QMUL Centre for Brain and Behaviour News

Tiny insect brain discovery offers a blueprint for faster and more efficient AI and robots

Mon, 04 May 2026 23:00:00 +0100

The secret behind insects' lightning fast reactions could offer a blueprint for more energy efficient robots and self-driving cars, according to a new study challenging our understanding of how brains process information. The secret behind insects' lightning fast reactions could offer a blueprint for more energy efficient robots and self-driving cars, according to a new study challenging our understanding of how brains process information. Published in Nature Communications , the research from Queen Mary University of London, and the University of Sheffield shows that house flies and fruit flies do not process visual information passively, as previously believed. Rather than simply watching the world, insects twitch their bodies in sync with what they see. These tiny, jerky movements, such as rapid movements of the eyes called saccades, help their brains receive clearer, faster information about the world around them. By studying flies' brains and eyes, observing their behavior and building digital simulations, researchers discovered a previously unknown 'turbo boost' feature called high-frequency jumping. While nerves usually send information to the brain at a steady pace, this feature allows an insect's visual system to shift gears during fast movement - tripling the speed of data sent to the brain to effectively eliminate delays. This mechanism allows insects to react in milliseconds, sometimes even before visual signals have been fully delivered. Beyond biology, the research has implications for artificial intelligence and robotics. Current AI systems often rely on large-scale computation and data processing, which can be slow, energy-intensive and expensive. In contrast, insect brains achieve superior performance using minimal resources by tightly coupling sensing and action. This suggests that future AI systems - particularly those used in robotics, autonomous vehicles and real-time decision-making - could be revolutionised by adopting similar principles of movement-driven, adaptive information processing. Professor Mikko Juusola, senior author of the study from the University of Sheffield, said: "Our findings reveal a fundamentally new way of thinking about how brains compute information - one where speed and efficiency emerge from active interaction with the environment. We've demonstrated how even the smallest brains can solve complex problems at extraordinary speeds. "It shows that vision is not limited by the speed at which insect brains process information. Instead, the brain automatically speeds up to keep pace with the body, cutting out lag and making sure information flows as quickly as possible." The study shows that when an insect makes a sharp turn, its brain 'jumps' into a higher gear. This opens up more room for data, allowing the insect to focus on the most important, fast-moving information. The University of Sheffield's Dr Jouni Takalo, who led the development of the biophysically realistic statistical model underlying the work, said: "Our model shows how thousands of tiny sensors work together to reshape visual signals. By acting as a team, these sensors can instantly shift their focus to where it's needed most. This allows the insect to produce fast, reliable reactions even when moving at high speeds in the wild." Crucially, this mechanism enables insects to overcome physical and neural constraints that would otherwise limit their perception. This supports behaviours such as high-speed flight, predator avoidance and precise navigation in complex environments. The findings challenge traditional models of neural processing, which assume that information flows through fixed pathways with built-in delays. Instead, the results support a new framework where sight is a collective effort between an insect's movement, its visual input and its brain's response. The findings could revolutionise AI and robotics, suggesting that future robots can be smarter and more efficient by using movement to gather relevant information, rather than relying on huge, energy-hungry computer networks. Lars Chittka, Professor in Sensory and Behavioural Ecology at Queen Mary University of London, said: "Flies don't see the world like a camera taking snapshots. Their vision is tightly intertwined with action, using motion itself to sharpen perception and speed up neural processing. Understanding how biology achieves this kind of predictive, low‑delay sensing could inspire new approaches in artificial vision and neuromorphic engineering." Professor Aurel A. Lazar, co-author from Columbia University, New York, said:"Nature shows us that intelligence doesn't come from processing more data, but from processing the right data at the right time. By integrating movement directly into computation, biological systems achieve extraordinary efficiency. "These principles could guide the design of faster, more robust and energy-efficient AI systems."

Marcus Pearce delivers keynote address at two conferences

Sun, 03 May 2026 23:00:00 +0100

Marcus Pearce has delivered two keynote addresses at the Society for Education, Music and Psychology Research (SEMPRE) 2026 conference at the University of Cambridge and at the International Conference on Music and Sleep at Aarhus University, Denmark. These presentations follow the publication of his book Learning to listen, listening to learn by Oxford University Press.

