Dr Laura Smith, BSc, MSc, PhD

Profile

I joined QMUL in 2023 as a Lecturer in Health Psychology within the Centre for Preventative Neurology at the Wolfson Institute of Population Health. I am a Research Psychologist and Behavioural Scientist, whose academic training is in neuropsychology. 

My research applies psychological theories to better understand, assess and treat neurological conditions. 

I completed my PhD at University of Kent with a thesis on vestibular contributions to cognitive function. I subsequently held postdoctoral positions at the University of Bath (diagnostic tools for dementia) and the University of Nottingham (cognitive problems in multiple sclerosis), before returning to Kent for a Lectureship within the Psychology Department.  

I lead research programmes at the Parkinson’s Centre for Integrated Therapy, based in Kent. Alongside my research activity, I am Sponsorship Officer for the British Neuropsychological Society and a Trustee for Tree of Hope Children’s Charity. 

Research

Research Interests:

I apply psychological and neuropsychological theories to better understand, assess and treat neurological conditions. I am a mixed method researcher and use variety of approaches including non-invasive brain stimulation, electrophysiological recordings of brain activity, qualitative analysis, behavioural assessments and cognitive interventions.

I research a range of topics including:

- Psychological aspects of vestibular disorders: How is psychological distress experienced and what impact does this have on people with vestibular disorders and the clinical care they receive? What are the underlying mechanisms of psychological aspects of vestibular disorders? How is psychological distress routinely addressed within clinical care for people with vestibular disorders? How could psychological aspects be effectively assessed and treated?

- Cognitive problems in multiple sclerosis: What kind of cognitive problems are experienced by different people with multiple sclerosis? How do cognitive problems affect quality of life and daily activities? What are the mechanisms underlying cognitive changes in multiple sclerosis? How can cognitive problems be assessed and monitored effectively? How can cognitive problems be prevented or managed?

- Comprehensive care for Parkinson's disease: What would a more integrated and person-centred model of Parkinson's care look like? How can this be delivered? What are the barriers and facilitators to doing so? Can the therapeutic potential of non-drug therapies be boosted by offering these in a combined approach? How can digital tools be harnessed within Parkinson's care?

Publications

• Duncan SJ, Marques K, Fawkes J et al. (2024). Galvanic vestibular stimulation modulates EEG markers of voluntary movement in Parkinson’s disease. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.07.048

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Smith LJ, Callis J, Bridger‐Smart S et al. (2024). Experiences of Living With the Nonmotor Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease: A Photovoice Study. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1111/hex.14124

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Smith LJ, Pyke W, Wilkinson D et al. (publicationYear). Psychological Aspects of Vestibular Disorders: A National Survey of Clinical Practice. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1017/s0022215124000458

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Wheeler C, Smith LJ, Sakel M et al. (2024). A systematic review of vestibular stimulation in post-stroke visual neglect. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1080/09602011.2024.2338603

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/98094
• Smith LJ, Wilkinson D, Bodani M et al. (publicationYear). Cognition in vestibular disorders: state of the field, challenges, and priorities for the future. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1159174

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/94252
• Kopčanová M, Tait L, Donoghue T et al. (2024). Resting-state EEG signatures of Alzheimer's disease are driven by periodic but not aperiodic changes. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106380

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/98095
• Smith LJ, Pyke W, Fowler R et al. (2024). Impact and experiences of vestibular disorders and psychological distress: Qualitative findings from patients, family members and healthcare professionals. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1111/hex.13906

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/98096
• Kopčanová M, Tait L, Donoghue T et al. (publicationYear). Resting-state EEG signatures of Alzheimer’s disease are driven by periodic but not aperiodic changes. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.11.544491

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/98120
• Webster KE, Kamo T, Smith L et al. (publicationYear). Non‐pharmacological interventions for persistent postural‐perceptual dizziness (PPPD). nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd015333.pub2

