Simon Wilton Davis | Scholars@Duke

Simon Wilton Davis
Assistant Professor in Neurology

My research centers around the use of structural and functional imaging measures to study the shifts in network architecture in the aging brain. I am specifically interested in changes in how changes in structural and functional connectivity associated with aging impact the semantic retrieval of word or fact knowledge. Currently this involves asking why older adults have particular difficulty in certain kinds of semantic retrieval, despite the fact that vocabularies and knowledge stores typically improve with age.

A second line of research involves asking questions about how this semantic system is organized in young adults, understanding which helps form a basis for asking questions about older adults. To what degree are these semantic retrieval processes lateralized? What cognitive factors affect this laterality? How are brain structures like the corpus callosum involved in mediating distributed activation patterns associated with semantic retrieval?

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Assistant Professor in Neurology, Neurology, Behavioral Neurology, Neurology 2016
Assistant Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Brain Stimulation and Neurophysiology, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences 2017
Member of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences 2016

Contact Information

B243q LSRC, Durham, NC 27708
DUMC Box 2900, Bryan Research Building, Rm 227E, Durham, NC 27708
simon.davis@duke.edu (919) 668-2299

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., Duke University 2011
Recognition
In the News
- SEP 20, 2017 Duke Neurology
  
  Brain Halves Increase Communication to Compensate for Aging, Study Finds
Expertise
Subject Headings
- Research
Research
Selected Grants
- Impact of Timing, Targeting, and Brain State on rTMS of Human and Non-Human Primates awarded by National Institutes of Health 2017 - 2021
- Bilateral Brain Dynamics Supporting Cognition in Normal Aging and Dementia awarded by National Institutes of Health 2017 - 2021
- Using fMRI-guided TMS to increase central executive function in older adults awarded by National Institutes of Health 2015 - 2020
- Role of white-matter connectivity on age-related reorganization of brain networks awarded by National Institutes of Health 2008 - 2011
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Academic Articles
  - Fuhrmann, Delia, David Nesbitt, Meredith Shafto, James B. Rowe, Darren Price, Andrew Gadie, Andrew Cam-CAN, and Rogier A. Kievit. “Strong and specific associations between cardiovascular risk factors and white matter micro- and macrostructure in healthy aging..” Neurobiol Aging 74 (February 2019): 46–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.10.005.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Beynel, L., S. W. Davis, C. A. Crowell, S. A. Hilbig, W. Lim, D. Nguyen, H. Palmer, et al. “Online repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation during working memory in younger and older adults: A randomized within-subject comparison..” Plos One 14, no. 3 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213707.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Davis, Simon W., Amanda Szymanski, Homa Boms, Thomas Fink, and Roberto Cabeza. “Cooperative contributions of structural and functional connectivity to successful memory in aging..” Netw Neurosci 3, no. 1 (2019): 173–94. https://doi.org/10.1162/netn_a_00064.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Davis, S. W., C. A. Crowell, L. Beynel, L. Deng, D. Lakhlani, S. A. Hilbig, W. Lim, et al. “Complementary topology of maintenance and manipulation brain networks in working memory..” Sci Rep 8, no. 1 (December 13, 2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-35887-2.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Neacsiu, Andrada D., Bruce M. Luber, Simon W. Davis, Elisabeth Bernhardt, Timothy J. Strauman, and Sarah H. Lisanby. “On the Concurrent Use of Self-System Therapy and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as Treatment for Depression..” J Ect 34, no. 4 (December 2018): 266–73. https://doi.org/10.1097/YCT.0000000000000545.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Monge, Zachary A., Matthew L. Stanley, Benjamin R. Geib, Simon W. Davis, and Roberto Cabeza. “Functional networks underlying item and source memory: shared and distinct network components and age-related differences..” Neurobiol Aging 69 (September 2018): 140–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.05.016.