Biological Psychology

Major programmes in Behavioural Neuroscience and Human Nutrition form the mainstay of current departmental research in Biological Psychology. This work involves close collaboration with other departments at Leeds and, worldwide, with many research teams based in universities, institutes and industry. Our studies in behavioural neuroscience (eg social behaviour, anxiety, depression, feeding) adopt an ethological perspective in the design and analysis of drug effects on behaviour (ethopharmacology); in contrast to more traditional methods, this demands a sound understanding of the ecology of the species under investigation, together with an intimate knowledge of its behavioural repertoire.

Ongoing clinically-relevant studies include work on innate predator recognition mechanisms and their application in the search for novel treatments for panic disorder; the mechanisms and ecological significance of endogenous analgesia systems; the neurochemistry of offense, defence and sociability; and the ecological and pharmacological validation of models of anxiety and depression; and drugs and the female reproductive cycle. Our Biological Psychology Group has a major interest in mechanisms of human appetite control. Current studies in our new Human Nutrition laboratory involve the investigation of dietary fat and fat substitutes, carbohydrates and sweeteners, non-digestible polysaccharides, caffeine, physical exercise, smoking and the role of serotonergic mechanisms. Additional work in this field encompasses the relationship of nutrition to menstrual health. This body of research is supported by animal studies on the fundamental neurochemical systems which regulate food intake. This entire programme is designed to advance our understanding of the expression of appetite and to help combat disorders of appetite and body weight. Other research programmes in biological psychology encompass the application of nonlinear modelling to human and animal behaviour, in addition to the design and application of tests for the study of drug effects on human psychomotor and cognitive function.