Dr Emma Ward

Associate Professor in Psychology

Emma Ward

  • School Faculty of Science and Technology

  • Department Psychology

  • Location London

Research activities

My research surrounds human memory and cognitive aging. I am particularly interested in the relationship between explicit (e.g., recognition) and implicit (e.g., priming) memory, and the effect of aging on these forms of memory.  

I am also interested in factors that affect memory processing, including incidental versus intentional encoding, attention, processing style, context reinstatement, and temporal expectation. I primarily use experimental behavioural methods to address mechanistic questions about the operations of memory, but have recently begun to employ EEG in collaboration with colleagues in the department to examine the neural basis of the beneficial effect of rhythm on memory.

Enquiries from potential PhD or MSc by research applicants who wish to undertake research in one of these areas are welcome.

Current and recent projects: 

  • Effects of rhythmic encoding on recognition memory, and interactions with factors including ageing and spatial attention (Funded by the BIAL Foundation and the Experimental Psychology Society. In collaboration with Dr Alexander Jones and Dr Jon Silas, Middlesex)
  • The benefit of music therapy on cognition and wellbeing in individuals with mild to moderate dementia (Funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust. In collaboration with Dr Fabia Franco and Dr Eris Chinellato, Middlesex; Methodist Homes Association; University of Padova; University of Brussels; Paris)
  • Explicit and implicit memory across the lifespan (Funded by the Leverhulme Trust and Experimental Psychology Society. In collaboration with UCL and the University of Plymouth)
  • Context reinstatement effects on item and associative memory 
  • Aging, wellbeing, and cognition (e.g., frailty assessment, geriatric depression)

    • Other roles:

    REF2021 Deputy Coordinator for UoA4

    Middlesex Psychology Department Leadership Team: Director of Research, 2017-Present

    External Examiner, Second Year BSc Psychology, UCL, 2019-2023

    Member of the Experimental Psychology Society (EPS)

    Member of the European Cognitive Aging Society (EUCAS)

    Specialist journal reviewer: Psychology and Aging; Memory; Journal of Alzheimer's disease; Memory and Cognition; Frontiers in Psychology; Journal of Memory and Language; Nature Scientific Reports

    Associate  Editor, Frontiers in Cognition (2014-2016)

    Review Editor, Frontiers in Psychology, Psychology of Aging (2021-Present)


    Current Teaching

    PhD Supervision:

    I welcome enquires from prospective PhD students with an interest in undertaking research on memory or cognitive ageing. Of particular interest are topics around explicit (conscious, declarative) and implicit (unsoncsious, nondeclarative) memory, including changes in these forms of memory with age. I'm also interested in memory processing, and the effects of attention, processing style, context, and temporal expectation. 

    MSc by Research in Cognitive Neuroscience:

    Operated through the Jones, Silas, & Ward Lab, we welcome enquiries from prospective students. Broad staff expertise and techniques mean that a range of topics are possible. Further information here. 

    Current & Past Research Students:

  • Director of Studies for PhD student Maryam Al-Abdulla (Effects of aging and processing style on priming and recognition) (Completed 2024)
  • Director of Studies for MSc by Research student Nicola Lloyd (Effects of temporal structure on item and source recognition) (Completed 2023)
  • Supervisory panel for PhD student Murad Ali (A User-guided Personalization Methodology for New Smart Homes) (Completed 2022)
  • Director of Studies for MSc by Research student Petter Moller (Effects of temporal structure on recognition in aging) (Completed 2021)

    • Biography

    Dr Ward joined Middlesex University in September 2013. Prior to this she was based at the University of York (2012-2013), and completed her PhD on the distinction between explicit and implicit memory at University College London (2009-2012).

    BSc, MSc, PhD, PGCHE

    Prizes and Awards

  • European Cognitive Aging Society Presidential Award , European Cognitive Aging Society, 2019

    • Publications

    View publications