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Wang, Wei-Chun, Erik A. Wing, David L. K. Murphy, Bruce M. Luber, Sarah H. Lisanby, Roberto Cabeza, and Simon W. Davis. “Excitatory TMS modulates memory representations..” Cogn Neurosci 9, no. 3–4 (July 2018): 151–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/17588928.2018.1512482.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Green, Emma, Holly Bennett, Carol Brayne, Carol Cam-CAN, and Fiona E. Matthews. “Exploring patterns of response across the lifespan: the Cambridge Centre for Ageing and Neuroscience (Cam-CAN) study..” Bmc Public Health 18, no. 1 (June 19, 2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5663-7.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Wang, Wei-Chun, Erik Wing, David L. K. Murphy, Bruce Luber, Sarah Lisanby, Roberto Cabeza, and Simon Davis. “Excitatory TMS Boosts Memory Representations,” March 10, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1101/279547.
    Full Text
  - Davis, Simon W., Erik A. Wing, and Roberto Cabeza. “Contributions of the ventral parietal cortex to declarative memory..” Handb Clin Neurol 151 (2018): 525–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-63622-5.00027-9.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Davis, Simon W., Bruce Luber, David L. K. Murphy, Sarah H. Lisanby, and Roberto Cabeza. “Frequency-specific neuromodulation of local and distant connectivity in aging and episodic memory function..” Hum Brain Mapp 38, no. 12 (December 2017): 5987–6004. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.23803.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Davis, S., A. J. Allen, R. O’Leary, M. Power, D. A. Price, A. J. Simpson, A. Tunbridge, et al. “Diagnostic accuracy and cost analysis of the Alere™ i Influenza A&B near-patient test using throat swabs..” J Hosp Infect 97, no. 3 (November 2017): 301–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2017.05.017.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Kievit, Rogier A., Simon W. Davis, John Griffiths, Marta M. Correia, Marta M. Cam-Can, and Richard N. Henson. “Erratum to "A watershed model of individual differences in fluid intelligence" [Neuropsychologia 91 (2016) 186-198]..” Neuropsychologia 106 (November 2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2017.09.032.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Price, D., L. K. Tyler, R. Neto Henriques, K. L. Campbell, N. Williams, M. S. Treder, J. R. Taylor, J. R. Cam-CAN, and R. N. A. Henson. “Age-related delay in visual and auditory evoked responses is mediated by white- and grey-matter differences..” Nat Commun 8 (June 9, 2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15671.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Samu, Dávid, Karen L. Campbell, Kamen A. Tsvetanov, Meredith A. Shafto, Meredith A. Cam-CAN consortium, and Lorraine K. Tyler. “Preserved cognitive functions with age are determined by domain-dependent shifts in network responsivity..” Nat Commun 8 (May 8, 2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms14743.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Luber, Bruce M., Simon Davis, Elisabeth Bernhardt, Andrada Neacsiu, Lori Kwapil, Sarah H. Lisanby, and Timothy J. Strauman. “Reprint of ''Using neuroimaging to individualize TMS treatment for depression: Toward a new paradigm for imaging-guided intervention''..” Neuroimage 151 (May 1, 2017): 65–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.03.049.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Luber, Bruce M., Simon Davis, Elisabeth Bernhardt, Andrada Neacsiu, Lori Kwapil, Sarah H. Lisanby, and Timothy J. Strauman. “Using neuroimaging to individualize TMS treatment for depression: Toward a new paradigm for imaging-guided intervention..” Neuroimage 148 (March 1, 2017): 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.12.083.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Davis, Simon W., Matthew L. Stanley, Morris Moscovitch, and Roberto Cabeza. “Resting-state networks do not determine cognitive function networks: a commentary on Campbell and Schacter (2016)..” Lang Cogn Neurosci 32, no. 6 (2017): 669–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/23273798.2016.1252847.