Last Monday, the Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC) of the University of Granada received the visit of the student association "De Leidsche Flesch" from the University of Leiden (The Netherlands), as part of their annual study trip. This association brings together undergraduate and master's students in mathematics, physics, and computer science, with a common interest in understanding human cognition from a multidisciplinary perspective
The visit to CIMCYC is part of a joint initiative with the Institute of Mathematics (IMAG) and the Andalusian Interuniversity Institute in Data Science and Computational Intelligence (DaSCI), reflecting the three research institutes' commitment to collaboration between scientific disciplines.
This synergy between neuroscience, mathematics and artificial intelligence demonstrates that today's great scientific challenges require integrative and collaborative approaches.
The day began with a welcome talk by Carlos González, who presented CIMCYC's main lines of research, its academic and training programs, and its scientific dissemination activities. The students were then divided into three groups to rotate through different laboratories of the center, where they learned about key experimental techniques in cognitive neuroscience: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Electroencephalography (EEG), and eye movement recording (Eye-Tracking).
The visit continued with two scientific presentations illustrating the intersection between neuroscience and computational technologies. David Richter gave the talk "Decoding the Mind: How AI and Computational Modelling Inform Cognitive Neuroscience", explaining how artificial intelligence and computational modeling are transforming our understanding of the brain. Meanwhile, Rodika Sokoliuk presented "Electroencephalography as a tool in Cognitive Neuroscience" delving into the use of EEG as an essential tool for the study of cognitive processes.
This experience has allowed international students to learn first-hand about the cutting-edge research being carried out in Granada on the mind and human behavior. It has also highlighted the importance of building bridges between disciplines to advance scientific knowledge.