Dr Ken Valyear

Senior Lecturer in Psychology

k.valyear@bangor.ac.uk

Dr Ken Valyear

Exquisitely designed for function, our hands enable a vast array and complexity of actions, bringing to life our experience of touch and making it possible to reshape our world around us. When brain or bodily injury impairs our ability to use our hands, their pivotal role in upholding our independence and quality of life is made painfully clear. My lab is dedicated to advancing our understanding of the neuroscience of human hand function for the purpose of harnessing this knowledge to improve patient rehabilitation.

Lab Web: https://sites.google.com/site/kfvalyear/

355 Brigantia Building
Office: 01248 382623
·¡-³¾²¹¾±±ô:Ìýk.valyear@bangor.ac.uk
°Â±ð²ú:Ìý
  • PhD: Neuroscience
    Western University, Ontario, 2011
  • BSc: Physiology and Psychology
    Western University, Ontario, 2002

I teach rehabilitation neuroscience, brain stimulation, clinical and applied neuroscience, and methods in cognitive neuroscience. I supervise BSc, MSc and PhD student dissertations.

My lab is dedicated to advancing our understanding of the neuroscience of human hand function for the purpose of harnessing this knowledge to improve patient rehabilitation.

We use a wide array of methods, including functional MRI and brain stimulation.ÌýÌý

Our current research targets two major clinical problems: (1) peripheral nerve injury, and (2) stroke.

Current project topics include: (1) Peripheral nerve injury; (2) Upper-limb prosthesis control; (3) Action planning and selection. Primary lab methods include: fMRI; TMS; motion capture; clinical assessments of hand function. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact me: k.valyear@bangor.ac.uk

2023

  • Published
    Philip, B. A., Valyear, K. F., Cirstea, C. M., Baune, N. A., Kaufman, C. & Frey, S. H., 12 Jan 2023, In: Frontiers in neuroimaging. 1, 1127605.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    Weber, M., Marshall, A., Timircan, R., McGlone, F., Watt, S., Onyekwelu, O., Booth, L., Jesudason, E., Lees, V. & Valyear, K. F., 1 Nov 2023, In: Journal of Neurophysiology. 130, 5, p. 1126-1141 16 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2022

  • Published
    Philip, B. A., Valyear, K. F., Cirstea, C. M., Baune, N. A., Kaufman, C. & Frey, S. H., 6 Oct 2022, In: Frontiers in neuroimaging. 1, 919694.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    Fitzpatrick, A. M., Dundon, N. M. & Valyear, K. F., 13 Oct 2022, In: PLoS ONE. 17, 10, e0275262.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2020

  • Published
    Valyear, K. F., Philip, B. A., Cirstea, C. M., Chen, P.-W., Baune, N., Marchal, N. & Frey, S. H., 1 Feb 2020, In: Neuroimage. 206, 116291.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2019

  • Published
    Seminara, L., Gastaldo, P., Watt, S. J., Valyear, K. F., Zuher, F. & Mastrogiovanni, F., 17 Jul 2019, In: Frontiers in Neurorobotics. 13, 53.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    Valyear, K. F., Mattos, D., Philip, B. A., Kaufman, C. & Frey, S. H., 15 Apr 2019, In: Neuroimage. 190, p. 275-288
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    Valyear, K. F., Fitzpatrick, A. M. & Dundon, N. M., Feb 2019, In: Psychonomic Bulletin and Review. 26, 1, p. 305-314 10 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    Arcaro, M. J., Thaler, L., Quinlan, D. J., Monaco, S., Khan, S., Valyear, K. F., Goebel, R., Dutton, G. N., Goodale, M. A., Kastner, S. & Culham, J. C., May 2019, In: Neuropsychologia. 128, May, p. 150-165 16 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    Fitzpatrick, A. M., Dundon, N. M. & Valyear, K. F., 15 Jan 2019, In: Neuroimage. 185, p. 208-221 14 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2018

  • Published
    Valyear, K., Sept 2018, Reach-to-grasp behavior: Brain, Behavior and Modelling Across the Life Span. Corbetta, D. & Santello, M. (eds.). Routledge Taylor & Francis
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

2017

  • Published
    Randerath, J., Valyear, K., Philip, B. A. & Frey, S. H., Oct 2017, In: Neuropsychologia. 105, October, p. 135-143
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2016

  • Published
    Valyear, K. F., 29 Jul 2016, In: Elife. 5, e18887.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    Valyear, K., 16 Dec 2016, Evolution of Nervous Systems: Second Edition. Kaas, J. (ed.). 2 ed. Oxford: Academic Press, p. 341-353 12 p.
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

2015

  • Published
    Valyear, K. F. & Frey, S. H., 2015, In: Psychonomic Bulletin and Review. 21, p. 566-573
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    Valyear, K. F. & Frey, S. H., 2 Apr 2015, In: Neuroimage. 114, p. 226-238
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    Randerath, J., Valyear, K. F., Hood, A. & Frey, S. H., 2015, In: Journal of Motor Behavior. 47, 2, p. 142-152
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2013

  • Published
    Gallivan, J. P., McLean, D. A., Valyear, K. F. & Culham, J. C., 28 May 2013, In: Elife. 2, p. e00425
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2012

  • Published
    Valyear, K. F., Gallivan, J. P., McLean, D. A. & Culham, J. C., 21 Mar 2012, In: Journal of Neuroscience. 32, 12, p. 4247-59 13 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2011

