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  • Our research
    • Overview
    • Research Culture
    • Research Areas
    • Research Groups
    • Facilities & Platforms
    • Tools & Software
    • Latest Discoveries
    • Animal Research
  • Study & Work
    • Why Join SWC?
    • PhD Programme
    • Postdoctoral Fellowships
    • Professional & Scientific Staff
    • How to Apply
    • All Vacancies
  • Sharing our science
    • News Releases
    • BrainGlobe Initiative
    • Newsletter
    • Blog
    • Public Engagement
    • Resources for Teachers
    • Exhibitions
    • Media & Press
    • Innovation
  • What's On
    • Seminars & Talks
    • Courses
    • ENSS
    • Public Events
  • Our People
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    • Professional & Scientific Staff
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Blog

Imagining the future: exploring the role of hippocampal replay

Researchers from SWC, University of Oxford and Stanford University, set out to understand how humans and animals can learn very quickly to respond appropriately in new situations and environments by relying on previous experience. They hypothesised that building maps, instead of experiencing them state by state, could be the answer.

2 April 2025
An example hippocampal neuron that obtains a new place response after first firing in replay.
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
Blog

‘Build a Brain’ course empowers next generation at London AI Campus

The ‘Build a Brain’ course equips students with the knowledge, equipment and tools to build their own robot, learning about everything from electrons to AI along the way. Their robot is modelled on the ultimate black box – the brain.

29 April 2025
Photo of staff students at Build a Brain project finale, London AI Campus. Credit: Camden Learning

Why join SWC?

Career development is personal, and it can look different for different people. As SWC expands there are lots of opportunities to become involved and carve out a meaningful career path with us. We’re proud to be a place where talent is recognised and developed.

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Events & Seminars

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13
May
18:00
-
20:00
Ground Floor Lecture Theatre
Film Screening and Panel Discussion
By:
The Magic of Chaos
A documentary about brain injury
View event
15
May
12:00
-
13:00
Ground Floor Lecture Theatre
SWC Hybrid Seminar: A synaptic account of birdsong learning
By:
Dr Richard Mooney
Duke University School of Medicine
View event
22
May
12:00
-
13:00
Group Floor Lecture Theatre
SWC Hybrid Seminar: Frontocortical circuits in learning under uncertainty
By:
Dr Alicia Izquierdo
UCLA
View event

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t: +44 20 3108 8000
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