Research News

Bangor's Bilingualism Research is highly influential

Bilingualism: Language and Cognition (BLC), is an international peer-reviewed journal focusing on bilingualism from a cognitive science perspective. An article by Prof. Gathercole of Bangor's Psychology department has been included in a list of editors’ highlights of recent influential articles. Cambridge Journals have provided free access to this article here.

US Award for Expert in Ageing

An internationally recognised expert on ageing and dementia, Professor Bob Woods of Bangor University, is to be the first international recipient of an American Award on Thursday 13 October2011.

Professor Bob Woods, who is Director of Dementia Services Development Centre and Professor of Clinical Psychology of the Elderly at Bangor University is the first international Honouree and speaker at the 10th Annual Reisberg Award and Lecture.

An Honouree for the Award is selected jointly by the "I'm Still Here" Foundation, which supports the care and treatment of the five million people living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States and Dr. Barry Reisberg, Clinical Director of New York University's Aging and Dementia Research Center for annual this award.

The award recognises people who have made distinguished contributions in the area of non-pharmacologic treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

Prof Woods will be addressing professionals and care partners meeting in New York on the topic: Finding hope in dementia care: What difference can we make?

Bob Woods is a clinical psychologist who has been involved in developing and evaluating psychological interventions for people with dementia and their supporters for 35 years. He pioneered an evidence-based approach, notably in relation to cognitive stimulation and reminiscence work. He continues to work clinically and leads an active dissemination programme, including staff training and service development. He has received awards from the British Psychological Society and the Alzheimer’s Society, in recognition of his contribution involved in developing and evaluating.

A First for Gwynedd

The first Age Well Centre in Gwynedd will be officially opened on Wednesday, 12 October, with an Open Day offering special taster sessions and information stalls.

The Centre is situated at Nefyn, on the Llŷn peninsula, which is a joint project, run by Age Cymru Gwynedd a Môn and Bangor University. The Centre is open to anyone aged 50 and over, and offers a variety of activities such as Tai Chi, Arts and Crafts and Environmental projects.

The Centre will be open three days a week – Monday, Wednesday and Friday – from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

“We’re very pleased to be opening this invaluable Age Well Centre, which is located within the brand new Community Centre in Nefyn,” says Age Cymru Gwynedd a Môn Chief Executive, John Clifford Jones. “We hope that it will develop into a vibrant meeting place for the over 50s of the area. We’ll be offering a variety of courses and activities at the Centre, there will be something there for everyone.

“I would also like to thank our partners in this project, Bangor University, for their support. It’s exciting that we can work together to enrich the lives of the over 50s of Gwynedd. The research that the University will be carrying out at the Centre will also provide invaluable information which will, it is hoped, in time, further help the older members of our communities.”

“I'm very excited about this innovative partnership with Age Cymru Gwynedd a
Môn,” says Professor Linda Care, of Bangor University’s School of Psychology. “By working together to help older people maintain their well-being and
quality of life, we will be able to gather firm evidence about the benefits
the AgeWell Centre brings for the over 50s of Gwynedd, which should support
further initiatives in the future.”

Five members of staff will be employed at the Centre, but owing to its range of activities, Age Cymru Gwynedd a Môn are always on the look out for volunteers.

Says Volunteer Co-ordinator Terry Jones, “We’d love to hear from anyone who has some free time to spare. We couldn’t offer the range of services we do without the help of our volunteers. We appreciate every hour of your time. If you’d like to help, please contact us at our base in Caernarfon, tel: 01286 677711 or by e-mail: elaine@acgm.co.uk. Volunteer work is extremely satisfying, and it’s fun! You get to meet so many interesting people.”

International recognition for Food Dudes

The Bangor University academics behind the highly successful Food Dudes programme, which encourages healthy eating choices in young children and their families, are to receive an award for the way that they have adapted their scientific knowledge for a very practical purpose.

Professor Fergus Lowe and Dr Pauline Horne of Bangor University’s School of Psychology are to receive the Scientific Translation Award (Technology Transfer) from the Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Analysis at their Annual Convention in Seattle in the USA in May 2012.

The Award recognises the development and dissemination of the Food Dudes programme. It is awarded to an individual or individuals in the public or private sector who address socially significant problems using methods directly linked to behavioural analysis or that effectively incorporate behavioural principles.

