1. Faculty of Medicine and Health
  2. School of Psychology
  3. Research and innovation
  4. Research facilities

Research facilities

Image representing faciltites available to research students at the University of Leeds

Within the School of Psychology we work with a number of specialist facilities which advance our understanding and shape the work of our different areas of research. Some of the stand out facilities used by our research team and in collaboration with our research partners are highlighted below.

The Human Appetite Research Unit uses the following equipment/potential measurement techniques:

  • iDXA for bone mineral density and body composition
  • Bodpod for body composition
  • Bioelectrical impedance for body composition
  • Blood pressure and resting heart rate measurement techniques
  • Two clinical kitchens for preparation of test meals
  • 9 testing cubicles
  • An exercise laboratory with treadmills/exercise bikes/crosstrainers/rowers etc
  • Fitness testing equipment – Vmax Encore, Heart rate monitors
  • Physical Activity devices – wearable technology to measure physical activity, sedentary behaviour and posture
  • Gas Exchange Monitors to measures resting energy expenditure
  • Handheld devices to measure subjective appetite ratings – hunger, fullness etc
  • Biochemistry room – to enable blood samples to be taken, processed and stored in –80degree freezer. We can measure HBA1c and glucose in-house
  • Social eating room
  • Eating behaviour trait characteristic questionnaires

In the Brain and Behaviour Laboratory we have:

  • Eyelink 1000Hz eye-tracker (SR Research Ltd)
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator (TMS, MagStim Rapid2)
  • Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) System (Artinis Ltd, Oxymon)
  • Button boxes and touch-screens
  • Cognitive/motor testing software

In the Perception, Action, Cognition Lab we use:

  • Optotrac system for measuring limb motion.
  • Transcranial magnetic stimulation facilities – for studies modulating neural responses

Two polysomnography kits to measure overnight sleep:

  • The Embletta MPR is from Embla and the full equipment is called Embletta MPR PG & ST+ Proxy (we have a REMlogic software license for this-can go on two computers max)
  • The Morpheus is from Micromed (not Embla)

In the Multisensory Unit (MU) we have:

  • WorldViz Walking Virtual Reality (VR) system: 2x Oculus Rift systems, one with integrated eye-tracker, 4 camera whole room motion tracking system, & 5DT wireless gloves for hand motion tracking. VR software: Vizard (WorldViz)
  • Pressure pain simulator

In the EEG lab we have:

  • BioSemi 64 Channel system

In the Driving lab we have:

  • Fixed-Base L-Shape Cave Driving Simulator. Consists of 2 projectors, a height adjustable driving seat, and a Logitech G27 Steering wheel and pedals, and WorldViz VR Software
  • Two Eye and Head-tracking systems: ASL Flock of Birds remote eye-tracker, and a Pupil-Labs wearable eye-tracker

In the Sensorimotor Learning Laboratory, we have:

  • Electrical Geodesic System 128 Channel EEG System
  • HTC Vive Virtual Reality (VR) system

Health & Social Psychology Laboratories

The Health and Social Psychology laboratory consists of a self-contained suite of three main testing rooms and a data entry room that supports a range of world leading research

Laboratory for Stress and Health Research (STARlab)

The STARlab is unique in that it has been designed specifically to conduct stress reactivity and recovery studies in a range of different populations.