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Wolpe, Noham, James N. Ingram, Kamen A. Tsvetanov, Linda Geerligs, Rogier A. Kievit, Richard N. Henson, Daniel M. Wolpert, Daniel M. Cam-CAN, and James B. Rowe. “Ageing increases reliance on sensorimotor prediction through structural and functional differences in frontostriatal circuits..” Nat Commun 7 (October 3, 2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms13034.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Kievit, Rogier A., Simon W. Davis, John Griffiths, Marta M. Correia, Marta M. Cam-Can, and Richard N. Henson. “A watershed model of individual differences in fluid intelligence..” Neuropsychologia 91 (October 2016): 186–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.08.008.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Henson, Richard N., Karen L. Campbell, Simon W. Davis, Jason R. Taylor, Tina Emery, Sharon Erzinclioglu, Sharon Cam-CAN, and Rogier A. Kievit. “Multiple determinants of lifespan memory differences..” Sci Rep 6 (September 7, 2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep32527.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Campbell, Karen L., Dávid Samu, Simon W. Davis, Linda Geerligs, Abdur Mustafa, Lorraine K. Tyler, and Lorraine K. for Cambridge Centre for Aging and Neuroscience. “Robust Resilience of the Frontotemporal Syntax System to Aging..” J Neurosci 36, no. 19 (May 11, 2016): 5214–27. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4561-15.2016.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Campbell, Karen L., Meredith A. Shafto, Paul Wright, Kamen A. Tsvetanov, Linda Geerligs, Rhodri Cusack, Rhodri Cam-CAN, and Lorraine K. Tyler. “Idiosyncratic responding during movie-watching predicted by age differences in attentional control..” Neurobiol Aging 36, no. 11 (November 2015): 3045–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.07.028.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Geerligs, Linda, Mikail Rubinov, Mikail Cam-Can, and Richard N. Henson. “State and Trait Components of Functional Connectivity: Individual Differences Vary with Mental State..” J Neurosci 35, no. 41 (October 14, 2015): 13949–61. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1324-15.2015.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Tsvetanov, Kamen A., Richard N. A. Henson, Lorraine K. Tyler, Simon W. Davis, Meredith A. Shafto, Jason R. Taylor, Nitin Williams, Nitin Cam-Can, and James B. Rowe. “The effect of ageing on fMRI: Correction for the confounding effects of vascular reactivity evaluated by joint fMRI and MEG in 335 adults..” Hum Brain Mapp 36, no. 6 (June 2015): 2248–69. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.22768.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Davis, Simon W., and Roberto Cabeza. “Cross-hemispheric collaboration and segregation associated with task difficulty as revealed by structural and functional connectivity..” J Neurosci 35, no. 21 (May 27, 2015): 8191–8200. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0464-15.2015.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Daselaar, Sander M., Vijeth Iyengar, Simon W. Davis, Karl Eklund, Scott M. Hayes, and Roberto E. Cabeza. “Less wiring, more firing: low-performing older adults compensate for impaired white matter with greater neural activity..” Cereb Cortex 25, no. 4 (April 2015): 983–90. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bht289.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Kievit, Rogier A., Simon W. Davis, Daniel J. Mitchell, Jason R. Taylor, John Duncan, John Cam-CAN Research Team, Richard N. A. Henson, and Richard N. A. Cam-CAN Research Team. “Distinct aspects of frontal lobe structure mediate age-related differences in fluid intelligence and multitasking..” Nat Commun 5 (December 18, 2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms6658.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Madden, David J., Emily L. Parks, Simon W. Davis, Michele T. Diaz, Guy G. Potter, Ying-hui Chou, Nan-kuei Chen, and Roberto Cabeza. “Age mediation of frontoparietal activation during visual feature search..” Neuroimage 102 Pt 2 (November 15, 2014): 262–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.07.053.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Shafto, Meredith A., Lorraine K. Tyler, Marie Dixon, Jason R. Taylor, James B. Rowe, Rhodri Cusack, Andrew J. Calder, et al. “The Cambridge Centre for Ageing and Neuroscience (Cam-CAN) study protocol: a cross-sectional, lifespan, multidisciplinary examination of healthy cognitive ageing..” Bmc Neurol 14 (October 14, 2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-014-0204-1.