“At a time when obesity rates around the world are trending upwards and children are deprived of important nutrients found in fruit and vegetables, SABA is proud to recognise the achievements of the Food Dudes programme in improving the diets of children in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sicily, and the US. Your integration of behavioural principles through the many components of Food Dudes interventions is a model for others wishing to impact societally important behaviour,” said Maria Malott Secretary of the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis.

“The Food Dudes project is gaining global recognition for the very successful way that it can improve eating habits. As well as winning a World Health Organisation Award for its application in Ireland and winning the UK Chief Medical Officer’s Gold Medal Award, the Food Dudes has been adopted by the European Commission to illustrate how governments in Europe can tackle obesity. This is a project from Bangor University that can make a real impact on the health of people in those societies worldwide that are now faced with such a major obesity challenge. I’m very pleased that the academics involved are receiving the recognition of their professional peers for their contribution,” said Prof John G Hughes, Vice-Chancellor of Bangor University.

Professor Fergus Lowe and Dr Pauline Horne, Directors of Bangor University’s Food and Activity Research Unit, have recently won another prestigious international award. Along with colleagues from the Irish Government and the Irish Fresh Produce industry, they were invited to Istanbul to attend a World Health Organisation European Ministerial Meeting on counteracting obesity at which the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, Dr Marcos Kyprianou, presented the award.

The award was given in recognition of the success of the Food Dudes programme which the Irish Government, in a major project, is now running in primary schools across Ireland. The Food Dudes scheme, which is designed for primary schools, uses four healthy eating cartoon characters - the Food Dudes - and a range of other behaviour change procedures to help children develop a liking for fruit and vegetables, encourage them to eat them at home and be proud that they are healthy eaters.

OBE for Bangor Psychology Professor

Professor Judy Hutchings of the School of Psychology and the Incredible Years Wales centre is to receive an OBE for her services to children and families. Prof Hutchings has been instrumental in introducing Incredible Years programmes which support children and families into Wales as well as measuring their effectiveness.

The Incredible Years Centre at the University researches the effectiveness of the programmes, provides training and also has a charitable arm, IY Cymru Charity, which fundraises for research and dissemination activity and support to services that are using the programmes. Prof Hutchings also heads a newly opened Centre for Evidence Based Early Intervention, which builds on 20 years of research conducted by Prof Hutchings both at the local NHS Trust and the University.

“There is no doubt as to the powerful effect that universities, their teaching, research and activities can have on people’s lives and I am delighted that Professor Hutchings has received such deserving recognition,” said Vice- Chancellor, Professor John G. Hughes."

Bangor Research Officer's Poster Awarded Prize at Magstim 2011 at Oxford University

The poster titled "Comparing the efficacy of anodal and cathodal tDCS: a meta-analysis" was compiled by Dr NJ Davis, Dr HM Morgan and SP Tomlinson working with Prof RM Bracewell and was awarded a cash prize at the prestigous Magstim 2011 held at Oxford University. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) means passing a small current across the brain between two electrodes. It is often thought that the effect of tDCS is reversed when the electrodes are reversed (i.e. when the negative electrode becomes the positive, and vice versa) however their meta-analysis showed that this is not always the case. The group were able to use this meta-analysis to make some recommendations to people using or planning to use tDCS in their experiments and are now preparing their finds for publication."

Food Dudes to rescue children from General Junk

At The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers’ Annual Livery Banquet held at the Mansion House in London on Thursday 17th February 2011, Professor Fergus Lowe, co-director of Bangor University’s successful Food Dudes Programme, addressed a distinguished array of guests who included the Lord Mayor of the City of London and the Sheriffs, the New Zealand High Commissioner, the Dean of Canterbury, four Commanders-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the Commissioner of the City of London Police, senior representatives of the legal profession, Masters of four other livery companies as well as leaders of the fruit industry.

In his address as Guest of Honour, Professor Lowe discussed obesity — the biggest health problem of our times, and how techniques developed by behavioural psychologists can be used to change people’s behaviour in a positive and beneficial way.

