Centre for Cognition in Small Brains

We are breaking new ground in studying the biophysical mechanisms of embedded neural intelligence.

Combining experiments and theory over multiple scales, we decode perception and action in the nervous systems of flies and other insects to better understand how brains work.

We seek answers to fundamental questions in neuroscience: How do animals see, think and make decisions? How do neural circuits sample, process, store and recall information about the world, and use it to generate natural intelligence and adaptive behaviour?

Our science has transformed our understanding of insect vision by showing that it is not a static, pixel-like system limited by fixed faceted eyes, but a dynamic process shaped by movement. Rapid saccadic turns and microscopic movements within the eye actively enhance what insects see. Indeed, movement-based mechanisms are central to vision across animals, including vertebrates and humans.

Our theory of neural morphodynamics offers a new motion-based perspective on brain function and behaviour, providing a unified framework that shifts from reductionism to holistic constructionism. It utilises observed neural signals - both micro- and macroscopic - as information carriers rather than their assumed abstractions. This approach links neural structures to functions in space-time across multiple scales for a deeper understanding of the brain. By addressing the key questions and conducting further research, we can explore the applications of ultrafast morphodynamics for neurotechnologies. These applications may enhance perception, improve artificial systems, and lead to the development of biomimetic devices and robots capable of sophisticated sensory processing and decision-making.

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