Donders Centre for Cognition

Research institute

The Donders Centre for Cognition (DCC) is one of the six research centres of the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and is embedded within the Faculty of Social Sciences of uu77. The DCC’s mission is to advance the science of cognition, in humans and artificial agents, using behavioural, theoretical, and computational approaches. In our work on human cognition, we study brain and behaviour in health and disease, and across the lifespan, aiming to discover functional and neural mechanisms. In our work on Artificial Intelligence (AI), our goals are to develop (brain-inspired) AI and to advance understanding of AI principles. We are a diverse team of scientists who conduct fundamental and interdisciplinary research, translate our findings to address societal challenges, and develop neurotechnology beyond current frontiers. We seek to build on a unique strength of the DCC: the integration of research on natural and artificial cognition.

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Highlights

zwart wit foto van een man die z'n handen voor z'n gezicht houdt op een zwarte achtergrond

How could we help Hannibal Lecter?

Research by cognitive neuroscientist Inti Brazil shows that people with psychopathic traits have difficulty adapting their destructive behaviour. This is because their brain works differently from 'normal'.

Arts in gesprek met patiënt

NWO grants for research into ethical AI in healthcare

Two projects investigating how AI is used in healthcare and other sectors have received a grant from the Dutch Research Council (NWO).

Serge Thill

New Scientific Director of the Donders Centre for Cognition: Serge Thill

As of 1 March 2025, Serge Thill is the new scientific director of the Donders Centre for Cognition (DCC), succeeding James McQueen.

Research projects

lampje

ELSA lab

In this ELSA lab, we study the technological, legal, and clinical-ethical aspects of AI technology that is certified to be used responsibly.

Man aan een neuro-apparaat

The ticklish brain

Tickle is one of the most enigmatic human sensations. This research will shed light on the neuroscience of tickling, and holds clinical implications for disorders characterised by aberrant responses to tickling, such as schizophrenia.

Nodes forming a brain

ASMPT Lab

The ASMPT Lab focuses on developing trustworthy AI models, algorithms, and technology for real-time inference, prediction, and control of high-throughput data streams in the semiconductor manufacturing industry.

Events

What is Trauma?

What is Trauma?

2nd NeurotechEU Summer School on Preclinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy at UMH University

Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour

The Donders Centre for Cognition is embedded within the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour. 

Donders Institute logo

Visit the Donders Institute website

Visit the Donders Institute website

Contact information