Towards a better anus – how bioengineering can help incontinence

Internal anal sphincter muscle tissue was engineered from human smooth muscle cells with a view to investigating viable replacement sphincter tissue for patients with incontinence.

A bug's life – how ants maintain constant energy expenditure over hilly terrain

Holt N., Askew G. (2012). Locomotion on a slope in leaf-cutter ants: metabolic energy use, behavioral adaptations and the implications for route selection on hilly terrain. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 215: 2545-2550 Details Customer study highlights Ants – more often associated with...

Drugs that make you smarter

Cognitive enhancing drugs offer symptomatic relief from mental fatigue and cognitive decline in early-stage brain diseases. This study shows the how a novel cognitive enhancing drug, ST101, exerts its effects on the brain at cellular and molecular levels.

Heavy metal - you can't rock to this

This study reports on findings that lead-toxicity causes Parkinsonian-like symptoms, which were partly explained through changes in neuronal firing patterns in a part of the brain called the subthalamic nucleus.

Controlling a robot via brainwaves

This study investigated whether EEMD-matched filter signal analysis techniques, applied to visual-evoked potentials, would yield improved information transfer rates that would more easily allow a person's 'brainwaves' to control a small robot car.

Contagious facial expressions reveal the power of a smile

Behavioral mimicry is an important element of human social interaction – but what drives it? This study shows that perceived reward has a powerful influence on how we mimic facial expressions in others.

I don’t care about the color of your rubber hand

Over a decade ago the rubber hand illusion was discovered. Since then, studies have investigated the neurophysiological and cognitive basis for the body-ownership illusion. This study investigated whether skin colour of the hand mattered.

Predicting emotions from autonomic arousal

Do particular extremes of emotions generate signature autonomic changes? If so, 'reading' people's physiological responses could provide insight into emotional status. Henderson et al (2012) examined this possibility using the microneurography technique.

Stress alters sensory circuits in the spinal cord and brainstem

This paper shows that the link between psychological stress and hyperalgesia is partly mediated by overactive spinomedullary processing pathways.

Artificial tongue to replace taste testers?

The goal of this research was to test the viability of a novel artificial mouth and tongue device, which may have potential applications in the food and flavor industry.

Crayfish weaponry - bigger isn't always better, or is it?

This study investigated the relationship between the size of crayfish weaponry and pincer grip force.

Cardiovascular system adapts to microgravity environment during space flight

This study investigated the occurrence of cardiovascular deconditioning among astronauts during long-duration space flight (up to 180 days).

Key blood vessel relaxation factor identified

Researchers find evidence for a crucial role of PKGI-α oxidation in blood pressure regulation.