| Sainsbury Wellcome Centre

Scientists map the blackcap bird brain, opening a new era of 3D digital atlases

A migratory bird brain, the Eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), has been mapped for the first time using high-resolution light microscopy. The open-source software tools developed, and the detailed processes published, form a foundation for new brain atlases to be built for any species, providing a valuable resource for neuroscience worldwide.

It's not the wiring that matters. It's the rhythm.

New research in mice uncovers how the brain weighs up multiple streams of information and makes the decision to escape.

Image showing a dPAG neuron (gold) and surrounding input axonal fibres (cyan), reconstructed from original microscopy data

Mice wiggle the wheel

New research shows that mice use active sensing to improve performance in a visual perception task.

Using Pac-Man to reveal how we make decisions

Pac-Man, released in 1980, is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential video games of all time. But what can this retro arcade game tell us about the architecture of the human brain? By studying both humans and macaques playing Pac-Man, Dr Tianming Yang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has revealed that both species ‘speak’ a language of problem-solving. In this Q&A he discusses his work.

'SWC Speaker Series'

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.

Ground Floor Lecture Theatre

Upcoming Seminar:

Bence P. Ölveczky

Harvard University

Ground Floor Lecture Theatre

Upcoming Seminar:

Harvard University