effects of learning: A magnetic stimulation study. Neuropsychologia, 37(2), 245-251. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0028-3932%2898%2900099-2
• Task-specific impairments and enhancements induced by magnetic stimulation of human visual area V5
  Walsh, V., Ellison, A., Battelli, L., & Cowey, A. (1998). Task-specific impairments and enhancements induced by magnetic stimulation of human visual area V5. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 265(1395), 537-543. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.1998.0328
• Perceptual Learning in visual search: some evidence of specificities
  Ellison, A., & Walsh, V. (1998). Perceptual Learning in visual search: some evidence of specificities. Vision Research, 38(3), 333-345. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0042-6989%2897%2900195-8

Report

• The Child of the North: Building a fairer future after COVID-19
  Pickett, K., & Taylor-Robinson, D. (2021). The Child of the North: Building a fairer future after COVID-19. London: Northern Health Science Alliance and N8 Research Partnership