MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit – Using cognitive theory and innovations in neuroscience to understand and improve mental wellbeing across the lifespan

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Welcome to the Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit

The MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit is a leading research centre for advancing understanding of human cognition such as memory, attention, perception, language and emotion. We aim to translate research findings to improve health and wellbeing, including developing psychological therapies for mood disorders, improving our understanding of cognitive problems in childhood, and optimising diagnostic and rehabilitative techniques for neurological conditions.

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We investigate fundamental human cognitive processes such as attention, language, memory, and emotion.

Our research is organized into 13 programmes funded by the MRC, each led by a senior scientist and supported by a research team. Find out more here.

Would you like to help our research by volunteering? Find out more here

We host 20-30 graduate students at any time and applications are invited from prospective PhD students in experimental cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, computational modeling and neuroimaging using MRI, MEG, and EEG.

Information about our October 2017 places can be found here.

The CBU hosts the Chaucer Club programme of talks from leading scientists in the field of cognitive neuroscience. Find details here.

The CBU Wednesday Lunchtime seminars are open to all and have talks from scientists from in and around Cambridge talking about their current research projects. Find out more here

Latest news

Forward models demonstrate that repetition suppression is best modelled by local neural scaling

September 21, 2018

Inferring neural mechanisms from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is challenging because the fMRI signal integrates over millions of neurons.…

Chaucer Club Seminars – Michaelmas Term 2018

September 11, 2018

The Chaucer Club Seminar schedule for Michaelmas term 2018 is now available. Talks are free to attend and are open…

Wednesday Lunchtime Seminars – Michaelmas Term 2018

September 10, 2018

The Wednesday Lunchtime Seminar programme for Michaelmas term 2018 is now available. Talks are free to attend and are open…

New protocol paper out now for The HARMONIC Transdiagnostic Treatment Trial

August 14, 2018

Anxiety, mood and trauma-related disorders are common, affecting up to 20% of adults. Many of these individuals will experience symptoms…

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