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Professor Lawrence Wilkinson

Overview

person name Research Group: Behavioural Neuroscience
Location: Tower Building, Park Place
Email: WilkinsonL@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone: +44(0)29 208 70357

Research Summary

My research focus is on the rapidly evolving field of behavioural genetics/epigenetics, with an emphasis on cognition. Current main research interests include work on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias; gene variants influencing attention and impulsive responding; novel X-linked effects on behaviour; and genomic imprinting effects on cognition and behaviour. Recent key findings includes evidence that tau irregularities in AD may be linked to abnormal processing of APP C-terminal fragments via specific effects on MAPK activation, evidence for tauopathy effects on frontal functioning mediated by changes in serotonin neurochemistry, new autosomal and X-linked genetic mechanisms influencing fear, attention and impulsive behaviour and the discovery of X-linked imprinted gene effects on cognitive function.

Selected Publications (2008 onwards)

2013

Schmechtig, A., Lees, J., Grayson, L. E., Craig, K. J., Dadhiwala, R., Dawson, G. R., Deakin, J. F. W., Dourish, C. T., Koychev, I., McMullen, K., Migo, E. M., Perry, C., Wilkinson, L. S., Morris, R., Williams, S. R. and Ettinger, U. (2013). Effects of risperidone, amisulpride and nicotine on eye movement control and their modulation by schizotypyPsychopharmacology, 227(2), 331-345. (10.1007/s00213-013-2973-4)

2012

Koychev, I., McMullen, K., Lees, J., Dadhiwala, R., Grayson, L. E., Perry, C. L., Schmechtig, A., Walters, J. T. R., Craig, K. J., Dawson, G. R., Dourish, C. T., Ettinger, U., Wilkinson, L. S., Williams, S., Deakin, J. F. W. and Barkus, E. (2012). A validation of cognitive biomarkers for the early identification of cognitive enhancing agents in schizotypy: A three-center double-blind placebo-controlled studyEuropean Neuropsychopharmacology, 22(7), 469-481. (10.1016/j.euroneuro.2011.10.005)

Relkovic, D., Humby, T., Hagan, J. J., Wilkinson, L. S. and Isles, A. R. (2012). Enhanced appetitive learning and reversal learning in a mouse model for Prader-Willi syndromeBehavioral Neuroscience, 126(3), 488-492. (10.1037/a0028155)

2011

Garfield, A. S., Cowley, M., Smith, F. M., Moorwood, K., Stewart-Cox, J. E., Gilroy, K. E., Baker, S., Xia, J., Dalley, J. W., Hurst, L. D., Wilkinson, L. S., Isles, A. R. and Ward, A. (2011). Distinct physiological and behavioural functions for parental alleles of imprinted Grb10Nature, 469(7331), 534-538. (10.1038/nature09651)

Humby, T. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2011). Assaying dissociable elements of behavioural inhibition and impulsivity: translational utility of animal modelsCurrent Opinion in Pharmacology, 11(5), 534-539. (10.1016/j.coph.2011.06.006)

Koychev, I., Barkus, E., Ettinger, U., Killcross, A. S., Roiser, J. P., Wilkinson, L. S. and Deakin, B. (2011). Evaluation of state and trait biomarkers in healthy volunteers for the development of novel drug treatments in schizophreniaJournal of Psychopharmacology, 25(9), 1207-1225. (10.1177/0269881111414450)

Stergiakouli, E., Langley, K., Williams, H. J., Walters, J. T. R., Williams, N. M., Suren, S., Giegling, I., Wilkinson, L. S., Owen, M. J., O'Donovan, M. C., Rujescu, D., Thapar, A. and Davies, W. (2011). Steroid sulfatase is a potential modifier of cognition in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderGenes, Brain and Behavior, 10(3), 334-344. (10.1111/j.1601-183X.2010.00672.x)

2010

Burne, T. H. .., Johnston, A. N. B., Wilkinson, L. S. and Kendrick, K. M. (2010). Effects of anesthetic agents on socially transmitted olfactory memories in miceNeurobiology of Learning and Memory, 93(2), 268-274. (10.1016/j.nlm.2009.10.007)

Relkovic, D., Doe, C. M., Humby, T., Johnstone, K. A., Resnick, J. L., Holland, A. J., Hagan, J. J., Wilkinson, L. S. and Isles, A. R. (2010). Behavioural and cognitive abnormalities in an imprinting centre deletion mouse model for Prader–Willi syndromeEuropean Journal of Neuroscience, 31(1), 156-164. (10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.07048.x)

