Neuroscience and cognition

The Neuroscience and Cognition research cluster incorporates scientists with a diverse range of skills and backgrounds including computational modelling, neuropharmacology, human neuroimaging and cognitive science.

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The group focuses on understanding the mechanisms via which the brain guides behaviour such as decision making, skill learning and action control, and on understanding the physiological consequences of neural activity associated with both typical development and with neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions, including epilepsy, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, the autism spectrum and ADHD.

Additional insights come from research focused on individual differences in cognitive ability and plasticity, including how cognition is influenced by experiences such as stress, culture, neurodiversity and rare genetic conditions; and developing mathematical and computational models of adaptive self-organising networks to better understand the impact of natural selection on brain development.

Meet the team


The Sheffield Neurovascular Lab

The Sheffield Neurovascular Lab investigates neurovascular coupling (the relationship between neural activity and subsequent brain blood flow changes) in preclinical models of health, disease and ageing by using a wide array of imaging and laboratory techniques, from cellular and molecular biology through to whole brain neuroimaging.

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Flagship institutes

The University’s four flagship institutes bring together our key strengths to tackle global issues, turning interdisciplinary and translational research into real-world solutions.