Research News

Scientists discover new way the brain learns

Neuroscientists at SWC have discovered that the brain uses a dual system for learning through trial and error. This is the first time a second learning system has been identified, which could help explain how habits are formed and provide a scientific basis for new strategies to address conditions related to habitual learning, such as addictions and compulsions. Published today in Nature, the study in mice could also have implications for developing therapeutics for Parkinson’s.

14 May 2025
Triggered cell death in the tail of striatum using a viral strategy. Each image is an average projection of a part of the striatum. Areas are color coded based on their absence of neurons. Original colors are random to indicate the amount of animals that do not have cells on a particular region. The average projections then creates a mix of those original colours.
Q&A

What makes us human?

Dr Franck Polleux, based at Columbia University, is studying the unique properties of the human brain. How does it develop? How did we evolve? What makes us different from other species? Following his recent seminar at SWC, Franck sat down with us to discuss his work and interests, spanning from cave paintings to genetics.

21 May 2025
Q&A

Cuttlefish camouflage: understanding the brain mechanisms

Cuttlefish are masters of disguise, capable of transforming their appearance to blend seamlessly into their surroundings. This remarkable ability to camouflage is both visually and scientifically striking and scientists are now starting to reveal the complex neural mechanisms at play. In this interview, SWC Seminar speaker Dr Dominic Evans shares some of the challenges of studying these exotic creatures and the broader implications for discovering general principles of how brains drive behaviour. 

8 May 2025
Photo of adult Sepia officinalis (~6cm length) in an aquarium at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research with text overlaid "SWC Speaker Series"
Q&A

What’s in a smell?

Dr Noel Federman’s research explores how the brain processes smells in context, showing that the meaning of an odour can shift depending on environment, experience, and emotion. Her work reveals that the olfactory cortex doesn’t just process smells but also integrates visual, behavioural, and motivational cues, especially after learning, enhancing the brain's ability to discriminate between odours.

1 May 2025