Wilkinson, L. S. (2010). Which Parental Gene Gets the Upper Hand?Science, 329(5992), 636-637. (10.1126/science.1194692)

2009

Davies, W., Humby, T., Kong, W., Otter, T. L., Burgoyne, P. S. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2009). Converging pharmacological and genetic evidence indicates a role for steroid sulfatase in attentionBiological psychiatry, 66(4), 360-367. (10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.01.001)

Doe, C. M., Relkovic, D., Garfield, A. S., Dalley, J. W., Theobald, D. E., Humby, T., Wilkinson, L. S. and Isles, A. R. (2009). Loss of the imprinted snoRNA mbii-52 leads to increased 5htr2c pre-RNA editing and altered 5HT2CR-mediated behaviourHuman Molecular Genetics, 18(12), 2140-2148. (10.1093/hmg/ddp137)

Fowler, T. A., Langley, K., Rice, F. J., Van Den Bree, M. B., Ross, K., Wilkinson, L. S., Owen, M. J., O'Donovan, M. C. and Thapar, A. (2009). Psychopathy trait scores in adolescents with childhood ADHD: the contribution of genotypes affecting MAOA, 5HTT and COMT activityPsychiatric Genetics, 19(6), 312-319. (10.1097/YPG.0b013e3283328df4)

Kopsida, E., Stergiakouli, E., Lynn, P. M., Wilkinson, L. S. and Davies, W. (2009). The Role of the Y Chromosome in Brain FunctionOpen Neuroendocrinology Journal, 2(1), 20-30. (10.2174/1876528900902010020)

2008

Davies, W., Lynn, P. M. Y., Relkovic, D. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2008). Imprinted genes and neuroendocrine functionFrontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 29(3), 413-427. (10.1016/j.yfrne.2007.12.001 )

Davies, W., Isles, A. R., Humby, T. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2008). What are imprinted genes doing in the brain?. In: Wilkins, J. ed. Genomic Imprinting. Berlin: Springer, pp. 62-70. (10.1007/978-0-387-77576-0_5)

Doe, C., Garfield, A., Humby, T., Relkovic, D., Wilkinson, L. S. and Isles, A. R. (2008). 5-HT2CR pre-RNA editing, alternate splicing and function in a mouse model of Prader-Willi syndromeFundamental & Clinical Pharmacology, 22(s2), 125. (10.1111/j.1472-8206.2008.00601.x)

Donald, S., Humby, T., Fyfe, I., Segonds-Pichon, A., Walker, S. A., Andrews, S. R., Coadwell, W. J., Emson, P., Wilkinson, L. S. and Welch, H. C. E. (2008). P-Rex2 regulates Purkinje cell dendrite morphology and motor coordinationProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105(11), 4483-4488. (10.1073/pnas.0712324105)

Isles, A. R. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2008). Epigenetics: what is it and why is it important to mental disease?British Medical Bulletin, 85(1), 35-45. (10.1093/bmb/ldn004)

Publications

Full List of Publications

2013

Schmechtig, A., Lees, J., Grayson, L. E., Craig, K. J., Dadhiwala, R., Dawson, G. R., Deakin, J. F. W., Dourish, C. T., Koychev, I., McMullen, K., Migo, E. M., Perry, C., Wilkinson, L. S., Morris, R., Williams, S. R. and Ettinger, U. (2013). Effects of risperidone, amisulpride and nicotine on eye movement control and their modulation by schizotypyPsychopharmacology, 227(2), 331-345. (10.1007/s00213-013-2973-4)

2012

Koychev, I., McMullen, K., Lees, J., Dadhiwala, R., Grayson, L. E., Perry, C. L., Schmechtig, A., Walters, J. T. R., Craig, K. J., Dawson, G. R., Dourish, C. T., Ettinger, U., Wilkinson, L. S., Williams, S., Deakin, J. F. W. and Barkus, E. (2012). A validation of cognitive biomarkers for the early identification of cognitive enhancing agents in schizotypy: A three-center double-blind placebo-controlled studyEuropean Neuropsychopharmacology, 22(7), 469-481. (10.1016/j.euroneuro.2011.10.005)

Relkovic, D., Humby, T., Hagan, J. J., Wilkinson, L. S. and Isles, A. R. (2012). Enhanced appetitive learning and reversal learning in a mouse model for Prader-Willi syndromeBehavioral Neuroscience, 126(3), 488-492. (10.1037/a0028155)

2011

Garfield, A. S., Cowley, M., Smith, F. M., Moorwood, K., Stewart-Cox, J. E., Gilroy, K. E., Baker, S., Xia, J., Dalley, J. W., Hurst, L. D., Wilkinson, L. S., Isles, A. R. and Ward, A. (2011). Distinct physiological and behavioural functions for parental alleles of imprinted Grb10Nature, 469(7331), 534-538. (10.1038/nature09651)

