Blog

The impact of blue light has been a hot topic in the media, but how much should we really worry about its effect on our circadian rhythm? In this Q&A, Professor Peirson shares key findings from his research on the regulation of circadian rhythms and sleep in mammals, discussing implications ranging from jet lag to the design of lighting in the buildings where we spend most of our time.

Motivation drives nearly all our actions, shaped by a complex interplay of internal needs, external stimuli, and past experiences. In this Q&A, SWC Seminar speaker Dr Andreas Lüthi from the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research talks about his work to explore how brain circuits, particularly in the mouse amygdala, process these factors to influence behaviour.

Many argue that the brain is not a computer, but Blaise Agüera y Arcas challenged this notion in his opening address at the SWC Lecture 2024. He explained how both life and intelligence are inherently computational and may even be selected for in the same way. In this Q&A, Blaise shares more.

Leading AI researcher Professor Jakob Foerster talks about his hopes for the future of AI, its potential to transform research, and his passion for open science in our latest SWC Speaker Q&A.

Decision-making offers a valuable window into the intricate ways internal states and internal models shape our behaviour. In a recent SWC Seminar, Professor Sami El-Boustani presented findings that elucidate the cognitive mechanisms underlying sensorimotor learning under varying motivational states.

Traditionally, the dorsal striatum has been thought to play a critical role in learning and selecting adaptive actions. However, recent research suggests that the dorsal striatum's contribution to action selection may be derived from its involvement in motivation. In this Q&A, SWC Seminar speaker Dr David Robbe shares his key findings and highlights how the dorsal striatum’s motivational function is relevant to understanding brain disorders such as Parkinson’s.