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Davis, Simon W., Jie Zhuang, Paul Wright, and Lorraine K. Tyler. “Age-related sensitivity to task-related modulation of language-processing networks..” Neuropsychologia 63 (October 2014): 107–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.08.017.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Hall, Shana A., David C. Rubin, Amanda Miles, Simon W. Davis, Erik A. Wing, Roberto Cabeza, and Dorthe Berntsen. “The neural basis of involuntary episodic memories..” J Cogn Neurosci 26, no. 10 (October 2014): 2385–99. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_00633.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Whalley, Matthew G., Marijn C. W. Kroes, Zoe Huntley, Michael D. Rugg, Simon W. Davis, and Chris R. Brewin. “An fMRI investigation of posttraumatic flashbacks..” Brain Cogn 81, no. 1 (February 2013): 151–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2012.10.002.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Davis, Simon W., James E. Kragel, David J. Madden, and Roberto Cabeza. “The architecture of cross-hemispheric communication in the aging brain: linking behavior to functional and structural connectivity..” Cereb Cortex 22, no. 1 (January 2012): 232–42. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhr123.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Cantlon, Jessica F., Simon W. Davis, Melissa E. Libertus, Jill Kahane, Elizabeth M. Brannon, and Kevin A. Pelphrey. “Inter-Parietal White Matter Development Predicts Numerical Performance in Young Children..” Learn Individ Differ 21, no. 6 (December 2011): 672–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2011.09.003.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Madden, David J., Matthew C. Costello, Nancy A. Dennis, Simon W. Davis, Anne M. Shepler, Julia Spaniol, Barbara Bucur, and Roberto Cabeza. “Adult age differences in functional connectivity during executive control..” Neuroimage 52, no. 2 (August 15, 2010): 643–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.04.249.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Davis, Simon W., Nancy A. Dennis, Norbou G. Buchler, Leonard E. White, David J. Madden, and Roberto Cabeza. “Assessing the effects of age on long white matter tracts using diffusion tensor tractography..” Neuroimage 46, no. 2 (June 2009): 530–41.
    Link to Item
  - Madden, David J., Julia Spaniol, Matthew C. Costello, Barbara Bucur, Leonard E. White, Roberto Cabeza, Simon W. Davis, Nancy A. Dennis, James M. Provenzale, and Scott A. Huettel. “Cerebral white matter integrity mediates adult age differences in cognitive performance..” J Cogn Neurosci 21, no. 2 (February 2009): 289–302. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn.2009.21047.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Davis, S. W., N. A. Dennis, S. M. Daselaar, M. S. Fleck, and R. Cabeza. “Qué PASA? the posterior-anterior shift in aging.” Cerebral Cortex 18, no. 5 (May 1, 2008): 1201–9. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhm155.
    Full Text
  - Davis, Simon W., Nancy A. Dennis, Sander M. Daselaar, Mathias S. Fleck, and Roberto Cabeza. “Que PASA? The posterior-anterior shift in aging..” Cereb Cortex 18, no. 5 (May 2008): 1201–9. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhm155.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Leow, Alex D., Igor Yanovsky, Ming-Chang Chiang, Agatha D. Lee, Andrea D. Klunder, Allen Lu, James T. Becker, Simon W. Davis, Arthur W. Toga, and Paul M. Thompson. “Statistical properties of Jacobian maps and the realization of unbiased large-deformation nonlinear image registration..” Ieee Trans Med Imaging 26, no. 6 (June 2007): 822–32. https://doi.org/10.1109/TMI.2007.892646.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Simons, Jon S., Simon W. Davis, Sam J. Gilbert, Chris D. Frith, and Paul W. Burgess. “Discriminating imagined from perceived information engages brain areas implicated in schizophrenia..” Neuroimage 32, no. 2 (August 15, 2006): 696–703. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.04.209.