The Programme, which is run in primary schools, uses four healthy eating cartoon characters - the Food Dudes – and rewards to encourage children to develop a liking for fruit and vegetables, to encourage them to eat these foods at school and at home, and to be proud that they are healthy eaters. Not only is the Programme enjoyable for children, parents, and teachers, it also brings about major and long lasting increases in children’s consumption of fruit and vegetables, and improvements in the eating habits of parents themselves.

Fergus Lowe told the gathered audience that; “This really is a hugely effective programme that has a major impact on health and well-being. It has the capacity to save huge costs for the NHS and to avoid misery for children and their families. It is
the only intervention we know of in this area that works, despite huge sums of government money having been expended over the years on a whole slew of other initiatives that have proved ineffective in denting the obesity epidemic.”

Professor Lowe concluded his speech by thanking the Fruiterers' Company for providing three years’ funding for a national co-ordinator to roll out the programme in the UK and, in particular, Past Master Sibley and Renter Warden Professor Price for their time and expertise.To date, the Programme has been taken up in all Irish primary schools and has won a World Health Organisation award for its success in overcoming obesity. The scheme has also been rolled out to all schools in Wolverhampton and last year won the Chief Medical Officer’s Gold Medal Award. The team hope that the Food Dudes will be rolled out further across England and Wales and in other countries
over coming years.

There are programmes running in schools in Italy and the United States.

Pictured above right is Professor Fergus Lowe making his address.

Consumer Psychology Graduate Pulls in Two Prestigious Awards

In just his first year on the job, a recent Bangor graduate has played a key role in earning his new employer not one but two national business awards.

Six months ago, Paul Dazeley was finishing his MSc degree in Consumer Psychology and Business at Bangor University. Then he heard about a job opening at Ella’s Kitchen, the organic baby food company based in Henley, near Reading. Paul asked his advisor at Bangor for advice in preparing for the interview.

Dr. James Intriligator, head of the MSc programme, suggested that Paul design some original research just for Ella’s Kitchen, to demonstrate his unique new skills. So Paul quickly created and completed a study of consumer perspectives on baby food manufacturers’ websites. It so impressed Ella’s Kitchen, a company that is committed to putting consumers first, that they offered Paul a job straightaway. After completing his MSc programme with top-marks, he started work at Ella’s Kitchen last June.

New on the job, Paul joined the company’s Head of Making Friends, Nicole McDonnell, to present their pitch for the IGD Food Industry Awards. Up against industry giants like Nestlé and Heinz, the young UK company succeeded, winning the General Mills award for Consumer Understanding. More recently at the National Business Awards, Ella’s Kitchen also won the Blackberry Customer Focus award for small businesses.

By utilizing consumer research, Ella’s Kitchen follows a policy of putting customers at the heart of every decision. As a result, it has seen phenomenal growth in just over 4 years. The brand has achieved a 12% market share of the UK wet baby food market. Every second of every day someone around the world is consuming an Ella’s Kitchen product.

Paul Lindley, Ella’s Dad and founder of Ella’s Kitchen, explains: “Everyone at Ella’s is passionately driven to help babies and toddlers eat better food. We want them to discover that healthy food can be fun, tasty and cool, and that this will in turn develop healthy habits that last a lifetime.”

Paul Dazeley credits Bangor with preparing him for his great early success. “My project goes beyond the usual market research that most companies undertake,” he says. “I’m bringing scientific and psychological methods into a commercial setting to investigate how parents can help their infants to enjoy healthy foods. I’ve really got the right combination of knowledge and skills to help Ella’s Kitchen build on what they’re already doing.”

Bangor’s Dr. Intriligator celebrates Paul’s achievement: “Companies are starting to see how consumer psychology can deepen their understanding and benefit their bottom line. As a result, graduates of our programme are in great demand. I’m really happy for Paul. He was an excellent student and now he’s using what he learned here to achieve his own goals, and that shows what we’re all about.”

Nutrition in Children- Health & Wellbeing Lecture Series

A great opportunity for individuals wishing to learn about how to change children’s eating habits and encourage healthier eating patterns, is being delivered by a member of the award-winning Food Dudes team at Bangor University.

