Bernard Borserio is a new Masters of Science (Neuroscience) student in the BBRG, who also works as a Support Facilitator with the national Partners in Recovery mental health program to assist those with severe and persistent mental health concerns and complex needs access the right supports and live meaningful, self-directed lives.

Bernard’s MSc research is focused on the role of the default mode network (DMN) in depression. The DMN is a group of brain areas which show organised activity, particularly when the brain is at rest. This network then generally becomes less active during cognitive tasks which require attention; however, it has also been shown to play a role in self-related thoughts and memories as well as emotion processing. This presents several interesting hypotheses linking differences in DMN activation to the development and lived experience of depression. Bernard is using electroencephalography (EEG) to demonstrate differences between the DMN activity of people experiencing depression and those who are not, as well as between different depression subtypes. 

Bernard believes strongly in recovery-based, strengths-focused practice and believes that the development and communication of neuroscience research and has a lot to offer people with a lived experience of mental illness.

Outside of the office/laboratory Bernard keeps himself busy adventuring with his partner, and playing piano with jazz bands and alternative rock group “The Winds”. He also extends his skills as a carer into the animal world, fostering and looking after rescue animals.