Humby, T. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2011). Assaying dissociable elements of behavioural inhibition and impulsivity: translational utility of animal modelsCurrent Opinion in Pharmacology, 11(5), 534-539. (10.1016/j.coph.2011.06.006)

Koychev, I., Barkus, E., Ettinger, U., Killcross, A. S., Roiser, J. P., Wilkinson, L. S. and Deakin, B. (2011). Evaluation of state and trait biomarkers in healthy volunteers for the development of novel drug treatments in schizophreniaJournal of Psychopharmacology, 25(9), 1207-1225. (10.1177/0269881111414450)

Stergiakouli, E., Langley, K., Williams, H. J., Walters, J. T. R., Williams, N. M., Suren, S., Giegling, I., Wilkinson, L. S., Owen, M. J., O'Donovan, M. C., Rujescu, D., Thapar, A. and Davies, W. (2011). Steroid sulfatase is a potential modifier of cognition in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderGenes, Brain and Behavior, 10(3), 334-344. (10.1111/j.1601-183X.2010.00672.x)

2010

Burne, T. H. .., Johnston, A. N. B., Wilkinson, L. S. and Kendrick, K. M. (2010). Effects of anesthetic agents on socially transmitted olfactory memories in miceNeurobiology of Learning and Memory, 93(2), 268-274. (10.1016/j.nlm.2009.10.007)

Relkovic, D., Doe, C. M., Humby, T., Johnstone, K. A., Resnick, J. L., Holland, A. J., Hagan, J. J., Wilkinson, L. S. and Isles, A. R. (2010). Behavioural and cognitive abnormalities in an imprinting centre deletion mouse model for Prader–Willi syndromeEuropean Journal of Neuroscience, 31(1), 156-164. (10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.07048.x)

Wilkinson, L. S. (2010). Which Parental Gene Gets the Upper Hand?Science, 329(5992), 636-637. (10.1126/science.1194692)

2009

Davies, W., Humby, T., Kong, W., Otter, T. L., Burgoyne, P. S. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2009). Converging pharmacological and genetic evidence indicates a role for steroid sulfatase in attentionBiological psychiatry, 66(4), 360-367. (10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.01.001)

Doe, C. M., Relkovic, D., Garfield, A. S., Dalley, J. W., Theobald, D. E., Humby, T., Wilkinson, L. S. and Isles, A. R. (2009). Loss of the imprinted snoRNA mbii-52 leads to increased 5htr2c pre-RNA editing and altered 5HT2CR-mediated behaviourHuman Molecular Genetics, 18(12), 2140-2148. (10.1093/hmg/ddp137)

Fowler, T. A., Langley, K., Rice, F. J., Van Den Bree, M. B., Ross, K., Wilkinson, L. S., Owen, M. J., O'Donovan, M. C. and Thapar, A. (2009). Psychopathy trait scores in adolescents with childhood ADHD: the contribution of genotypes affecting MAOA, 5HTT and COMT activityPsychiatric Genetics, 19(6), 312-319. (10.1097/YPG.0b013e3283328df4)

Kopsida, E., Stergiakouli, E., Lynn, P. M., Wilkinson, L. S. and Davies, W. (2009). The Role of the Y Chromosome in Brain FunctionOpen Neuroendocrinology Journal, 2(1), 20-30. (10.2174/1876528900902010020)

2008

Davies, W., Lynn, P. M. Y., Relkovic, D. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2008). Imprinted genes and neuroendocrine functionFrontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 29(3), 413-427. (10.1016/j.yfrne.2007.12.001 )

Davies, W., Isles, A. R., Humby, T. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2008). What are imprinted genes doing in the brain?. In: Wilkins, J. ed. Genomic Imprinting. Berlin: Springer, pp. 62-70. (10.1007/978-0-387-77576-0_5)

Doe, C., Garfield, A., Humby, T., Relkovic, D., Wilkinson, L. S. and Isles, A. R. (2008). 5-HT2CR pre-RNA editing, alternate splicing and function in a mouse model of Prader-Willi syndromeFundamental & Clinical Pharmacology, 22(s2), 125. (10.1111/j.1472-8206.2008.00601.x)

Donald, S., Humby, T., Fyfe, I., Segonds-Pichon, A., Walker, S. A., Andrews, S. R., Coadwell, W. J., Emson, P., Wilkinson, L. S. and Welch, H. C. E. (2008). P-Rex2 regulates Purkinje cell dendrite morphology and motor coordinationProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105(11), 4483-4488. (10.1073/pnas.0712324105)