The University have teamed up with Coleg Llandrillo Cymru to deliver a series of monthly Health and Wellbeing lectures at Venue Cymru in Llandudno. The third lecture in this popular lecture series is entitled ‘Nutrition in Children’ and will begin at 6pm on Tuesday, 7th December at Venue Cymru, Llandudno. The first lecture of the evening is delivered by Dr Sally Pears from Bangor University, entitled ‘The Food Dudes Healthy Eating Programme’ and focuses on changing children's eating habits for life. Sally has extensive experience conducting research in the field of cognitive neuroscience as well as experience researching the cognitive and emotional processes operating during episodes of food craving. Dr Pears is currently working in the Bangor Food and Activity Research Unit where she is involved in the development, implementation and evaluation of a school-based healthy eating intervention based on psychological principles of behaviour change.

The lectures are free to attend and open to all, with the series appealing to a broad audience, from health sector employees to expert patients, students and members of the public. Supported by the Aber-Bangor Skills Centre and the National Leadership & Innovation Agency for Healthcare (NLIAH), the lecture series will present cutting-edge research on health and wellbeing topics in a friendly and accessible format.

This lecture is followed by refreshments and an opportunity for networking. The evening will then conclude with an interactive session lead by Coleg Llandrillo Cymru with a special guest lecturer. There will also be opportunities to find out more about health and wellbeing courses at Bangor University and Coleg Llandrillo Cymru.

Dr Keith Griffiths, Executive Director of Therapies & Health Science at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board commented: "this series of lectures are extremely relevant to people working in healthcare, providing education to healthcare workers and to citizens in general. The subject headings should be of interest to the population as a whole in advising them about some high profile heath and wellbeing issues”.

Although the events are free, registration is essential to book your place. Please register by contacting the Aber-Bangor Skills Centre on 01248 365918 or absc@bangor.ac.uk or for further information on the lecture series and the Aber-Bangor Skills Centre, please visit our website: http://absc.bangor.ac.uk

More European Recognition for Bangor's Psychology Department

The 2010 CHE European Excellence Ranking placed 59 European Universities in the "Excellence Group" for Psychology. Of these Bangor's Psychology department was placed in joint third overall (second in UK) in terms of the number of stars it achieved based on the institutional survey and was also placed in the top ten based on the CHE preselection criteria index. Stars are awarded to departments who do particularly well in certain areas and the fact that Bangor has scored so highly in terms of stars awarded is a clear demonstration of the department's overall quality and the international esteem in which its staff and students are held.

The CHE -- Centre for Higher Education Development is an independent institution that is committed to reform of higher education. The CHE Excellence Ranking is intended to help inform students who wish to study beyond undergraduate degree level about the quality of a departments postgraduate teaching and research, as well as academics and non-academic staff interested in finding out the European standing of a particular department. The ranking includes evaluations by students and information about study programmes and teaching, computer and laboratory equipment, research performance and aspects on internationality.
"I am delighted that Bangor Psychology has performed so well in this ranking of elite Psychology departments. The fact that we have achieved 6 stars for the institutional survey section, placing us in joint third overall, is an excellent indication of the quality of the postgraduate and faculty research environment we have to offer. When that is combined with the fantastic natural environment surrounding the university I believe there is no better department in the UK to work for or study in." Prof. Oliver Turnbull, Head of Psychology

Bangor Psychology also has one of the largest student cohorts in the UK and offers UK and International students alike a combination of quality and quantity, in a fantastic natural environment and lively student focused city, simply not available elsewhere.

Gold & Silver International Scholarships for 2011

The School of Psychology is pleased to announce that there are number of International (non EU) Scholarships available for students applying for undergraduate and postgraduate study commencing in September 2011. These will be awarded on a merit basis to the applicant who has completed a scholarship statement and who is deemed to have outstanding qualifications for their chosen programme of study. They are awarded only in the year of entry.

A number of Gold (up to £5K) and Silver (up to £2K) will be awarded by the School. These are available to applicants for all Psychology masters programmes. To apply for one of the Psychology Scholarships, candidates must submit a 500-1000 word statement in support of their application, which answers the following question: Why have you chosen to apply to study Psychology at Bangor?

There are two deadlines for application:
Interim deadline: 1st March 2011 Final deadline: 1st June 2011

Applications received by the 1st March will be considered in the first round of awards. Successful candidates will be informed of the outcome by the 31st March. Any candidates who have not been successful in the first round, will be submitted for further consideration after the final deadline of 1st June, along with those who applied after the 31st March.

