Dr William McGeown
Reader
Psychology
Personal statement
I joined the School of Psychological Sciences and Health in August 2013. I was previously employed as a Lecturer for 5 years within the Department of Psychology (University of Hull) and prior to that I held research positions for 3 years within The Clinical Neuroscience Centre (University of Hull).
My research interests are mostly centred on the cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms that are found in Alzheimer’s disease and the other dementias. A secondary research interest relates to suggestibility and hypnosis.
I am an Associate Fellow within the BPS, a member of the Division of Neuropsychology, and a Chartered Psychologist.
Area of Expertise
Memory
Neuropsychiatric symptoms
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
Normal ageing
Hypnosis and suggestibility
Neuroimaging and neuropsychological research methods
Qualifications
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) (University of Hull)
PhD (University of Hull)
Master in Research Methods (MRes) Diploma (University of Aberdeen)
BSc (Hons) Psychology (University of Aberdeen)
Publications
- Public engagement with science : a novel researcher-led collaboration with a major UK science centre
- Robertson David J, McGeown William J, Wodehouse Andrew, Lang Gillian, Woodside William, Capaldi Janine
- International Journal of Science Education, Part B: Communication and Public Engagement , pp. 1-13 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1080/21548455.2024.2398825
- Assessing the stability of clusters of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment
- Scarfo Sara, Moshfeghi Yashar, McGeown William
- Current Alzheimer Research (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.2174/0115672050309014240705113444
- Random Forest Classifiers to predict psychotic symptoms in Alzheimer's disease
- Scarfo Sara, Moshfeghi Yashar, McGeown William
- Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association (2024)
- The relationship between transliminality, hypnotic and imaginative suggestibility, and other personality traits
- Irving Abbie J, Nikolova Niia, Robinson Susan, Ionita Iris, Kelly Steve W, Kirsch Irving, Mazzoni Giuliana, Venneri Annalena, McGeown William J
- Acta Psychologica Vol 243 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104125
- Rapid detection of heart failure using a spectroscopic liquid biopsy
- Christie Loren, Sala Alexandra, Cameron James M, Conn Justin JA, Palmer David S, McGeown William J, Cannon Jane A, Sharp John, Baker Matthew J
- Clinical Spectroscopy Vol 5 (2023)
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clispe.2023.100029
- Clustering of neuropsychiatric symptoms across time in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment
- Scarfo Sara, Moshfeghi Yashar, McGeown William J
- Alzheimer's & Dementia Vol 19 (2023)
- https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.078740
Teaching
I previously co-developed the MSc in Clinical Health Psychology course and was Director of this programme for 3 years. I now contribute as class leader and lecturer on the “Neuropsychology relating medical conditions” class.
In the past I have taught Neuropsychology, Neuroimaging, Neuropsychology of Ageing and Dementia, and Health Psychology, in addition to various sessions on statistics, research methods and cognitive psychology.
I am an HEA fellow.
Research Interests
I run the neuroanalytics laboratory within the School of Psychological Sciences and Health and lead the Dementia Research Network at the University of Strathclyde. Key research themes include:
Ageing and Dementia
My research is focused on developing ways to detect different types of dementia (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular dementia, Fronto-temporal dementia) in the very early stages using cognitive, neuroimaging, neurophysiological and blood-based markers. I am also interested in the breakdown of cognition (episodic and semantic memory, language and attention) that occurs during the course of neurodegenerative disease, and in understanding the neural correlates of neuropsychiatric/behavioural symptoms.
I have used pharmacoimaging in the past to assess the efficacy of drug treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. I am keen to extend this research and to investigate methods of predicting response to treatment (with possibilities for personalised medication).
Further interests include the effects of normal ageing (e.g., on cognitive function and on the brain).
Hypnosis and suggestibility
As Principal Investigator, I currently lead two funded research projects to investigate hypnosis and suggestibility (funding from The Leverhulme Trust and the BIAL Foundation). I am interested in the effects of hypnosis on the brain, and in the cognitive, neural and genetic associations that may underpin suggestibility.
I am open to supervising PhD projects in the above areas.
Professional Activities
- Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) 2024
- Participant
- 28/7/2024
- Scottish Dementia Research Consortium Annual Conference 2024
- Participant
- 14/6/2024
- SINAPSE Annual Scientific Meeting 2024
- Participant
- 12/6/2024
- Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2023 (AAIC®)
- Participant
- 16/7/2023
- Dementia Network Plus Call
- Organiser
- 3/7/2023
- 15th SINAPSE Annual Scientific Meeting
- Participant
- 14/6/2023
Projects
- EPSRC-IAA GSC Citizen Science Project Phase 1-B [£29k]
- Robertson, David (Principal Investigator) McGeown, William (Co-investigator) Wodehouse, Andrew (Co-investigator) Lang, Gillian (Co-investigator)
- This project will professionalise and update the Phase 1 content, leading to an exhibit relaunch in later 2023/early 2024.
- 01-Jun-2023 - 01-Oct-2025
- Biosemi electroencephalography (EEG) amplifier
- McGeown, William (Principal Investigator) Parra Rodriguez, Mario (Co-investigator) Sakata, Shuzo (Co-investigator)
- 01-May-2023 - 30-Jun-2024
- EPSRC-IAA GSC Citizen Science Project Phase 1 [£9k]
- Robertson, David (Principal Investigator) McGeown, William (Academic) Wodehouse, Andrew (Academic) Lang, Gillian (Research Co-investigator)
- This project installed 4 digital touchscreen kiosks, with research and K.E. content, at the Glasgow Science Centre. During the initial 6-month proof-of-concept phase, the exhibit has recorded more than 10,000 user interactions.
- 05-Oct-2022 - 05-Oct-2024
- Electrophysiological and genetic factors associated with hypnosis and suggestibility.
- McGeown, William (Principal Investigator) Tate, Rothwelle (Co-investigator)
- Electrophysiological and genetic factors associated with hypnosis, suggestibility and hypnotic phenomenolog
- 01-Jun-2019 - 31-Jul-2024
- Doctoral Training Partnership 2018-19 University of Strathclyde | Pinkosova, Zuzana
- Moshfeghi, Yashar (Principal Investigator) McGeown, William (Co-investigator) Pinkosova, Zuzana (Research Co-investigator)
- 01-Oct-2018 - 27-Jan-2023
- An investigation of the neural bases of hypnosis and suggestibility
- McGeown, William (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Apr-2018 - 26-Sep-2021