Associate ProfessorSusan Coulson

Project Opportunities

Title: Improving long-term outcomes following lower moror neurone facial nerve paralysis

Summary of opportunity:

Communication is one of the main functions of the human face. We interact with others through facial expressions which occur as a reponse to social situations and environmental stimuli. Expressions can be permanently altered following disorders of the facial nerve in such a way as to cause effects on the patient's quality of life that are both significant and detrimental.

This research aims to understand the cortical impact of facial inerve injury in the acute phase using fMRI and to investigate the effect of early rehabilitation interventions on long-term outcomes.

Opportunity synopsis:

Imagine not being able to smile! The human face is the main focus of interpersonal communication and as a clinician / researcher, my passion for improvng the long-term outcomes of patients with facial nerve paralysis grew from the significant impact on quality of life.