Please send the statement, with a short covering letter, to:

Admissions and Marketing Officer
School of Psychology
Bangor University
Brigantia Building
Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2AS
e-mail: psychology@bangor.ac.uk
telephone + 44 (0) 1248 382629
fax + 44 (0) 1248 382599

Language, Cognition and Development seminars

Click here for details of upcoming seminars.

The 2010 School of Psychology Knowledge Transfer Day

Friday, 26th November, Powis Hall, Main Arts Building

Further to the success of the last two year’s KT Days, we are pleased to announce that we are holding another event this year to share the expertise and work of the School of Psychology in relation to psychology in the workplace.

The day will be opened with an address by Prof Dame Carol Black, National Director for Health and Work. The programme will include talks and interactive sessions on the following:

Consumer psychology
Recognising and supporting employees with dyslexia
Positive psychology
Using cognitive psychology in recruitment
Leadership
Mindfulness-based approaches to help combat occupational stress
Opportunities for business-academic partnerships
Worksite interventions for those with alcohol problems
Health services and implementation of research

For a small contribution of £20, you can join a host of like-minded professionals and hear from leaders in their field about how psychology can positively influence you in your workplace. The fee also includes lunch and refreshment breaks.

Please click here for further information and to book your place.

Professor’s ‘Visceral Mind’ Course Attracts Bright Brains to Bangor

The first of a series of prestigious International Summer Schools was held in the School of Psychology at Bangor University from 6-10th September attracting 40 students from 13 countries as far a field as Argentina, Australia, Canada, Cuba, Israel and India. The Visceral Mind course was made possible by a donation in excess of £100K from the James S McDonnell Foundation. The one-week course in functional gross neuroanatomy was based almost entirely on hands-on practica: case conferences, brain dissection, scan reviews and image analysis labs. The course was designed to provide an opportunity for young, bight cognitive neuroscientists from across the world to come to Bangor to increase their knowledge of neuroanatomy under a collection of world-renowned academics from Bangor and beyond.

The programme was built around case conferences in which patients with neurological signs of lesion to a brain system or pathway were interviewed and examined, and in which the techniques of neurological examination and principles of localization were highlighted. The patient’s scans were reviewed for clinico-anatomical correlation relating signs and symptoms to radiological anatomy. This approach really brought neuroanatomy ‘to life’ and made it relevant to the students of cognitive neuroscience. “This key element of the programme would not have been possible without the help of NHS patients who regularly participate in our teaching and research programmes, and we are very grateful to all those who took part” commented the course director Prof. Bob Rafal.
Noting that “there is no substitute for the life-changing experience of dissecting the human brain, and no better way to learn, by both sight and touch, the three-dimensional organ of mind”, Prof Rafal, was joined by Dr C. Harker Rhodes, Co-director of the course and neuropathologist from Dartmouth Medical School in the US, and by other Bangor neuroscientists and anatomists in providing supervised practica in the anatomy laboratory.
The students who attended the Summer School felt that they had an immensely educational and enjoyable experience that will stand them in good stead as they embark on their careers in a wide range of cognitive neuroscience. In the words of Victoria Knowland of the University of London “A foundation in neuroanatomy is both a fascinating and necessary skill base for individuals from every branch of cognitive science. I’ve made valuable connections and, I hope, life long friends and feel immensely privileged to have been a part of this first Visceral Mind boot camp.”

Dr Susan Fitzpatrick, the Vice President of the James S. McDonnell Foundation, whose support made the event possible, was moved to say “It was just so encouraging to see so many bright young minds being turned on to cognitively-informed/functional approaches to brain injury.”

Enabling Alzheimer's Disease patients and families to cope

Providing people with early-stage Alzheimer's Disease with rehabilitation directed towards helping them with everyday activities is an effective means of enabling them and their families to manage the effects of the condition, research at Bangor University has shown.

With increasing numbers among an ageing population expected to develop Alzheimer's and age related dementia and the consequent increased pressure on caring and health related services, it's vital that research establishes the most effective and cost effective methods of providing support to these individuals and their carers.

