Researchers at the University of Greenwich have secured a competitive award from The British Academy and Wellcome Trust to investigate what happens to a person’s brain and emotions when they experience hearing voices.
The project, led by Dr Agnese Venskus, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, in collaboration with Dr Sandhiran Patchay, Associate Professor of Movement and Cognition, will explore why some people hear voices and how these experiences can inform future therapeutic approaches. The award of £10,000, recognises the strength and originality of the research, as well as its potential to deliver meaningful impact for mental health understanding and care.
New perspectives on auditory hallucinations
Auditory hallucinations are often associated with schizophrenia, yet voice-hearing experiences are not limited to those with clinical symptoms. One proposed explanation is that altered temporal processing disrupts the brain’s ability to predict and monitor internally generated speech. When the timing between forming a thought and receiving its expected sensory consequences is disturbed, inner speech may not be correctly identified as self-generated and may instead be experienced as a voice originating from an external source. This study takes an innovative approach by comparing two groups: individuals with diagnosed schizophrenia who experience auditory hallucinations, and those who report similar voice-hearing experiences without clinical symptoms.
The researchers will explore the difference in neuropathway, emotional regulation, sense of agency and time perception in these two groups.
By examining both groups, Dr Venskus and Dr Patchay aim to deepen our understanding of why some people hear voices and whether the cognitive, neural, and emotional mechanisms are unique to voice-hearing itself or reflect broader features of schizophrenia. Improved knowledge of these mechanisms could impact therapeutic care and services for those who experience auditory hallucinations.
Research beyond the laboratory
A key feature of the project is the use of the university’s portable Electroencephalograms (EEG) technology, which monitors brain activity and enables data collection in accessible community settings. This creates a more inclusive, participant-centred approach by enabling people to engage with the study in settings where they feel safe, while also broadening participation and ensuring the research reaches diverse communities.
Dr Agnese Venskus says:
‘This funding will enable me to take forward an ambitious project exploring the cognitive, neural and emotional mechanisms underlying auditory hallucinations.
I am especially pleased that it will help build research capacity at the University of Greenwich, strengthen external collaborations and support work with potential long-term relevance for understanding voice-hearing and informing future therapeutic approaches.”
This project emphasises the University of Greenwich’s commitment to research that combines scientific insight with real-world application, contributing to improved outcomes for individuals and addressing complex societal challenges.