Isles, A. R. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2008). Epigenetics: what is it and why is it important to mental disease?British Medical Bulletin, 85(1), 35-45. (10.1093/bmb/ldn004)

2007

Davies, W., Humby, T., Isles, A. R., Burgoyne, P. S. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2007). X-monosomy effects on visuospatial attention in mice: a candidate gene and implications for Turner syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorderBiological psychiatry, 61(12), 1351-1360. (10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.08.011)

Lambourne, S. L., Humby, T., Isles, A. R., Emson, P. C., Spillantini, M. G. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2007). Impairments in impulse control in animal models transgenic for the human FTPD-17 tauV337M mutation are exacerbated by ageHuman Molecular Genetics, 16(14), 1708-1719. (10.1093/hmg/ddm119)

Wilkinson, L. S., Davies, W. and Isles, A. R. (2007). Genomic imprinting effects on brain development and functionNature Reviews Neuroscience, 8(11), 832-843. (10.1038/nrn2235)

2006

Davies, W. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2006). It is not all hormones: Alternative explanations for sexual differentiation of the brainBrain Research, 1126(1), 36-45. (10.1016/j.brainres.2006.09.105)

Davies, W., Isles, A. R., Burgoyne, P. S. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2006). X-linked imprinting: effects on brain and behaviourBioessays, 28(1), 35-44. (10.1002/bies.20341)

Humby, T. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2006). If only they could talk - genetic mouse models for psychiatric disorders. In: Fish, G. and Flint, J. eds. Transgenic and Knockout Models of Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press , pp. 69-83. (10.1007/978-1-59745-058-4_4)

Isles, A. R., Davies, W. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2006). Genomic imprinting and the social brainPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B - Biological Sciences, 361(1476), 2229-2237. (10.1098/rstb.2006.1942)

Tofaris, G. K., Reitbock, P. G., Humby, T., Lambourne, S. L., O'Connell, M., Ghetti, B., Gossage, H., Emson, P. C., Wilkinson, L. S., Goedert, M. and Spillantini, M. G. (2006). Pathological changes in dopaminergic nerve cells of the substantia nigra and olfactory bulb in mice transgenic for truncated human alpha-synuclein(1-120): implications for Lewy body disordersJournal of Neuroscience, 26(15), 3942-3950. (10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4965-05.2006) pdf

2005

Davies, W., Isles, A. R. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2005). Imprinted gene expression in the brainNeuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 29(3), 421-430. (10.1016/j.neubiorev.2004.11.007)

Davies, W., Isles, A. R., Smith, R., Karunadasa, D., Burrmann, D., Humby, T., Ojarikre, O., Biggin, C., Skuse, D., Burgoyne, P. S. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2005). Xlr3b is a new imprinted candidate for X-linked parent-of-origin effects on cognitive function in miceNature Genetics, 37(6), 625-629. (10.1038/ng1577)

Humby, T., Wilkinson, L. S. and Dawson, G. (2005). UNIT 8.5H Assaying Aspects of Attention and Impulse Control in Mice Using the 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task. In: Current Protocols in Neuroscience. Chichester: Wiley, (10.1002/0471142301.ns0805hs31)

Isles, A. R., Hathway, G. J., Humby, T., de la Riva, C., Kendrick, K. M. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2005). An mTph2 SNP gives rise to alterations in extracellular 5-HT levels, but not in performance on a delayed-reinforcement taskEuropean Journal of Neuroscience, 22(4), 997-1000. (10.1111/j.1460-9568.2005.04265.x)

Plagge, A., Isles, A. R., Gordon, E., Humby, T., Dean, W., Gritsch, S., Fischer-Colbrie, R., Wilkinson, L. S. and Kelsey, G. (2005). Imprinted Nesp55 influences behavioral reactivity to novel environmentsMolecular and Cellular Biology, 25(8), 3019-3026. (10.1128/MCB.25.8.3019-3026.2005)

2004

Davies, W., Smith, R. J., Kelsey, G. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2004). Expression patterns of the novel imprinted genes Nap1l5 and Peg13 and their non-imprinted host genes in the adult mouse brainGene Expression Patterns, 4(6), 741-747. (10.1016/j.modgep.2004.03.008)

Isles, A. R., Humby, T., Walters, E. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2004). Common genetic effects on variation in impulsivity and activity in miceJournal of Neuroscience, 24(30), 6733-6740. (10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1650-04.2004) pdf

Isles, A. R., Davies, W., Burrmann, D., Burgoyne, P. S. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2004). Effects on fear reactivity in XO mice are due to haploinsufficiency of a non-PAR X gene: implications for emotional function in Turner's syndromeHuman Molecular Genetics, 13(17), 1849-1855. (10.1093/hmg/ddh203)

2003

Davies, W., Isles, A. R., Burgoyne, P. S., Ward, B. O., Humby, T., de la Riva, C. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2003). Evidence for X-linked imprinted gene functioning on cognition in mice; a possible neurochemical basis, and implications for cognitive sexual dimorphism [Abstract]Journal of Psychopharmacology, 17(S), A70.