This particular three year trial at Bangor University's School of Psychology, funded by the Alzheimer's Society, compared a treatment called cognitive rehabilitation against relaxation therapy and no treatment. In the cognitive rehabilitation treatment, participants identified and worked towards goals that they wanted to achieve, with the support of a therapist, so as to manage their everyday activities better.

The results showed that participants rated their performance of activities significantly better after the course of rehabilitation and were significantly more satisfied with how they performed activities. Almost all the selected goals were either fully or partially achieved. Goals were tailored to specific individual needs and preferences, and included things like remembering details of jobs to be done around the house, learning to use a mobile phone, maintaining concentration when cooking, or remembering the names of people at a ‘keep fit’ class. The focus was always on things that were important to the individual.

“Improving performance of everyday activities can help the person to gain enjoyment and satisfaction, and to feel more in control or more independent. This is good for family carers too, and carers also seemed to benefit from the therapist’s visits, rating their quality of life more highly,” explained Professor Linda Clare, who led the research.

"We also used fMRI imaging technology to investigate whether the changes observed in the participants who received cognitive rehabilitation were reflected in changes in how the brain responds to a memory task. We found that the brains of participants who received cognitive rehabilitation did show different responses after the intervention. This suggests that the treatment stimulated greater activity in certain brain areas and networks, reactivating some areas that were under-functioning due to the effects of the disease.”

Staff in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board attended a one-day training course to learn about the cognitive rehabilitation approach.

"It is vital that we find more effective ways of supporting people with Alzheimer’s and other degenerative diseases, and their families. The results of this study show for the first time that cognitive rehabilitation addressing individually-tailored goals can help to maintain or improve aspects of everyday functioning, and may have an effect on how the brain is working too. This is a promising new approach that offers some help to people living with early-stage dementia and their families," commented Dr Bobby Kurian, Consultant Psychiatrist in Old Age Mental at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

A LEAP forward in addiction awareness and control

A study by a team of researchers at Bangor University has designed and tested two programmes that help problem drinkers curb their alcohol abuse. The study shows positive results after drinkers have followed either the Alcohol Attention-Control Training Programme (AACTP) or the Life Enhancement and Advancement Programme (LEAP).

Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) the study designed the two programmes and examined their effectiveness in helping excessive drinkers reduce their drinking. The AACTP and LEAP programmes address the challenges faced by excessive drinkers, including a preoccupation with drinking made worse by alcohol-related stimuli around them. The study also addressed excessive drinkers’ difficulties with motivation which prevent them focusing on and achieving goals which provide alternative healthy activities to drinking alcohol.

The principal researcher, Professor Miles Cox, said: “We are very encouraged by the results. They show that excessive drinkers can reduce their drinking with the aid of the simple training procedures that we developed.”

The main findings from the two programmes were:

the drinkers’ weekly alcohol consumption decreased significantly;
a reduction in alcohol-related problems greatly reduced, and there was an increase in the drinkers’ confidence in their ability to resist a drink in situations previously thought of as high-risk;
drinkers’ motivation to reduce their consumption increased.

Findings from AACTP

a reduction in overall alcohol consumption;
increased confidence in the drinkers’ ability to resist drinking in high-risk situations, such as when feeling socially uneasy or in physical discomfort.

Findings from LEAP

increased motivation of participants to change their drinking habits and reduce alcohol intake.
drinkers were helped to improve their lives and general functioning by breaking the chain of drink-related behaviours.

The impact of this research on how practitioners treat alcohol problems could be wide-ranging with tried-and-tested training programmes used to treat alcohol-related problems much more effectively.

Gwynedd’s use of innovative teaching method for autism reported internationally

The introduction of an innovative teaching method for children with autism to Gwynedd LEA’s bilingual education system is to be discussed at an international conference in Texas, USA.

Dr Elin Walker Jones and her colleagues at Bangor University’s School of Psychology have been developing and researching the use of Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) as the specialist teaching method is called, in Welsh. The introduction of ABA in languages other than English is not well researched. Most of the studies to date have been conducted through English.

The children who participate in ABA programs show improvements in their communication skills and social behaviours. Being able to deliver this specialist teaching method locally using both Welsh and English as appropriate, enables children who need this additional input to stay within their communities.