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Becker, James T., Simon W. Davis, Kiralee M. Hayashi, Carolyn Cidis Meltzer, Arthur W. Toga, Oscar L. Lopez, Paul M. Thompson, and Paul M. Imaging Methods and Analysis in Geriatrics Research Group. “Three-dimensional patterns of hippocampal atrophy in mild cognitive impairment..” Arch Neurol 63, no. 1 (January 2006): 97–101. https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.63.1.97.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Carmichael, Owen T., Howard A. Aizenstein, Simon W. Davis, James T. Becker, Paul M. Thompson, Carolyn Cidis Meltzer, and Yanxi Liu. “Atlas-based hippocampus segmentation in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment..” Neuroimage 27, no. 4 (October 1, 2005): 979–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2005.05.005.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Leow, Alex, Sung-Cheng Huang, Alex Geng, James Becker, Simon Davis, Arthur Toga, and Paul Thompson. “Inverse consistent mapping in 3D deformable image registration: its construction and statistical properties..” Inf Process Med Imaging 19 (2005): 493–503.
    Link to Item
- Conference Papers
  - Davis, Simon, Eduardo Salgado, Nourhan M. Elsayed, and Douglas E. Williamson. “F113. Hippocampal Connectivity Insulates High-Risk Adolescents From the Relationship Between Stress and Depressive Symptoms.” In Biological Psychiatry, 83:S281–S281. Elsevier BV, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.02.726.
    Full Text
  - Deng, Zhi-De, Simon Davis, Amanda Szymanski, Conor Liston, and Marc Dubin. “T176. Controllability of Structural Brain Networks in Depressed Patients Receiving Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.” In Biological Psychiatry, 83:S196–S196. Elsevier BV, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.02.513.
    Full Text
  - Brooks, Jeffrey, Simon Davis, Jessica Komes, and Roberto Cabeza. “NEURAL CORRELATES OF THE OWN-AGE BIAS IN YOUNGER AND OLDER ADULTS.” In Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 35–35. MIT PRESS, 2013.
    Link to Item
  - Hall, Shana, Amanda Miles, Simon Davis, Dorthe Berntsen, Roberto Cabeza, and David Rubin. “AN FMRI INVESTIGATION OF THE NEURAL BASIS OF INVOLUNTARY MEMORY: HOW DO THEY DIFFER FROM ESTABLISHED VOLUNTARY MEMORY NETWORKS?.” In Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 110–110. MIT PRESS, 2013.
    Link to Item
  - Madden, David, Simon Davis, and Roberto Cabeza. “AGE-RELATED DIFFERENCES IN THE FUNCTIONAL NEUROANATOMY OF TOP-DOWN ATTENTIONAL CONTROL DURING VISUAL SEARCH.” In Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 62–63. MIT PRESS, 2013.
    Link to Item
  - Yanovsky, I., M. C. Chiang, P. M. Thompson, A. D. Klunder, J. T. Becker, S. W. Davis, A. W. Toga, and A. D. Leow. “Quantifying deformation using information theory: The log-unbiased nonlinear registration.” In 2007 4th Ieee International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging: From Nano to Macro Proceedings, 13–16, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISBI.2007.356776.
    Full Text
  - Leow, A., S. C. Huang, A. Geng, J. Becker, S. Davis, A. Toga, and P. Thompson. “Inverse consistent mapping in 3D deformable image registration: Its construction and statistical properties.” In Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 3565:493–503, 2005.
  - Liu, Y., L. Teverovskiy, O. Carmichael, R. Kikinis, M. Shenton, C. S. Carter, V. A. Stenger, et al. “Discriminative MR image feature analysis for automatic schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease classification.” In Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 3216:393–401, 2004.
  - Price, J. C., S. K. Ziolko, L. A. Weissfeld, W. E. Klunk, X. Lu, J. A. Hoge, C. C. Meltzer, et al. “Quantitative and statistical analyses of PET imaging studies of amyloid deposition in humans.” In Ieee Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, 5:3161–64, 2004.
Teaching & Mentoring
Recent Courses
Advising & Mentoring
Available to mentor:
- Affiliate
- PhD
- Post-Doc
- Undergraduate

Some information on this profile has been compiled automatically from Duke databases and external sources. (Our About page explains how this works.) If you see a problem with the information, please write to Scholars@Duke and let us know. We will reply promptly.

Education, Training, & Certifications

In the News

Subject Headings

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Academic Articles

Conference Papers

Recent Courses

Advising & Mentoring

Available to mentor: