Elysia Sokolenko

Research Interests

Basic Pharmacology Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology Biological Psychology Brain Central Nervous System Mental Health Neurocognitive Patterns and Neural Networks Neurosciences Pathology Physiology Psychiatry Neuroscience, Behaviour and Brain Health

Dr Elysia Sokolenko

Lecturer and Research Coordinator

School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science

College of Health

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.

I completed a PhD at the University of Melbourne in 2019 exploring the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. More specifically, I examined whether there is a causal relationship between  disruptions to oscillatory electrical activity in the brain and working memory impairment in the disorder. Through this project, I developed expertise in a number of pre-clinical and laboratory-based skills, including awake in vivo electrophysiology recordings and rodent behavioural testing.

I have since transferred these skills to the clinical context, currently acting as a research coordinator in Adelaide Medical School's Discipline of Psychiatry. I am the local site coordinator for a nation-wide clinical trial assessing whether a novel type of non-invasive brain stimulation could help people on the autism spectrum. For additional details, see the study website www.tmsautism.com. 

I have a keen interest in exploring how differences in the electrical activity of the brain underlie the symptoms of psychiatric disorders and the often associated cognitive impairment,.

Research projects available

Title: Does repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improve social communication (rTMS)  in adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder?
Project description: This is a nation-wide clinical trial. As well as assessing social communication, neuroimaging, cognitive testing, and electroencephalography (EEG) will be performed to assess the impact of rTMS. Students involved in this project will observe and assist with assessments, complete data entry, and conduct a literature relevant to the project.
Project available for: Third-year research placement, Summer Research Scholarship program.

Date Position Institution name
2021 - ongoing Research coordinator University of Adelaide
2020 - ongoing Lecturer University of Adelaide
2020 - 2021 Research officer University of Adelaide
2020 - 2020 Tutor and course assistant University of Adelaide

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2023 Award Best Early Career Researcher Datablitz The Australian Society for Social and Affective Neuroscience Australia -
2020 Teaching Award Special Commendation COVID-19 Emergency Teaching Response University of Adelaide Australia -
2019 Award Annual Meeting Travel Award International Behavioural Neuroscience Society United States -
2016 Scholarship Australian Postgraduate Award/Research Training Program Scholarship University of Melbourne Australia -

Date Institution name Country Title
2016 - 2020 University of Melbourne Australia PhD (Neuroscience)
2015 - 2015 University of Melbourne Australia Bachelor of Science (Hons)
2010 - 2013 University of Queensland Australia Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)/Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science)

Date Title Institution name Country
2020 ICH E6 GCP Training Health Translation South Australia Australia
2019 Mental Health First Aid Mental Health First Aid Australia Australia

Year Citation
2025 Kamath, S., Sokolenko, E., Collins, K., Chan, N. S. L., Mills, N., Clark, S. R., . . . Joyce, P. (2025). IUPHAR Themed Review: The Gut Microbiome in Schizophrenia.. Pharmacological Research, 211, 107561-1-107561-13.
DOI Scopus13 WoS10 Europe PMC10
2025 Kamath, S., Sokolenko, E., Clark, S. R., Cross, C. B., Scott, J., Wardill, H. R., . . . Joyce, P. (2025). Distinguishing the causative, correlative and bidirectional roles of the gut microbiota in mental health. nature mental health, 3(10), 1137-1151.
DOI
2024 Ciobanu, L. G., Baryshnikova, N. V., Jawahar, M. C., Toben, C. G., Sokolenko, E., Arnet, V. K., . . . Clark, S. R. (2024). Pre-COVID life expectancy, mortality, and burden of diseases for adults 70 years and older in Australia: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease 2019 Study. The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific, 47, 101092-1-101092-14.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC3
2023 Bennett, D., Nakamura, J., Vinnakota, C., Sokolenko, E., Nithianantharajah, J., van den Buuse, M., . . . Hill, R. (2023). Mouse behaviour on the trial-unique non-matching-to-location (TUNL) touchscreen task reflects a mixture of distinct working memory codes and response biases.. J Neurosci, 43(31), 5693-5709.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC4
2022 Miles, B., Yang, W., Dezsi, G., Sokolenko, E., Gomes, F. M. M., Jupp, B., . . . Jones, N. C. (2022). High sucrose diet does not impact spatial cognition in rats using advanced touchscreen technology. Behavioural Brain Research, 418, 10 pages.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC2
2020 Hudson, M. R., Sokolenko, E., O'Brien, T. J., & Jones, N. C. (2020). NMDA receptors on parvalbumin-positive interneurons and pyramidal neurons both contribute to MK-801 induced gamma oscillatory disturbances: Complex relationships with behaviour. Neurobiology of Disease, 134, 1-13.
DOI Scopus28 WoS28 Europe PMC29
2020 Sokolenko, E., Nithianantharajah, J., & Jones, N. C. (2020). MK-801 impairs working memory on the Trial-Unique Nonmatch-to-Location test in mice, but this is not exclusively mediated by NMDA receptors on PV+ interneurons or forebrain pyramidal cells. Neuropharmacology, 171, 11 pages.
DOI Scopus11 WoS11 Europe PMC10
2019 Sokolenko, E., Hudson, M. R., Nithianantharajah, J., & Jones, N. C. (2019). The mGluR₂⁄₃ agonist LY379268 reverses NMDA receptor antagonist effects on cortical gamma oscillations and phase coherence, but not working memory impairments, in mice. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 33(12), 1588-1599.
DOI Scopus21 WoS21 Europe PMC16

Year Citation
2023 Arthurs, E., Goldsworthy, M., Sokolenko, E., Schubert, K. O., Tan, K. T., Bol, D., & Clark, S. (2023). Frontal Alpha Asymmetry as a Biomarker of Symptoms, Cognition, and Function in Mood Disorders. Poster session presented at the meeting of Society for Social and Affective Neuroscience. Adelaide.

Course coordinator:

  • Foundations of Human Neuroanatomy (ANAT SC 2006)
  • Essentials of Neuroscience (HLTH SC 1001)

Contributing lecturer:

  • Medical Studies 2A (MEDIC ST 2501)
  • Research Skills Modules across Bachelor of Medical Studies Program
  • Neurological Diseases (PATHOL 3200)
  • The Neuroscience of Human Behaviour and Cognition (ANAT SC 2110)

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2023 Co-Supervisor Neurophysiology of Cognitive Reserve and Working Memory in Ageing Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Victoria Prowse

Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
2022 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Theory of Mind in Autism Spectrum Disorder The University of Adelaide - Other Full Time Wytse Gensemer
2022 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Frontal alpha asymmetry as a biomarker of symptoms, cognition, and function in mood disorders The University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Ethan Arthurs
2021 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Polygenic risk for schizophrenia and brain function: an EEG study University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Thomas Eblinghaus
2021 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Using biophysical models to predict patterns of TMS evoked EEG activity University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Jack Stevenson

Date Role Committee Institution Country
2023 - ongoing Member Conference Local Organising Committee The Australasian Society for Social and Affective Neuroscience Australia
2022 - ongoing Member Biological Psychiatry Australia Early Career Researcher Network Biological Psychiatry Australia Australia
2022 - ongoing Member South Australia Neuroscience Alliance South Australia Neuroscience Alliance Australia
2022 - ongoing Member Brain Bee Challenge South Australia Organising Committee Australasian Neuroscience Society Australia
2021 - ongoing Chair Biological Psychiatry Australia Early Career Researcher Network Biological Psychiatry Australia Australia

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