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Department News

Empathic comforting varies more within bonobo and chimpanzee species than between them

Researchers have offered new insight into how our closest ape relatives - bonobos and chimpanzees – show empathy towards each other through consolatory behaviours. 
Apes embracing

Helping the rehabilitation of people with partial visual loss

Award-winning research by our psychologists has led to the development of an app to help with the rehabilitation of people with partial visual loss following brain injury. Called DREX - Durham Reading and Exploration - the free app increases general vision-related functioning and thereby confidence, independence, and quality of life.
Digital brain illustation in red and blue

Apes show similar interaction patterns to humans

A new study led by experts from our Psychology Department has revealed that apes such as chimps and bonobos show striking similarities to humans in how they interact using signals.
An ape scratching its nose

New research advances understanding of negative social contact

New research, by our Department of Psychology, has found that negative social contact among people of differing societal or cultural groups can have a disproportionate negative effect on broad social cohesion within communities.
A group of people in a social situation

Ups and downs in mood may affect performance in ultramarathons

Many long-distance runners will know how it feels for that little voice in your head to make you feel good one minute and terrible the next. Now a new study carried out with ultrarunners shows how beneficial it may be to try and keep your mood as stable as you can during a race as it could help to achieve a faster time.
A woman running an ultra marathon

Durham Psychologist to take on new President role

We’re celebrating the news that a leading academic from our Department of Psychology has been elected as the next president of the European Brain and Behaviour Society (EBBS).
Professor Alex Easton smiling for a camera

Children’s views could help shape better mask design

A new study from our Psychology Department has found that children’s views on the design and comfort of air pollution masks could be key to encouraging their regular use.
A child wearing K95 mask

Does a mother’s stress and depression affect how her unborn baby moves?

New research from our Psychology and Mathematical Sciences departments found that stress and/or depression during pregnancy, affects how much unborn babies touch and engage in the womb.

Strengthened connections with the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras

We are delighted to announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras).
A group of people standing in front of a sign that says Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Working together with people in secure mental health units to stay healthy

We’re collaborating with the NHS to empower people in secure mental health units get the exercise that they need to stay healthy.
Looking down a hospital ward.

Can bad weather really cause headaches?

In this article, Professor Amanda Ellison explores the connection between headaches and the weather, and explains how to reduce the impact that headaches have on our daily lives.
Student listening in a lecture

Fellowship honour for two leading academics

We’re celebrating the news that Professor Deborah Riby from our Department of Psychology, and Associate Professor Nadia Siddiqui from our School of Education, have both been elected to Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences, in recognition of excellence in their respective fields, and their wider contributions to the social sciences for public benefit.
Image of Professor Deborah Riby and Associate Professor Nadia Siddiqui
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