Personal profile
Research overview
The focus of the lab is to try and understand the neural mechanisms that support our ability to remember the things that have happened to us – episodic memory. Most of our work takes a systems neuroscience approach to examine how networks within the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex process memory information. We use in vivo electrophysiology to examine firing patterns of individual neurons as lab rats carry out memory tasks. We also use molecular and genetic tools to manipulate the network and understand the cellular mechanisms underlying episodic memory.
Complimenting the neuroscientific approach, other lines of research in the lab examine the cognitive mechanisms underlying episodic memory in both human adults and children. Ultimately, we aim to apply this work by using our knowledge of mammalian memory networks to help test therapeutic strategies for disorders of memory such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Research interests
The focus of the lab is to try and understand the neural mechanisms that support our ability to remember the things that have happened to us – episodic memory. Most of our work takes a systems neuroscience approach to examine how networks within the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex process memory information. We use in vivo electrophysiology to examine firing patterns of individual neurons as lab rats carry out memory tasks. We also use molecular and genetic tools to manipulate the network and understand the cellular mechanisms underlying episodic memory.
Complimenting the neuroscientific approach, other lines of research in the lab examine the cognitive mechanisms underlying episodic memory in both human adults and children. Ultimately, we aim to apply this work by using our knowledge of mammalian memory networks to help test therapeutic strategies for disorders of memory such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Academic/Professional Qualification
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Grid cell distortion is associated with increased distance estimation error in polarised environments
Duncan, S., Kuruvilla, M., Thompson, B., Bush, D. & Ainge, J., 6 Oct 2025, In: Current Biology. 35, 19, p. 4810-4819 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Participation in a nationwide workplace step count competition is associated with improved physical fitness and mental wellbeing: a longitudinal, repeated-measures analysis
Warne, S. J., Ainge, J. A. & Ozakinci, G., Jun 2025, In: Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 22, 6, p. 726-736 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
“I think office environments aren't really conducive to physical activity”: a qualitative interview study with participants of a workplace physical activity programme
Warne, S., Ainge, J. & Ozakinci, G., 6 Nov 2025, In: BMC Public Health. 25, p. 1-16 16 p., 3803.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Context in memory is reconstructed, not encoded
Easton, A., Horner, A. J., James, S. J., Kendal, J., Sutton, J. & Ainge, J. A., 1 Dec 2024, In: Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. 167, 6 p., 105934.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Increased flexibility of CA3 memory representations following environmental enrichment
Ventura, S., Duncan, S. & Ainge, J., 6 May 2024, In: Current Biology. 34, 9, p. 2011-2019Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile
Datasets
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Participation in a Nationwide Workplace Step Count Competition is Associated with Improved Physical Fitness and Mental Wellbeing: A Repeated-Measures Analysis (dataset)
Warne, S. (Creator), Ainge, J. (Creator) & Ozakinci, G. (Creator), University of St Andrews, 19 Mar 2025
DOI: 10.17630/7462a34b-647c-44c5-91b7-77022a82a21d
Dataset
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Data underpinning Maneesh Kuruvilla's PhD thesis
Kuruvilla, M. V. (Creator) & Ainge, J. A. (Supervisor), University of St Andrews, 5 Jul 2026
DOI: 10.17630/dc8dcdac-9962-462d-a0f8-92115cd0a44a
Dataset: Thesis dataset
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Lateral entorhinalcortex lesions impair odour-context associative memory in male rats
Persson, B. M. (Contributor), Ambrozova, V. (Contributor), Duncan, S. (Contributor), Wood, E. (Contributor), O'Connor, A. R. (Contributor) & Ainge, J. (Creator), University of St Andrews, 2 Mar 2022
DOI: 10.17630/8d6d7a80-25f4-4f1e-8a96-c433a4916c8b
Dataset
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Increased flexibility of CA3 memory representations following environmental enrichment (dataset)
Ventura, S. (Contributor), Duncan, S. (Contributor) & Ainge, J. (Creator), University of St Andrews, 26 Apr 2024
DOI: 10.17630/afc19f9e-d927-4f15-a1d1-fbe17d84b989
Dataset
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Fan cells in layer 2 of lateral entorhinal cortex are critical for episodic-like (dataset)
Vandrey, B. M. (Creator), Garden, D. L. F. (Creator), Ambrozova, V. (Creator), McClure, C. (Creator), Nolan, M. (Creator) & Ainge, J. A. (Creator), University of Edinburgh, 2019
DOI: 10.7488/ds/2629
Dataset
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Link between neurogenesis and memory: Using continuous monitoring of rodent behaviour to examine the link between neurogenesis and memory
Ainge, J. (PI)
1/11/20 → 31/07/21
Project: Standard
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James Ainge award for Maneesh Kuruvilla: XISF3 account - James Ainge
Ainge, J. (PI)
1/02/18 → 31/12/18
Project: Standard
Activities
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Talk at Alzheimer's Research UK Network Conference
Ainge, J. (Speaker)
20 Aug 2024 → 24 Aug 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Presentation
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Talk at The Brain Health Summit in St Andrews
Ainge, J. (Speaker)
10 May 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Presentation
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Representing Memory Workshop
Ainge, J. (Participant)
2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in or organising a workshop, seminar, course
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PhD examiner at University of Pisa
Ainge, J. (External examiner)
2024Activity: Examination types › External examination
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Cafe Scientifique
Ainge, J. (Participant)
2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in or organising a public festival/exhibition/event
Prizes
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Lifetime Fellowship at the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of Durham
Ainge, J. (Recipient), 2021
Prize: Other distinction