  • Published
    Gallivan, J. P., McLean, D. A., Valyear, K. F., Pettypiece, C. E. & Culham, J. C., 29 Jun 2011, In: Journal of Neuroscience. 31, 26, p. 9599-9610 12 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    Valyear, K. F., Chapman, C. S., Gallivan, J. P., Mark, R. S. & Culham, J. C., Jul 2011, In: Experimental Brain Research. 212, 1, p. 125-42 18 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2010

  • Published
    Malfait, N., Valyear, K. F., Culham, J. C., Anton, J.-L., Brown, L. E. & Gribble, P. L., Jul 2010, In: Journal of Cognitive Neurosience. 22, 7, p. 1493-1503 11 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    Valyear, K. F. & Culham, J. C., May 2010, In: Journal of Cognitive Neurosience. 22, 5, p. 970-84 15 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2007

  • Published
    Valyear, K. F., Cavina-Pratesi, C., Stiglick, A. J. & Culham, J. C., 31 Mar 2007, In: Neuroimage. 36 , Suppl 2, p. T94-T108
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    Rice, N. J., Valyear, K. F., Goodale, M. A., Milner, A. D. & Culham, J. C., 31 Mar 2007, In: Neuroimage. 36 , Suppl 2, p. T87-93
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2006

  • Published
    Valyear, K. F., Culham, J. C., Sharif, N., Westwood, D. & Goodale, M. A., Feb 2006, In: Neuropsychologia. 44, 2, p. 218-28 11 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    Cavina-Pratesi, C., Valyear, K. F., Culham, J. C., Köhler, S., Obhi, S. S., Marzi, C. A. & Goodale, M. A., 1 Aug 2006, In: Journal of Neuroscience. 26, 10, p. 2704-13 10 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    Culham, J. C. & Valyear, K. F., Apr 2006, In: Current Opinion in Neurobiology. 16, 2, p. 205-212 8 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    Steeves, J. K. E., Culham, J. C., Duchaine, B. C., Pratesi, C. C., Valyear, K. F., Schindler, I., Humphrey, G. K., Milner, A. D. & Goodale, M. A., 1 Apr 2006, In: Neuropsychologia. 44, 4, p. 594-609 16 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    Ganel, T., Gonzalez, C. L. R., Valyear, K. F., Culham, J. C., Goodale, M. A. & Köhler, S., Sept 2006, In: Neuroimage. 32, 3, p. 1432-1440 9 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2005

  • Published
    Cant, J. S., Westwood, D. A., Valyear, K. F. & Goodale, M. A., 7 Jan 2005, In: Neuropsychologia. 43, 2, p. 216-26 11 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    Ganel, T., Valyear, K. F., Goshen-Gottstein, Y. & Goodale, M. A., 25 Feb 2005, In: Neuropsychologia. 43, 11, p. 1645-54 10 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2003

  • Published
    MacDougall-Shackleton, S. A., Hernandez, A. M., Valyear, K. F. & Clark, A. P., 17 Apr 2003, In: Neuroscience Letters. 340, 3, p. 165-8 4 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • 01/12/2019 – 30/07/2024 (Finished)

    Layman's description

    When a nerve of the hand is cut, the signalling between the hand and brain is disrupted, and as a consequence, the brain changes. These injuries are extremely common, with significant and longstanding personal and societal costs. Better understanding the links between brain changes and functional recovery holds promise for improving patient outcomes, and reducing these costs. This is the purpose of the proposed research. We will investigate the clinical significance of nerve-trauma-related brain changes in patients who have undergone surgical repairs of the nerve(s) of the hand. Using our established functional MRI and behavioural methods, we expect to identify brain changes in patients that predict poor sensory performance of the injured hand. This research will significantly advance our understanding of the functional consequences of brain changes following nerve damage to the hand, and set the stage for the development of new rehabilitation therapies designed to help reverse these changes.

  • 01/08/2019 – 01/08/2022 (Finished)

    Description

    This research aims to (i) develop upper-limb prostheses for young children that work better and are easier to use, and (ii) better understand the real-world consequences of peripheral nerve injury to the hand, and associated brain changes. This requires high-precision recording of natural hand movements. Support from the Welsh Government Ser Cymru III Enhancing Competitiveness Infrastructure Award was used to purchase a state-of-the-art motion-capture system to enable this research.

  • 01/08/2015 – 01/08/2022 (Finished)

    Links:

Research Grants

Welsh Government Ser Cymru III Enhancing Competitiveness Infrastructure Award

Improving child prostheses, and rehabilitation of peripheral nerve injuries, using movement science.Ìý

Principal Investigators: Ken Valyear; Simon Watt

March 2020Ìý

£64,472

Wellcome Trust Seed Award in Science (215186/Z/19/Z)

Mapping the consequences of peripheral nerve transection and repair on brain organisation and hand function.

Principal Investigator: Ken Valyear

December 2019 – May 2022

£94,063

Knowledge Exchange Skills Scholarships (KESS) II: PhD Studentship

The sensory and motor consequences of using an injured hand

Principal Investigators: Ken Valyear; Simon Watt; Edwin Jesudason

PhD candidate: Michela Paroli

June 2017 – 2020

£69300

Royal Society Research Grant (RG150098)

Specifying possible actions with objects: Paired-pulse TMS investigations of the underlying neural mechanisms

Principal Investigator: Ken Valyear

Co-investigator: Cosimo Urgesi

December 2015 – 2016

£15000