Research Excellence Framework (REF) information

The latest national assessment of research excellence (the REF2021) confirmed the high quality of research carried out under the roof of our research centre. Most research we do was submitted under the Unit of Assessment 4: Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience.

Around 44% of our research was rated as internationally excellent or world leading and we saw a significant increase in our research power, a measure of the overall strength of our research. We are now ranked in 37th place (of 93) regarding research power, a jump of 31 places since the REF2014.

From all post-92 institutions our submission was the 4th largest for this Unit of Assessment and we are ranked 8th out of 45 institutions. From the nine submissions in our geographical area our research is ranked 4th strongest.

REF 2021 Psychology Impact Case Studies

Making meditation accessible: Cognitive processes of mindfulness meditation

In several neuroscientific studies we demonstrated that people who meditate for 10 minutes a day for just a few weeks become more aware of their mental processes and respond less impulsively. We summarised these insights in a neurocognitive model that is used worldwide to introduce secular meditation in non-therapeutic contexts:

• Through various communication channels the member of the public as well as employees learn to integrate meditation into their life.
• A German company offers a meditation trainer pathway and employee training programmes to promote meditation in occupational settings and workplaces.
• A Spanish company trains teachers and parents in Spain and Latin America in supporting the neurocognitive development of children.

Funding: BIAL Foundation, Portugal

Staff member: Dr Peter Malinowski

Related publications

• Schöne, B., Gruber, T., Graetz, S., Bernhof, M., & Malinowski, P. (2018). Mindful breath awareness meditation facilitates efficiency gains in brain networks: A steady-state visually evoked potentials study. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 13687
• Pozuelos, J. P., Mead, B. R., Rueda, M. R. & Malinowski, P. (2019). Short-term mindful breath awareness training improves inhibitory control and response monitoring. Progress in Brain Research, 244, 137-163.

Immersive Technology: Using research from Human-Computer Interaction to support business

Immersive technology covers a range of available products, from virtual reality to high-resolution television. This impact case study describes how expertise from the university has been transferred to a number of industrial partners in the UK who are developing these technologies. Expertise in psychophysiology and human-computer interaction has informed the development of software and hardware products designed to improve safety, health and to promote emotional engagement with digital content. This impact case study primarily focuses on transferring expertise from university to SMEs in order to develop products, enhance income generation and create jobs. This transfer of knowledge has been funded directly by SMEs and consolidated by the UK government.

Funding: European Union, EPSRC, BIAL Foundation.

Staff member: Professor Steven Fairclough

Related publications

• Dobbins, C., & Fairclough, S. (2019). Signal Processing of Multimodal Mobile Lifelogging Data Towards Detecting Stress in Real-World Driving. IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing, 18(3), 632–644.
• ‌Ewing, K., Fairclough, S.H. & Gilleade, K. 2016. Evaluation of an adaptive game that uses EEG measures validated during the design process as inputs to a biocybernetic loop. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 10, Article 223

Coproduction within suicide and self-harm research

Suicide is a significant and complex worldwide issue. Our research has made a significant contribution to the policy and practice of introducing new innovative models of care to prevent suicide and self-harm. This work has substantially informed the design and implementation of new innovative services across the North West of England for the management of self-harm and suicide risk and has demonstrably altered practice, both locally, regionally and nationally. Over the past three years, more than 1000 patients have benefitted from these services and findings show a significant reduction in suicidality for men and a reduction in self-harm and attendances to hospital.

Funding: NIHR, Cheshire Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Staff member: Professor Pooja Saini

Related publications

• Saini, P., Clements, C., Gardner, K.J., Chopra, J., Latham, C., Kumar, R., & Taylor, P.J. (2021) Identifying suicide and self-harm research priorities in North West England: a Delphi study. Crisis 43(1), 35-45. 
• Saini, P., McIntyre, J., Corcoran, R., Daras, K., Giebel, C., Fuller, E., Shelton, J., Wilson, T., Comerford, T., Nathan, R., Gabbay, M. (2018). Predictors of emergency department and GP use among patients with mental health conditions: A public health survey. British Journal of General Practice, 70 (e1-e8).

Touch for Life

A sustained programme of research has characterised the functional properties of a special class of touch sensitive nerves, CT afferents, focusing on their neurodevelopmental role. Impact from this research has been achieved via three distinct strands:

• contributing to a national policy for ensuring healthy childhood development by providing evidence of the importance of touch to a child’s mental wellbeing
• implementing and embedding ‘touch practices’ in schools to counter the negative effects of restricting social touch in school children
• invention of tactile stimulation device for use in neonatal care units to stimulate affective touch nerves

Funding: Leverhulme Trust, MRC, BIAL Foundation, BBSRC, Pain Relief Foundation, Salford NHS Trust

Staff members: Dr Susannah Walker, Dr Ralph Pawling, Dr Paula Trotter

Related publications

• Walker, S. C., Cavieres, A., Peñaloza‐Sancho, V., El‐Deredy, W., McGlone, F. P., & Dagnino‐Subiabre, A. (2020). C‐low threshold mechanoafferent targeted dynamic touch modulates stress resilience in rats exposed to chronic mild stress. European Journal of Neuroscience.
• Gursul, D., Goksan, S., Hartley, C., Mellado, G. S., Moultrie, F., Hoskin, A., Adams, E., Hathway, G., Walker, S., McGlone, F., & Slater, R. (2018). Stroking modulates noxious-evoked brain activity in human infants. Current Biology, 28(24), R1380–R1381.