Biography
Dr. Woodward is a Professor within the Department of Psychiatry in the Faculty of Medicine, a Research Scientist with the BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Institute (BCMHARI), and Centre Investigator with the Brain Research Centre.
The objective of Dr. Woodward’s research program is to gain a functional and anatomical understanding of the functional brain networks that underlie the primary symptoms of psychosis and schizophrenia. Three lines of research are being pursued.
First, the cognitive correlates of the symptoms of psychosis are being explored by way of originally designed cognitive paradigms assessing specific aspects of memory and reasoning. Translation of these results back to people with schizophrenia in a group setting have led to a promising treatment program called metacognitive training (MCT).
Second, functional neuroimaging (fMRI, EEG, MEG) is being utilized to identify the neural underpinnings of these cognitive functions, and how their dysfunction manifests as the symptoms of psychosis, and how they are affected by MCT. Finally, software is being developed for multivariate analysis of functional neuroimaging data (fMRI-CPCA)
