Another fantastic psychobiology event

The BPS Psychobiology Section annual scientific meeting took place at Anglia Ruskin University on the 5 and 6 of September 2024, attracting around 40 delegates from universities across the UK. Registration opened Thursday morning, followed by a series of open communications chaired by Dr Eimear Lee.

Dr Jessica Eastwood, from the University of Reading, the ECR award winner, presented her research on the cognitive and mood benefits of probiotics in older adults and her colleague Rebecca Colombage, also from Reading, explored flavonoid supplementation's positive impact on the mental health of postpartum parents. 

Dr Philippa Jackson, from Northumbria University, discussed lemon verbena's effects on hyperactivity symptoms in children with sub-clinical ADHD, while Dr Fiona Dodd presented her research on the effects of multi-ingredient tea on sleep and wellbeing.

After a break, the focus shifted to the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Bursary Award winners. Katie Waldron presented her work on improving working memory using transcranial direct current stimulation, and Marisa Soares explored the neural correlates of ASMR. 

Symposium on addiction and substance use

In the afternoon, Dr Kyla Pennington chaired our themed symposium on addiction and substance use in which Dr Cathy Montgomery, from Liverpool John Moores University, discussed the neurocognitive risks of recreational drug use, and Professor Philip Murphy joined us remotely from Edge Hill University to present his data on the psychobiological effects of polydrug use. 

Finally, before lunch, Dr Caroline Copeland, from King's College London, shared some fascinating insights on her work on how drug-related deaths can inform healthcare strategies.

In keeping with the psychobiology tradition, the Thursday afternoon was set aside for social activities. Luckily, the rain held off so that delegates could enjoy a punting trip on the River Cam, providing a relaxing and scenic opportunity for networking and catching up with colleagues old and new. 

Keynote talk on chronic stress

Following on from the popularity of last year's event, the day concluded with a fabulous keynote by Dr Stephen Gallagher, from the University of Limerick. In a session sponsored by Linton Instrumentation, Stephen gave an engaging discussion on chronic stress and its biological impacts on health, with particular focus on the care-giver model of stress. This was followed by a delicious dinner, and the drinks flowed late into the evening.

Friday began with a lively poster session, accompanied by coffee and pastries, allowing attendees to engage with a wide range of research in an informal setting. The morning's talks, chaired by Dr James Jackson, followed, commencing with some of his own research on mindfulness interventions for tinnitus. 

Dr Michael Smith, Ellie Phillips, Professor Mark Wetherell and Dr Richard Stephens all contributed notable research, including studies on writing for stress reduction; incompleteness and sensory phenomena; assessing stress responding during high-fidelity training in prehospital emergency medicine, and the potential effects of swearing on strength. The final morning concluded with the section's annual strategy meeting before a quick lunch and a tour of ARU Biomarker Lab. 

An enjoyable event

As always, the 2024 BPS Psychobiology Section annual scientific meeting was an enjoyable event featuring a wide range of topics from nutritional neuroscience to addiction, cognitive training, and stress management. It was great to see a mix of established academics, early career researchers and students come together in a vibrant, collaborative, and friendly atmosphere, ensuring the event's continued importance in every psychobiology researcher's diary.