New journal Advances in Pollinator Research launched by Centre for Biodiversity and ...

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Pollinators comprise a taxonomically diverse group – including insects, mammals, birds, and more rarely, amphibians, reptiles, and even gastropods – that support wild plant communities and underpin global food production systems. Today, a new journal has been lauched dedicated to the study of this essential ecosystem compoment: Advances in Pollinator Research. CBS member Dr Rachel Parkinson is on the founding Editorial Board Team as Subject Editor, and has been involved with the journal's initiation. The first article in the journal, co-authored by Dr Parkinson, explain how the journal aims to transform how pollinator science is shared and translated into real-world action.

Why ADHD is often diagnosed later in women: A conversation with Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Emily Bates was diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at the age of 34. In a recent Nature Outlook programme, Ms Bates reflects on how her symptoms were easy to miss earlier in life - from appearing like a "model student" at school to coping by leaving work until the very last minute, and how receiving a diagnosis helped her make sense of her long-standing struggles. To understand why this is such a common story for women, Bates spoke with Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Queen Mary University of London, whose research examines ADHD across the lifespan, with a particular focus on girls and women. Dr Agnew-Blais explains that historically, ADHD has often been thought of as a condition affecting "the hyperactive boy" – stereotypically, the child who can't sit still and disrupts the classroom. Girls, on the other hand, are more likely to show a presentation that is predominantly inattentive, and may seem "daydreamy" or quietly distracted rather than outwardly disruptive. In practice, this means their difficulties can draw less attention from teachers and parents, allowing symptoms to go unnoticed for longer. Dr Agnew-Blais highlights evidence that when ADHD is missed earlier on, women are more likely to receive a diagnosis of depression or anxiety, and to have received treatments such as antidepressants, before ADHD is recognised. She also notes that women are more likely than men to discontinue antidepressants after receiving an ADHD diagnosis suggesting "perhaps there's some kind of misdiagnosis, [or] diagnostic overshadowing going on - especially for women, prior to receiving their ADHD diagnosis". Alongside improving understanding of the "missed" presentation of ADHD in girls and women, Dr Agnew-Blais's research addresses a major gap in the evidence base: how ADHD relates to women's health across hormonal transitions such as puberty, the menstrual cycle, and menopause. This has informed new work including the Measuring Adult ADHD and Menstruation (MAAM) study (https://www.adhdlifelab.com/maam-study), which investigates whether ADHD symptoms, medication effectiveness, and day-to-day functioning among women with ADHD change across the menstrual cycle. By building evidence in an area that has historically been under-researched, Dr Agnew-Blais's work aims to support earlier recognition and better-tailored support for women with ADHD, and to help ensure their experiences are reflected in research and clinical care. Watch the full interview: https://fb.watch/EYw3fbpU6F/

Grant on Identification of Sensory-Motor Patterns of Autism

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Ekaterina Ivanova and Rachael Bedford have been awarded a grant from the QMUL CIRCLE Fund to run a pilot study to identify the Sensory-Motor Patterns of Autism. It runs until the end of 2026, and is worth £7,873.16 The main objective of the project is to investigate differences in interaction motion patterns between neurotypical and autistic adults. Haptic communication (HC), the exchange of task-relevant information through touch and forces, is fundamental to human motor interaction and supports motor performance and learning, yet its characteristics in autistic adults remain unexplored. Autism affects social and motor coordination, potentially altering haptic communication patterns. This pilot study will systematically compare Haptic communication in autistic and neurotypical adults, generating proof-of-concept data on measurable visuomotor differences. Findings will establish the feasibility of this approach and provide preliminary evidence to inform larger-scale studies, ultimately aiming to develop objective, motion-based biomarkers for earlier, more efficient autism diagnosis. The project team includes Dr Ekaterina Ivanova (EECS, QMUL), with expertise in Haptic communication and human-robot interaction, physiological data analysis, and computational modelling, and Prof Rachael Bedford (SBBS, QMUL), whose research focuses on transdiagnostic mechanisms in developmental conditions and identifying modifiable factors for personalised interventions. Their combined expertise ensures rigorous pilot testing and assessment of feasibility.