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/98121
• Wilkinson D, Duncan S, Smith L et al. (2023). The effect of galvanic vestibular stimulation on the movement-related cortical potential in Parkinson’s disease. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.01.115

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/98659
• Topcu G, Smith L, Mhizha-Murira JR et al. (2022). Neuropsychological evaluation and rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis (NEuRoMS): protocol for a mixed-methods, multicentre feasibility randomised controlled trial. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1186/s40814-022-01073-5

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/80458
• Smith L, Tresh M, Surenthiran SS et al. (2022). Living with a vestibular disorder during the Covid-19 pandemic: An online survey study.. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.3233/ves-210119

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Smith LJ, Gregory P, Clatworthy P et al. (2023). Working Memory Impairment in Transient Ischaemic Attack: N-back as a Sensitive Measure for Detection. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1017/brimp.2021.25

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Taylor LA, Mhizha-Murira JR, Smith L et al. (publicationYear). Memory rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd008754.pub4

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/98122
• Stothart G, Smith LJ, Milton A et al. (2021). A passive and objective measure of recognition memory in Alzheimer’s disease using Fastball memory assessment. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab154

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/98093
• Elwick H, Smith L, Mhizha-Murira JR et al. (2022). Cognitive assessment in multiple sclerosis clinical care: A qualitative evaluation of stakeholder perceptions and preferences. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1080/09602011.2021.1899942

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Smith L, Elwick H, Mhizha-Murira JR et al. (2021). Developing a clinical pathway to identify and manage cognitive problems in Multiple Sclerosis: Qualitative findings from patients, family members, charity volunteers, clinicians and healthcare commissioners. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2020.102563

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/98097
• Stothart G, Smith LJ, Milton A (2020). A rapid, neural measure of implicit recognition memory using fast periodic visual stimulation. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116628

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Smith L, Gkioka A, Wilkinson D (2020). Vestibular-guided visual search. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1007/s00221-020-05741-x

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Brunsdon VEA, Bradford EEF, Smith L et al. (2020). Short-term physical training enhances mirror system activation to action observation. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2019.1660708

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Shaw RL, Smith LJ, Hiles DR (2023). Exploring the felt sense of chronic ill-health: dialoguing between IPA, lifeworld theory and narrative inquiry to make sense of feelings and affect. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1080/14780887.2018.1499839

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Bradford EEF, Hukker V, Smith L et al. (2018). Belief‐attribution in adults with and without autistic spectrum disorders. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1002/aur.2032

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Grogan JP, Knight LE, Smith L et al. (2018). Effects of Parkinson’s disease and dopamine on digit span measures of working memory. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5058-6

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Smith L, Wilkinson D, Bodani M et al. (2019). Short‐term memory impairment in vestibular patients can arise independently of psychiatric impairment, fatigue, and sleeplessness. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1111/jnp.12157

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Surenthiran SS, Smith L, Wilkinson D et al. (2018). Short-Term Memory Loss in Vestibular Patients can Arise Independently of Psychiatric Impairment, Fatigue and Sleeplessness (P2.159). nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1212/wnl.90.15_supplement.p2.159

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Smith L, Wilkinson D, Surenthiran S et al. (2017). 8 Cognitive and psychiatric comorbidities in patients with vestibular disorder. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-bnpa.68

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Grogan JP, Tsivos D, Smith L et al. (publicationYear). Effects of dopamine on reinforcement learning and consolidation in Parkinson’s disease. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.7554/elife.26801

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Ulrich PIN, Wilkinson DT, Ferguson HJ et al. (2017). Perceptual and Memorial Contributions to Developmental Prosopagnosia. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1080/17470218.2016.1177101

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Smith LJ, Shaw RL (2017). Learning to live with Parkinson’s disease in the family unit: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of well-being. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1007/s11019-016-9716-3

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Surenthiran SS, Smith L, Wilkinson D et al. (2016). Cognitive and Psychiatric Comorbidities in Patients with Vestibular Disorder (P4.266). nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1212/wnl.86.16_supplement.p4.266

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref