Surrey academic awarded top psychology award for research into our “eighth sense”

Recognising the contribution of early career researchers to the field of psychophysiology, the Early Career Award is a highly competitive award presented annually to two researchers across the globe. 

Beginning her career at Royal Holloway University, Dr Murphy joined the University of Surrey in 2024, where she continues her research into interoception, the ability of a person to perceive and interpret internal body signals, such as hunger, thirst, and temperature. Her current area of research is focused on the differences in interoceptive abilities of males and females and how they relate to differences in mental and physical health. 

This award is one of the growing number of accolades achieved by Dr Murphy, who has also received the American Psychological Society Rising Star Award and the Young Investigator Award from the European Society for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. 

As part of her award Dr Murphy addressed the Society for Psychophysical Research at its annual meeting in Canada, where she discussed new insights and the future direction of interoception.  

Notes to editors 

• For more information and to bid for an interview with Dr Murphy, please contact mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk