Behavioural Science and Psychology
Our theme brings together researchers who work on the sciences of mind and behaviour. Our strength is our breadth: from insect behaviour to behaviour change in complex organizations.
Our human research spans fundamental research on psychological processes through to applied psychology. Applied psychology areas of interest include:
- clinical psychology
- forensic psychology
- sports science
- behaviour change
- nutrition
We have strong links to the NIHR funded Behavioural Sciences Policy Research Unit. Its aim is to prevent ill-health and improve health systems. Using behavioural science evidence to inform government policy.
Our non-human work covers a range of insect, mammal and bird species. Through the Comparative Biology Centre we have a range of facilities to do this. Including a breeding colony of European starlings, and an outstation to study jackdaw behaviour.
We are keen to train the next generation of researchers. We host one-year MRes degrees in Evolution and Human Behaviour and Animal Behaviour. We support a community of PhD students. We are part of prestigious doctoral training programmes: the ESRC-funded NINEDTP and the BBSRC-funded NLD doctoral training partnership. Get in touch to discuss future PhD study or a research collaboration.
Research Impact
Our research makes a difference in real-world settings. The diversity of these settings speaks to the breadth of our research expertise. Some of these projects include:
- the development of anti-theft and anti-dog fouling campaigns
- the design of the National Audit of Dementia
- improving motion regulation in footballers
- designing better tools for probing witness memories for faces
- the coach development plans of an elite swimming national governing body
- CPD workshops on managing distress related to the uncertainties associated with the Coronavirus Pandemic for over 1500 NHS practitioners
- applying our research on cooperation to the development of social policy
- training police forces on investigative interviewing
- improving the handling of laboratory rodents
Our research creates fundamental knowledge about human psychological processes. We cover psychology from cognitive, developmental, social and neural perspectives. We have a full range of experimental facilities relating to human psychology. These include access to EEG, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and fMRI.
We have a rich tradition of conducting psychological research in field and community settings. Our members’ research interests include:
- psychophysics and visual cognition
- social cognition and social behaviour
- memory and future-oriented cognition
- olfaction
- hunger, appetite and eating
- individual differences
We run a one-year MRes degree in Evolution and Human Behaviour. We accept PhD students with funding from multiple sources. These include the ESRC-funded NINEDTP and the BBSRC-funded NLD doctoral training partnership.
Our research addresses problems in clinical, forensic, health services and sports domains. Theme members are active in the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. This includes significant collaboration with NHS colleagues and services. We are involved in MSc degrees: Foundations in Clinical Psychology, and Forensic Psychology.
Special areas of interest include:
- affective disorders and intolerance of uncertainty
- eating disorders
- forensic psychology
- the psychology of sports and exercise
- neurodevelopmental disorders
- implementation science
We study a wide range of systems, from locusts, mantids and honeybees, to birds and non-human primates. We investigate the proximate mechanisms underlying behaviour, and evolutionary and comparative questions.
We have dedicated behavioural laboratories containing a range of technologies for recording behaviour. We also have facilities for studying the endocrinological and neural levels.
We run a one-year MRes degree in Animal Behaviour. We host the Leverhulme-funded doctoral programme in behaviour informatics and the multimodal study of behaviour. We also host the ChickenStress European training network.
Special areas of interest include:
- 3D vision
- learning and memory
- prey selection
- foraging and weight regulation
- affect and decision-making
- automatic capture of behaviour
The welfare of all animals is of great public concern. In particular those in laboratories and on farms. Newcastle University is internationally recognised for its strength in animal welfare research.
We conduct research to raise standards of welfare for laboratory animals. This work is in collaboration with the Pain and Animal Welfare Sciences group.
Research into the behaviour of captive animals is essential to assess their welfare. These findings can then inform recommendations for improvements. We are developing a framework to better understand and assess emotion and cumulative stress in animals. This will enable objective welfare assessment in different species. The species we study in a welfare context include non-human primates, rodents, and chickens.
Take Part in Research
Would you like to volunteer to take part in research? We have a database of 1500 people who volunteer their time to take part in our experiments. You will normally need to visit our labs for a few hours. Common tasks include vision or hearing tests, memory or motor tasks. You may complete a task on a computer or even have a brain scan.
All studies are safe and adhere to strict ethical guidelines. Participation is completely voluntary. You can choose which experiments you take part in. To join our list you should be generally healthy with no underlying medical conditions.
To receive emails about studies please sign up using our online form.
If you would like more details or are a researcher interested in using our database please get in touch.