Research work in the Centre for Brain and Behaviour explores the pathways from neurodivergent ...

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0100

To mark UK Disability History Month, which runs from November 20 to December 20, we showcase the research of Giorgia Michelini, a senior lecturer in the Centre for Brain and Behaviour. Dr Michelini leads research on the lived experience of neurodivergent adolescents and young adults from diverse ethnic backgrounds, in collaboration with QMUL Disability and Dyslexia Services. A recent paper, soon to appear in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Phychiatry, written in collaboration with colleagues from the Centre for Brain and Behaviour and King's College London, explores the pathways from neurodivergent traits to mental health outcomes, highlighting the role of sleep as an important factor influencing mental health in neurodivergent young people. To learn more about disability, particularly the support provided to staff, visit the Staff Disability Networkpages.

The Official Launch of the Centre for Brain and Behaviour

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 23:00:00 +0100

The Centre for Brain and Behaviour (CBB) held an official launch event "Mind, Tech, and Wellbeing" in Octagon, QMUL, on the 29th September, 2025. Attended by more than 100 staff members, PhD students, and external guests from psychology and neuroscience-related industries, charities and science media, the event provided an opportunity to celebrate the Centre's innovations and impact. The event started with an introduction from the leadership team, Dr Valdas Noreika and Professor Rachael Bedford, laying out the CBB's vision: "To advance our understanding of psychology, neuroscience and behaviour, aiming to address urgent societal challenges" and key research themes. This was followed by presentations from prominent academics within the CBB, including Professor Rachael Bedford's work on the impact of digital media on infant sleep and wellbeing; Dr Annemieke Apergis-Schoute's interventions for helping OCD patients; Dr Lucie Charles' research program on decision-making, metacognition and misinformation. Professor Isabelle Mareschal's research on how adversities, war, displacement and climate change, affect mental health in children and adolescents; Professor Lars Chittka's findings on the perception and intelligence of bees; and Professor Caroline Brennan explaining how zebrafish genetics and neuroscience can help us to understand the human brain and psychiatric conditions. Talks were followed by an interactive poster session with more than 20 academics from the CBB introducing their research programs. Dr Elisabetta Versace and the Prepared Minds lab gave engaging demos of their work, while Professor Andrea Benucci demonstrated a fully automated setup with voluntary head fixation that he and his team developed to train mice in complex perceptual tasks. External guests also took part in guided lab tours where they got up close with the latest research conducted in the Child Development Lab, the Somatosensory Lab, the Exercise Lab, and the Sleep Lab. These and other facilities enable our research into topics such as early child development, mental health and sleep deprivation, and the relationship between physical movement and cognition and social interaction. Centre lead Dr Valdas Noreika said: "It was a pleasure to show our guests all the ways we are working together to address urgent societal challenges and ultimately improve human wellbeing. We are excited to strengthen the existing and build new collaborations with industries and charities, which is helping us to bridge from the basic research to applied psychology and neuroscience."

Positive Balance project team wins prestigious international award for dancer wellbeing programme

