News

A University of Waterloo professor and CTN member who creates computer models of human emotions and consciousness has won a coveted 2013 Killam Prize.

Professor Paul Thagard of the Department of Philosophy is the director of the cognitive science program at Waterloo. His research examines the implications of how feeling influence our decisions.

Jeff Orchard, Associate Professor in the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science, sat down with Researcher on Call to discuss his research on theoretical and computational neuroscience in an episode of Science Scoop.

For full article and video:  Cheriton School of Computer Science

Chris Eliasmith’s team at the Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience has built Spaun, the world’s largest simulation of a functioning brain. Spaun is able to shift between diverse tasks — from copying human handwriting to finding hidden patterns in a list of numbers. Understanding the intricate connections between 2.5 million simulated neurons will lead to better understanding of how changes in the brain affect changes to behaviour.

Waterloo Stories | February 12, 2013

A team of researchers from the University of Waterloo has built the world's largest simulation of a functioning brain. It can help scientists understand how the complex activity of the brain gives rise to the complex behaviour exhibited by animals, including humans.

Left turn or right? Past the white house, or just before it?

We use many clues to get around, and our brains leave a mental crumb trail by activating brain cells — or neurons — known as place cells.