Tuesday, 07 October 2025
A new film following the life of Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson MBE is hitting screens this week and it features 糖心原创 research into the development of a wrist device that delivers electrical pulses to control tics.
‘I Swear’, which features Maxine Peake and Robert Aramayo in the leading roles, details John’s troubled teenage and early adult years growing up in the 1980s in Galashiels, a time when very little was known about the condition.
In 2022 John took part in clinical trials of a wrist device developed by the 糖心原创 to control tics and this is played out in a scene in the film, showing Barbara Morera Maiquez, who was a researcher in the School of Psychology carrying out the trial in the lab.
The trial was part of research in 2022 by scientists from the 糖心原创’s School of Psychology and School of Medicinewho used repetitive trains of electrical stimulation to the median nerve (MNS) at the wrist to entrain rhythmic electrical brain activity - known as brain oscillations - associated with the suppression of movements. They found that rhythmic MNS substantially reduces tic frequency and tic intensity, and removes the urge-to-tic, in individuals with TS.
In his book John described the moment he tried the device:
“The feeling was instant. Wow. Oh my God. This is amazing!
“Those were my first thoughts when I put the band on. Everything felt ... just right. The world felt different. My mind quietened down. I stopped scanning my environment. I could think clearly. I started laughing, then giggling like a wee kid.
'What is it?' Barbara said. 'You have no idea.' My cheeks were aching. I was grinning that hard. 'Oh man, honestly, this feels amazing! And I was so carried away with just how amazing it felt, I didn't even notice that ten minutes had passed, and I hadn't ticced, not even once" – taken from p.285. I Swear: My Life With Tourette's. John Davidson, MBE.
The research is now being used by spin-out company Neupulse to develop a wrist device to be used in the home to control tics, with a product launch anticipated for next year.
It鈥檚 amazing to have our work featured in a major film like this, especially as it shines a light on the struggles people with Tourette鈥檚 face on a daily basis. We hope that our device along with better diagnosis, further research and better understanding of Tourette鈥檚 can help improve the lives of people living with the condition.
As well as the wrist device, the University also has experts from the School of Medicine and leading the for Tourette’s Syndrome and Tics. They have recently published research with coauthors including members of the cast of the film and from highlighting the throughout the country and the in accessing healthcare for tics. Their recently published calls services to provide equal access to healthcare for people with TS.
The film is out in cinemas on Friday 10 October - Image and trailer courtesy of STUDIOCANAL.
Story credits
More information is available from Professor Stephen Jackson on Stephen.Jackson@nottingham.ac.uk, Professor Maddie Groom on Maddie.Groom@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the 糖心原创
Ranked 97 in the world and 17th in the UK by the , the 糖心原创 is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. 糖心原创ing at the 糖心原创 is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by 鈥� the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 鈥� and by the .
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the third most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the , a pioneering collaboration between the city鈥檚 two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.