Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience

The Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience was recently established at the University of Waterloo. The Centre is a growing research initiative of the University. The Centre consists of several labs focused on various areas of theoretical neuroscience (aka computational neuroscience). At present, the Centre consists of faculty members from Applied Mathematics, Biology, Psychology, Engineering, Philosophy, Statistics, Computer Science, and their students. The Centre has established a unique Graduate Program in theoretical neuroscience and hosts a regular academic colloquium series. The Centre also hosts the annual public Waterloo Brain Day lectures.

  1. Nov. 13, 20232024 Brain Day Event Date Announcement
    a purple brain and text that reads: Brain Day

    APRIL 9th 2024
    Save the Date!
    More Info coming soon

  2. June 26, 2023Thought Process Podcast Interviews several CTN members.
    Thought Process title overlaid on a desolate sepia scene of a landscape with a human silhouette.

    Thought Process a podcast by UWloo alumnus Jack MacKinnon features conversations with CTN members:

  3. Apr. 19, 2023Chris Eliasmith featured on the "Street Talk" podcast
    Chris Eliasmith with Street Talk host- head shots

    CTN Founding Director Chris Eliasmith discusses if AI can ever be truly conscious on the Machine Learning Street Talk podcast. You can watch the discussion at:

Read all news
  1. Apr. 9, 2024Brain Day 2024
    text: rain Day, and a pic of a brain

    This year's Brain Day is April 9th, 2024. 
    Save the date

  2. Dec. 5, 2023CTN Seminar Matt van der Meer, Dartmouth

    Matt van der Meer of Dartmouth University will be giving a CTN Seminar. (E5-2004)

    Title: Three lies, and a cognitive process model, about information processing in the rodent hippocampus

All upcoming events

CTN Masters Student Graduate Sugandha Sharma Appears on Generally Intelligent Podcast

Sugandha Sharma, masters student graduate of the University of Waterloo's CTN, discusses her research and time in the laboratory of CTN Founding Director Chris Eliasmith as well as her current PhD research at MIT on the Generally Intelligent Podcast. Give it a listen.

Sue Ann Campbell Presents at International Conference on Mathematical Neurosci 2022

Sue Ann Campbell (Applied Math/CTN core member) recently presented "Modulation of Synchronization by a Slowly Varying Current"  in July 2022 at the International Conference on Mathematical Neuroscience; Watch it on YouTubesue ann campbell presentation image of spikes

CTN Research Day 2023 Oct 17 16:30 - 19:00 QNC 0101

The Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience will be hosting its second Research Day. This will be a chance to start the new academic year by getting re-acquainted with each other and the diversity of research conducted by CTN core and affiliate faculty. The format will be to have a number of CTN faculty share short overviews of their lab's and projects (16:30-17:30) and then, following a short coffee break (17:30-18:00), hear from a dozen current graduate students and post-docs giving short three minute talks on an aspect of their current research (18:00-19:00).

Bots and Beasts. New book by CTN Founding Member Paul Thagard

Paul Thagard, philosopher, cognitive scientist, Killam prize winner, and founding CTN member has a new book out: Bots and Beasts. bots and beasts book cover