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 23:00:00 +0100

We are delighted to announce that Rosie Davis, a PhD student from the School of Biological and Behavioural sciences (Dr Versace lab) has been selected as one of only three recipients of the Linda & William Hamilton Annual Dance Wellness Symposium, which will take place at the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS) 35th Annual Conference in Las Vegas later this month. Positive Balance is a psychoeducational programme for the physical and psychological wellbeing of pre-professional dancers based on positive psychology. Pre-professional adolescent dancers face many challenges to their wellbeing, including performance pressures, injuries, homesickness, and the physical demands of training. Positive Balance combines positive psychology, which helps dancers recognise their existing personal strengths and positive emotions, with psychoeducation, using practical strategies to manage their own wellbeing. The programme was delivered to adolescent dancers across pre-professional ballet schools, with feedback gathered from both the dancers and healthcare professionals to refine the activities. It included interactive and reflective tools which encouraged dancers to explore new strategies for approaching challenges using their existing character strengths and positive emotions. Results of a randomised controlled trial showed that Positive Balance supported an increase in dancers' knowledge and practice of positive psychology techniques. Positive Balance highlights the role of psychoeducation in enhancing both the physical and psychological wellbeing of young dancers. By tailoring activities to their lived experiences, Positive Balance empowers dancers to make more informed choices, fostering positive emotions and promoting healthier wellbeing habits. The programme was the result of a fruitful collaboration between the School of Biological and Behavioural Science, the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, English National Ballet School and Royal Ballet School bringing together expertise in adolescent wellbeing, behavioural science, psychology, physiotherapy and dance science. This was chosen from more than 100 abstracts worldwide, an achievement that recognises the excellence and originality of the project. As part of the award, Rosie will receive a $1,000 prize and a travel grant to present the project at the symposium, and all co-authors will be recognised with a certificate of achievement. The award ceremony will take place during the IADMS Conference on Thursday 25 September at 5:45pm, where Rosie and the other symposium recipients will be formally recognised. Huge congratulations to the entire project team Rosie Davis (SBBS, Dr Versace Lab), Jieying Huang (SBBS, Dr Versace Lab), Dr Giorgia Michelini (SBBS), Juncal Roman (English National Ballet School), Karen Roman (Royal Ballet School), Christian Uitzinger (Royal Ballet School), Dr Manuela Angioi (FMD), and Dr Elisabetta Versace (SBBS).

Dr Lucie Charles awarded Best Article Award by the Psychonomic Society

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 23:00:00 +0100

Dr Charles, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, was awarded the Best Article Award by the Psychonomic Society. She was jointly awarded with Brian Maniscalco the Psychonomic Bulletin & Review Best Article award, for her article Optimal metacognitive decision strategies in signal detection theory. The Psychonomic Society Best Article Award recognises the best article published in each of the Psychonomic Society's journals during the last year.

Centre for Electronics Team Advances Fall Prevention with Radar-Enabled Home Monitoring

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 23:00:00 +0100

A multidisciplinary team from Queen Mary University of London's Centre for Electronics has co-authored a groundbreaking study that could transform how we prevent falls among older adults. The paper, "Reimagining falls prevention with insights from systems mapping on the use of millimetre-wave radar for remote health monitoring," published in Scientific Reports (Nature, 2025), explores how smart radar sensors can move fall prevention from reactive care to proactive monitoring. Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and loss of independence in older adults worldwide. Current systems rely heavily on self-reporting, wearable devices, or emergency responses after a fall has already occurred. This new research takes a different approach; combining millimetre-wave radar sensing with systems mapping to identify where technology can make the greatest impact in reducing fall risks before they happen. The study brings together expertise from engineering, health sciences, and data modelling, with major contributions from Dr Elif Dogu, Professor Akram Alomainy, and Dr Khalid Z. Rajab of Queen Mary's Centre for Electronics. Dr Dogu led the development of the systems-mapping framework that reveals how health, environment, and mobility factors interact. Professor Alomainy and Dr Rajab contributed their world-leading expertise in millimetre-wave radar technology, demonstrating how unobtrusive, contact-free sensors could continuously monitor mobility and detect early signs of deterioration; all without requiring the person to wear a device or change their daily routine. This fusion of engineering innovation and health systems research marks a significant step toward smarter, more human-centred healthcare. Scientifically, it advances the use of radar for remote physiological monitoring, offering new insights into how we can track subtle changes in movement and behaviour. Societally, it opens the door to safer, more independent living for older adults and could help reduce the burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Professor Alomainy commented that the work "shows how cutting-edge wireless technologies can be designed around people, not just data; creating intelligent environments that support wellbeing and dignity as we age." This research embodies the spirit of interdisciplinary innovation that defines Queen Mary: engineering solutions built with empathy and designed to make a real difference in people's lives. Read the paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-14416-y