Isles, A. R., Humby, T. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2003). Measuring impulsivity in mice using a novel operant delayed reinforcement task: effects of behavioural manipulations and d-amphetaminePsychopharmacology, 170(4), 376-382. (10.1007/s00213-003-1551-6)

2001

Davies, W., Isles, A. R. and Wilkinson, L. S. (2001). Imprinted genes and mental dysfunctionAnnals of Medicine, 33(6), 428-436. (10.3109/07853890108995956)

Mooslehner, K. A., Chan, P. M., Xu, W. M., Liu, L. Z., Smadja, C., Humby, T., Allen, N. D., Wilkinson, L. S. and Emson, P. C. (2001). Mice with Very Low Expression of the Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 Gene Survive into Adulthood: Potential Mouse Model for ParkinsonismMolecular and Cellular Biology, 21(16), 5321-5331. (10.1128/MCB.21.16.5321-5331.2001)

1999

Hall, F. S., Wilkinson, L. S., Humby, T. and Robbins, T. W. (1999). Maternal deprivation of neonatal rats produces enduring changes in dopamine functionSynapse, 32(1), 37-43. (10.1002/(SICI)1098-2396(199904)32:1<37::AID-SYN5>3.0.CO;2-4)

Humby, T., Laird, F. M., Davies, W. and Wilkinson, L. S. (1999). Visuospatial attentional functioning in mice: interactions between cholinergic manipulations and genotypeEuropean Journal of Neuroscience, 11(8), 2813-2823. (10.1046/j.1460-9568.1999.00701.x)

1998

Hall, F. S., Wilkinson, L. S., Humby, T., Inglis, W., Kendall, D. A., Marsden, C. A. and Robbins, T. W. (1998). Isolation rearing in rats: Pre- and postsynaptic changes in striatal dopaminergic systemsPharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 59(4), 859-872. (10.1016/S0091-3057(97)00510-8)

Wilkinson, L. S., Humby, T., Killcross, A. S., Torres, E., Everitt, B. J. and Robbins, T. W. (1998). Dissociations in dopamine release in medial prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum during the acquisition and extinction of classical aversive conditioning in the ratEuropean Journal of Neuroscience, 10(3), 1019-1026. (10.1046/j.1460-9568.1998.00119.x)

1997

Hall, F. S., Humby, T., Wilkinson, L. S. and Robbins, T. W. (1997). The effects of isolation-rearing of rats on behavioural responses to food and environmental noveltyPhysiology & Behavior, 62(2), 281-290. (10.1016/S0031-9384(97)00115-7)

Hall, F. S., Humby, T., Wilkinson, L. S. and Robbins, T. W. (1997). The effects of isolation-rearing on preference by rats for a novel environmentPhysiology & Behavior, 62(2), 299-303. (10.1016/S0031-9384(97)00117-0)

Hall, F. S., Humby, T., Wilkinson, L. S. and Robbins, T. W. (1997). The effects of isolation-rearing on sucrose consumption in ratsPhysiology & Behavior, 62(2), 291-297. (10.1016/S0031-9384(97)00116-9)

1995

Geyer, M. A., Wilkinson, L. S., Humby, T. and Robbins, T. W. (1995). Prepulse inhibition of startle-induced reductions of accumbens dopamine [Abstract]Biological Psychiatry, 37(9), 634. (10.1016/0006-3223(95)94560-J)

Wilkinson, L. S., Humby, T., Robbins, T. W. and Everitt, B. J. (1995). Differential Effects of Forebrain 5-Hydroxytryptamine Depletions on Pavlovian Aversive Conditioning to Discrete and Contextual Stimuli in the RatEuropean Journal of Neuroscience, 7(10), 2042-2052. (10.1111/j.1460-9568.1995.tb00627.x)

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Postgraduate Students

Postgraduate Research Interests

If you are interested in applying for a PhD, or for further information regarding my postgraduate research, please contact me directly (contact details available on the 'Overview' page), or submit a formal application here.