Expert Witness Journal Issue 65 February 2026 - Flipbook - Page 55
Because, for many years, episodic and semantic
memories were considered to be distinct entities,
a research tradition had developed in which they
are explored separately. The consequence of this
Because, for many years, episodic and semantic
is a lack of within-study designs that tap into both
memories were considered to be distinct entities,
asystems.
research tradition had developed in which they
fMRI is a non-invasive brain imaging technique
that maps brain activity by detecting changes in
blood 昀氀ow, showing which areas are active during
tasks like speaking, moving, or thinking. It works
fMRI is a non-invasive brain imaging technique
by sensing increased oxygen-rich blood 昀氀ow to
that maps brain activity by detecting changes in
activeblood
neurons,
dynamic
3Dare
maps
thatduring
help
昀氀ow, creating
showing which
areas
active
doctors
and
researchers
understand
brain
function,
tasks like speaking, moving, or thinking. It works
plan by
surgeries,
study neurological
conditions.
sensing and
increased
oxygen-rich blood
昀氀ow to
are explored separately. The consequence of this
is a lack of within-study designs that tap into both
systems.
active neurons, creating dynamic 3D maps that help
Dr Roni
Tibon,
Professor
in brain
the School
of
doctors
and Assistant
researchers
understand
function,
plan surgeries,
study
conditions.
Psychology
led the and
study,
sheneurological
said:
“
Dr Roni Tibon, Assistant Professor in the School of
Psychology led the study, she said:
there would be di昀昀erences in brain activity with
“
We were very surprised by the results of this study
as a long-standing research tradition suggested
there would be di昀昀erences in brain activity with
episodic and semantic retrieval. But when we used
neuroimaging to investigate this alongside the task
based study we found that the distinction didn’t exist
and that there is considerable overlap in the brain
involved
in semantic
episodic
retrieval.
Theseregions
昀椀ndings
could
help toandbetter
understand
di昀昀erences in brain activity but any di昀昀erence we
Based on what we already knew from previous
research in this area we really expected to see stark
di昀昀erences in brain activity but any di昀昀erence we
did see was very subtle, I think these results should
change the direction of travel for this area of research
and hopefully open up new interest in looking at both
sides of memory and how they work together.
Dr Roni Tibon,
Assistant Professor in the School of Psychology
If you require an expert let us
do the searching for you
These 昀椀ndings could help to better understand
diseases
dementia so
and
Alzheimer’s as
we can
di昀昀erent
typeslike,
of memory
interventions
could
be
begin to see that the whole brain is involved in the
di昀昀erent types of memory so interventions could be
developed to support this view.”
“
Call the Expert Witness free
telephone searchline on
0161 834 0017
Dr Dr
Linda
Monaci
Linda
Monaci
Consultant
Clinical
Consultant
ClinicalNeuropsychologist
Neuropsychologist
Medico-legal
assessments
knownbrain
braininjury
injuryand/or
and/or
Medico-legal
assessmentsfor
forsuspected
suspected or
or known
brain
dysfunction
in in
Personal
Negligenceclaims
claims
brain
dysfunction
PersonalInjury
Injuryand
and Medical
Medical Negligence
• Acquired
brain
injury
• Acquired
brain
injury
• Cognitive
dysfunction
• Cognitive
dysfunction
• Stroke
• Stroke
• Epilepsy
• Epilepsy
• Mental capacity assessments
• Mental
capacity assessments
• •Post-concussion
syndrome
Post-concussion syndrome
Anoxia
• •Anoxia
•
Dementia
• Dementia
Neuropsychiatric conditions
• •Neuropsychiatric
conditions
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• Alcohol and drug abuse
Medico-legal services: Instructions from Claimants, Defendants and as a Single Joint Expert. Assessments can also be carried out in Italian.
Medico-legal
services: Instructions from Claimants, Defendants and as a Single Joint Expert. Assessments can also be carried out in Italian.
Dr Monaci has a good knowledge of Swedish and Spanish and has experience of working through interpreters.
Dr Monaci has a good knowledge of Swedish and Spanish and has experience of working through interpreters.
Dr Monaci has completed the Cardiff University Bond Solon Expert Witness Certificates.
Dr Monaci has completed the Cardiff University Bond Solon Expert Witness Certificates.
Dr Monaci receives approximately 60-70% instructions from Claimants and 40-30% from Defendants. In April 2024, Dr Monaci counted
Dr Monaci
approximately
instructions
from
Claimants
40-30% were
from as
Defendants.
InClaimant,
April 2024,
DrDefendant
Monaci counted
each receives
new instruction
received in60-70%
the previous
12 months
and
found theand
percentages
follows: 58%
37%
and
5% Jointly
instructed.
In April
2025,
Dr Monaci
thatfound
in thethe
previous
12 months,
theas
split
was divided
as follows: 37%
73% Claimants,
each new
instruction
received
in the
previous
12 calculated
months and
percentages
were
follows:
58% Claimant,
Defendant and
24% instructed.
Defendants In
and
3% 2025,
jointly instructed.
5% Jointly
April
Dr Monaci calculated that in the previous 12 months, the split was divided as follows: 73% Claimants,
24% Defendants
and
3%
jointly
instructed.
Main consulting rooms (nationwide locations):
Consultations for medico-legal services are available in London, Guildford, Horsham, Leatherhead and Southampton.
Main consulting
rooms (nationwide locations):
Assessments in care homes and in individuals' home may also be possible when based on clinical needs.
Consultations for medico-legal services are available in London, Guildford, Horsham, Leatherhead and Southampton.
Clinical services are available in Surrey. Available for travel throughout the UK and abroad.
Assessments in care homes and in individuals' home may also be possible when based on clinical needs.
Clinical
services are availableaddress:
in Surrey. Available for travel throughout the UK and abroad.
Correspondence
Email: linda@monaciconsultancy.com
Correspondence
address:
www.monaciconsultancy.com
Email: linda@monaciconsultancy.com
www.monaciconsultancy.com
EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
53
FEBRUARY 2026
