Neuroscience is advancing rapidly, offering profound insights into the human brain while raising complex ethical questions. Neuroethics sits at the intersection of neuroscience, philosophy, and policy, addressing dilemmas such as cognitive enhancement, brain privacy, and the ethics of neurotechnology. Here, we particularly address how neuroethics applies to neurodegenerative disorders.

Using recreational drugs, like cocaine or alcohol, is illegal or comes with strict age restrictions. However, many people take these drugs, and drugs like them, even if they lead to negative impacts on their relationships, their finances, and their health. This talk will explore what happens in someone’s brain when they take recreational drugs, and why from a biological perspective, using these drugs feels so rewarding… But, it is exactly this feeling which can lead to extremely damaging outcomes for some people. 

Our brains store a wealth of knowledge about the meaning of things, including objects (e.g. what is a table for?), people (how is a police officer likely to behave?) and words (what is the meaning of life?). Meaning is at the core of everything we do, and losing our sense of meaning (e.g., through dementia) has devasting effects. Going as far back as Socrates, scholars have pondered how we learn meaning and, today, neuroscientists are grappling with how it is represented in the brain. Join us to learn about the ways in which cognitive science and neuropsychology have contributed to our understanding of this fascinating aspect of the human mind.

The human brain is the most complex object in the known universe. To better understand it, researchers have turned to computers to simulate, model, and test its workings. This relationship, however, is not one-sided: computer science has been profoundly shaped by the study of the human brain and mind. For instance, the algorithms behind everyday technologies such as predictive text, photo categorisation, and conversational AI are the direct result of cognitive scientists’ efforts to understand dreams, vision, and child language development.

This seminar will explore the co-evolution of the study of the human brain, mind, and behaviour alongside AI and computer science. From distant origins in ancient myth, to Alan Turing’s groundbreaking ideas, to modern cutting-edge systems like ChatGPT, we will examine how cognitive science has driven innovation in computer science and explore the limitations of current AI as a model of the human brain, mind, and behaviour.

Left handedness is rare, stigmatised, and related to asymmetries in behaviour in how the two halves of our brain operate. In this talk, I'll outline some of the crazy and not so crazy claims about what being lefthanded means. I will also show you how your handedness relates to other asymmetries in how you behave. I'll finish off by telling you about some of our work at Bangor, which allows us to predict something about asymmetry of your brain for speech and language.

This session will explore the neuroscience behind social interaction and communication, and will introduce some of the psychological and neuroscientific processes involved in recognising emotions, understanding other people, and responding to social situations, as well as how researchers study these processes in the brain.

This session will provide an introduction to neurodevelopmental assessment, exploring how psychologists assess and understand conditions such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. The session will cover some of the tools and approaches used in assessment, the importance of considering individual differences, and how psychologists interpret findings from these assessments to better understand learning, behaviour, and development.

Reading together can be a powerful way to support children's language development. Adults can support children's language development through dialogic book sharing, an evidence-based approach that makes reading a more interactive experience. This session will explore how asking questions, encouraging conversation, and building on children's responses can help develop their language and communication skills.

Have you ever wondered why a song can change your mood?

In this webinar, we’ll explore the psychology of music. We’ll start by briefly discussing evolutionary theories of music perception, before looking at factors that can influence our appreciation of music. For example, we’ll consider how cultural differences, individual differences, and contextual factors can influence our appreciation and enjoyment of music. Finally, we’ll review research that has looked at the therapeutic benefits of music.