The project team will be discussing the issues arising from their project translating and adapting ABA into Welsh at an international conference in San Antonio, Texas. They fly to San Antonio on 27 May.

“ABA is proven to be successful with children with autism. It is used widely in the USA and has growing support internationally. This has led to an interest in how it is affected by cultural and linguistic diversity- other papers at the Conference will discuss the use of Spanish in the US,” explained Dr Elin Walker Jones, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Honorary Lecturer at Bangor University.

“This may well be the first time that the Welsh language will have ever been subject to a discussion at this conference, and it is very exciting that the Welsh language is contributing to the wider, international debate regarding cultural and linguistic diversity in ABA,” added project colleague and Bangor Psychology lecturer Dr Maggie Hoerger, BCBA-D.

Bangor University is one of the few Universities in the UK where it is possible to study a Master’s Degree in Applied behavioural Analysis.

'FOOD DUDES’ Scoops Chief Medical Officers Gold Medal

A healthy eating programme established by Bangor University’s School of Psychology has been awarded the top gold medal award at the Chief Medical Officer’s Public Health Awards. The award ceremony held at the Royal College of Physicians recently, acknowledges the efforts of all those working to improve the health of the nation and celebrates innovative and successful public health initiatives.

Professor Fergus Lowe, Head of the Food Dudes team and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Bangor University commented “We are delighted that the Food Dudes project has received this very prestigious award. It should help pave the way for the introduction of the Programme into primary schools across the UK and internationally.”

The Food Dudes programme changes children’s eating habits for life and is designed for children aged 4-11, and involves a simple set of steps revolving around a reward system. The programme works with parents, children teachers and catering staff.

Professor Lowe added: “All projects have to demonstrate three key criteria: evidence of impact, sustainability of the initiative, and how the work is replicable to other settings or areas. The Food Dudes programme continues to gather momentum and is now running overseas in all schools in Ireland and is being introduced to a number of other countries”

The Award was for a particular project promoted by Wolverhampton Primary Care Trust, as part of their strategy to tackle the higher than average level of childhood obesity in the region.

As part of the strategy, the Food Dudes project will be rolled out to all the region’s primary schools. It has already reached 5,000 children, who are already eating more fruit and vegetables. Initial research in six participating schools found that children increase their fruit consumption by 54 per cent and vegetable consumption by 48 per cent.

Gloria Rye, health improvement specialist for Wolverhampton PCT, said: “This project is a life changing experience for all involved. It is absolutely amazing when you can take a child’s perception of ‘yucky’ food and change their views so it becomes ‘cool’ to eat fruit and vegetables.

Group photo left-right:

Ms Charlotte Cameron, Wolverhampton PCT, Prof. Fergus Lowe, Bangor University, Ms Gloria Rye, Wolverhapmpton PCT, Sir Liam Donaldson (Chief Medical Officer), Dr. Louise Massey & Ms Jane Morris , Wolverhampton PCT

Charlotte Cameron, Food Dudes Wolverhampton project manager, with kids (and Gold Medal) at St.Pauls Primary school Wolverhampton.

‘Creative Voices’ exhibition

'Creative Voices' is an exhibition at the Gwynedd Museum and Art Gallery, Bangor that shows how images can be used to help people who have difficulties with memory.

For the past two years there have been two artists in residence at Ysbyty Gwynedd, and the exhibition shows some of the work completed during the residency. One of them, Karen Brett, is a photographer and film-maker with an interest in mental health and ageing. She and Professor Linda Clare, School of Psychology, Bangor University have collaborated in a project based around memory research using SenseCam (a small wearable digital camera that captures images automatically, providing a visual record that can be used to address difficulties with autobiographical memory). Participants who had completed the study agreed to her using the images that had been collected. Karen also completed a project with people who had attended the Memory Clinic. The aim of these collaborative projects, which form part of the exhibition, is to increase public awareness of dementia and memory impairment.

The exhibition, called Creative Voices, runs until 12th June 2010. The gallery is open Tuesday to Friday, 12.30 - 4.30pm, and Saturday, 10.30 to 4.30pm

Psychology Teaching Associate wins New Investigator Award

Image of Fay Short A member of the School of Psychology’s teaching team has been awarded a prestigious prize by the American Psychological Association (APA) in recognition of her work in the field of human perception and performance.

