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Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian

Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian

Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Cambridge
Professor Barbara J Sahakian DSc FBA FMedSci

Professor Barbara J Sahakian is based at the University of Cambridge Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute. Sahakian is also an Honorary Clinical Psychologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and a Fellow of Clare Hall, Cambridge. She is a Fellow of the British Academy and the Academy of Medical Sciences. She was a Member of the International Expert Jury for the 2017 Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung Prize. She is a Past President of the British Association for Psychopharmacology and of the International Neuroethics Society. Sahakian has an international reputation in the fields of psychopharmacology, neuropsychology, neuropsychiatry, neuroimaging and neuroethics. She is best known for her work on problems of cognition and motivation in brain injury, ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ cognitive deficits in depression and early detection and early treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors in Alzheimer’s disease. She has over 475 publications in high impact scientific journals. The ISI Web of Science database credits her with a Hirsch (h) index of 130 and Google Scholar h-index of 143. Sahakian co-invented the neuropsychological CANTAB and EMOTICOM tests (www.cambridgecognition.com) and the University of Cambridge/PEAK Advanced Training Programme and the Wizard Apprentice Memory Game (www.peak.net) . Sahakian has contributed to Neuroscience and Mental Health Policy, including the UK Government Foresight Project on Mental Capital and Wellbeing (Beddington et al., 2008, Nature), the Strategy for Mental Health for the Medical Research Council (Sahakian et al., 2010, The Lancet) and the Grand Challenges in Global Mental Health (Collins et al., 2011, Nature). She was a member of the Institute of Medicine Planning Committee (USA) on Enabling Discovery, Development, and Translation of Treatments for Cognitive Dysfunction in Depression. She is on the Committee for the Strategy for Neuroscience and Mental Health for the Department of Health. In March 2017, she participated in the Global Council on Brain Health meeting in Washington, DC. She has spoken at the World Economic Forum, Davos, 2014 and is a member of the WEF on the Future of Neurotechnologies and Brain Science. She is also on the Clinical Advisory Board of the Human Brain Project. She is a member of the Wellcome Trust Science Innovation Translation Programme Advisory Group and the Wellcome’s Innovator Awards Advisory Group. She is a member of the Irish Research Council Laureate Awards Committee.

How antidepressants, ketamine and psychedelic drugs may make brains more flexible – new research

Oct 24, 2023 09:31 am UTC| Health

The first-line pharmacological treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) are antidepressant drugs known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). But a significant proportion of people dont respond to these...

Cognitive flexibility: the science of how to be successful in business and at work

Apr 14, 2023 14:12 pm UTC| Health

The word permacrisis was selected as the word of the year for 2022, referring to a feeling of being permanently in crisis. The business world has certainly faced continuous and increasingly frequent disruptions over the...

Emotional 'blunting' and antidepressants – new research suggests why this is happening

Jan 26, 2023 11:58 am UTC| Health

Reinforcement sensitivity is an important behavioural process that allows us to learn from our environment through either positive/rewarding or negative feedback. When we get together with friends or go for a run,...

Vaccine passports: why they are good for society

May 16, 2021 12:24 pm UTC| Technology

As more and more people get vaccinated, some governments are relying on vaccine passports as a way of reopening society. These passports are essentially certificates that show the holder has been immunised against...

How chronic stress changes the brain – and what you can do to reverse the damage

Mar 12, 2020 17:31 pm UTC| Health

A bit of stress is a normal part of our daily lives, which can even be good for us. Overcoming stressful events can make us more resilient. But when the stress is severe or chronic for example caused by the breakdown of a...

Cheap diuretic pill could help with autism symptoms

Jan 28, 2020 08:23 am UTC| Health

It is possible to improve symptoms in autistic children with a cheap generic drug, our latest study shows. The drug, bumetanide, is widely used to treat high blood pressure and swelling, and it costs no more than 10 for a...

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Economy

Why China’s economy has hit a wall

Chinas annual parliamentary meetings in Beijing came to a close on March 11. They were conducted under great pressure: a weak economy and high expectations from both the domestic public and international observers as to...

Vladimir Putin’s gold strategy explains why sanctions against Russia have failed

There are more than 16,000 sanctions imposed against Russia. Yet the Russian economy and war machine grew by 3.6 per cent in 2023 and is projected to grow another 2.6 in 2024. Nearly six per cent of Russias gross...

Mentorship is key to improving social and economic outcomes for Black youth

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Politics

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SpaceX Builds Spy Satellites for US; Russia Warns of Military Response

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Deepfakes are still new, but 2024 could be the year they have an impact on elections

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Science

How do airplanes fly? An aerospace engineer explains the physics of flight

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The mystery of consciousness shows there may be a limit to what science alone can achieve

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What is minoxidil, the anti-balding hair growth treatment? Here’s what the science says

Hair loss (also known as alopecia) often affects the scalp but can occur anywhere on the body. Its very common and usually nothing to worry about; about half of Australian men show signs of visible baldness at age 50 and...

Our survey of the sky is uncovering the secrets of how planets are born

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Archeoastronomy uses the rare times and places of previous total solar eclipses to help us measure history

Total solar eclipses have fascinated and terrified people for centuries. Today, we know that total solar eclipses like the upcoming eclipse on April 8 are caused by a cosmic coincidence when the moon comes between the...

Technology

Xiaomi Plans SUV Debut by Year-End, Aiming to Rival Tesla's Electric Dominance

In an ambitious move, Xiaomi is set to challenge Teslas electric vehicle (EV) supremacy by introducing an all-electric SUV by the end of this year. This follows the recent launch of its SU7 sedan, a direct competitor to...

Ethereum Co-Founder Vitalik Buterin Critiques Memecoins Amid Crypto Frenzy, Advocates for Charitable Alternatives

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Traders Stake $2.4M on SEC's Verdict for Ether ETFs by May Deadline

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Binance Entity HKVAEX Withdraws License Application, to Exit Hong Kong Amid Regulatory Clampdown

In a significant move, HKVAEX, the Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency exchange known for its alleged ties with Binance, withdrew its operational license application on March 28, signaling its impending exit from the Hong Kong...
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