The Wellcome Trust has awarded ‘Hearing the Voice’ another five-years of research as one of two projects to be the first of its Humanities and Social Science Collaborative Awards. ‘Hearing the Voice’ will continue with its innovative work in exploring the experience of voice hearing through unique insights from the humanities and social sciences.
The Wellcome Trust had the following to say about the award: ‘Building on the success of three years of previous Wellcome Trust funding, Hearing the Voice (Durham University), an interdisciplinary study into voice-hearing led by Professor Charles Fernyhough (PI) and Dr Angela Woods, will extend their research into a number of new and exciting areas. Drawing on many fields, including cognitive neuroscience, philosophy, psychology and psychiatry, the project will deeply investigate the experience of hearing voices, incorporating a range of topics such as the importance of memory and trauma, the relationship between voices and creativity and the sensory quality of voices. The new award will allow the researchers to continue their work with local clinicians, mental health professionals, voice-hearers and other ‘experts by experience’. The project also includes an ambitious programme of public engagement aimed at improving public understanding of voice-hearing and dispelling some of the myths and misconceptions that surround this experience.’
We look forward to many new findings and innovative public engagement activities in the coming years!