The New Investigator awards are presented annually by five neuroscience related journals, published by the APA, to honour outstanding new investigators.
Dr Fay Short’s paper on "Virtual limbs and body space: Critical features for the distinction between body space and near-body space", which was co-authored by fellow Bangor psychologist Dr Robert Ward, has been awarded the Division of Experimental Psychology 2009 New Investigator Award in Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance.
Describing the award win, Fay said, “It is a great honour for me to receive this prize early in my career as a psychologist, and I am hopeful that it will inspire me to continue conducting research to this high standard.”

Fay first came to Bangor in 1999 after studying at Prestatyn High School and Yale College, Wrexham. She graduated with a First Class Honours Degree (BSc) in Psychology in 2002, completed a Masters in 2003 and received her doctorate in Cognitive Neuropsychology in 2008.

Explaining the findings she presented in her paper, Fay said. “Previous research has found that you are naturally faster at responding to things on your body rather than near your body. Imagine how quickly you would respond to a spider crawling near your hand then imagine how much quicker you would respond to a spider crawling on your hand!

Image of Fay Short “Our research investigates whether it is possible to ‘trick’ your brain into incorporating external objects into the internal representation of your body.”
Describing her research methods she added, “We used virtual reality techniques to determine whether we can encourage our natural bias towards our real body to extend to a virtual body.

“We found that the brain can indeed accept virtual hands as though they are real limbs, even to the extent that responses to targets located on the virtual hands are quicker than responses to targets located near the virtual hands. This has important implications as our findings reveal that this extension of ‘body representation’ is only possible when you have good control over the virtual body.”

In addition to her research interests in body representation, Fay has a strong interest in the field of counselling, is dedicated to the art of teaching and has extensive training in this area. Her current role at Bangor University allows her to focus all of her energy on guiding students towards academic success.

How a candidate moves influences how you vote

The perceived health of an election candidate can predict how people will vote according to recently published research- and voters can form opinions about how healthy a candidate is based solely on the way that person moves.

The voters' conclusions may not be correct- and they may not even be aware that how the candidates moved influenced their decision to vote, but a clear link between how a candidate moves and subsequent voting patterns has been proven for the first time. Apparently, we are more likely to vote for someone who moves in ways that appear healthy to us.

The paper in The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology also provides a clear illustration of how we form subconscious conclusions about other people based on how they move.

Psychologists at Bangor University asked people to view short video clips of Barak Obama and John McCain, or Gordon Brown and David Cameron- with the images converted to stick men - representing only the individual's movement and with the sound removed. People rated the 'stick men' for a range of characteristics including attractiveness, trustworthiness, leadership and physical health. They didn't know who the 'stick men' were, but were asked which one they'd vote for.

The outstanding finding was that the majority voted for the person they'd also rated as most healthy - based on clips of only nine seconds in length. The link between perceived health and voting pattern was far stronger than between leadership and voting.

In an experiment run before the US presidential elections, 63% of those taking part voted for the unidentified 'Obama stick-man' (Obama won 52.7% of the popular votes), In the Brown-Cameron 'stick man run-off', there was no clear majority. This may be because the group as a whole rated both Brown and Cameron equally healthy, based on the clips selected.

The important finding is the link established between the candidate subconsciously perceived as the healthiest and the person's subsequent voting choice.

The paper's lead author, doctoral student Robin Kramer of Bangor University's School of Psychology explains: "It's our opinion about how healthy another person is that influences our voting choice."

"Our experiments focused on very short clips of each speaker. Removing appearance and using solely movement, we were still able to ask participants about their perception of the candidates. In real life people would many more opportunities to see and hear candidates. They'd be taking on other already established influencing factors such as how the candidates sound and dress, as well as considering the policies and parties involved."

"Our results further emphasise that important decisions, like who we vote for, can be influenced by feelings we may be unaware of. Whether a politician appears to be healthy and vital may be completely irrelevant to what they would do in office, yet that appearance may still grab our vote," added co-author, Dr Robert Ward, of the Bangor University's School of Psychology.

The clips used in the experiment can be viewed here:

The paper can be read online here:

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