Cortex Structure and Function in Mouse, Monkey and Man

Our workshop aims to bring together researchers from the fields of systems neuroscience, comparative transcriptomics, connectomics, and primate palaeobiology in one place to foster mutual awareness and interdisciplinary discussions as well as identify yet unknown principles in the development, organization and function of the primate brain from computational and experimental points of view.

Evolution in mammal brains has formed basic building blocks that might superficially look similar, but are organized in different structures and are obviously specialized for distinct computations. Accumulating evidence indicates that, while rodents are close evolutionary relatives to our own primate lineage, fundamental changes on all levels of brain organization occurred at the primate-rodent-split. In addition, subsequent primate evolution appears to be marked by apparently qualitative grade shifts. Recent progress across distinct disciplines provides a springboard to take a fresh perspective on what makes primate brains special. We will aim to enhance this comparative cognition perspective by contributions on avians and machines, which, despite having very different “brain” structures, perform functions that are surprisingly similar to those of mammals.

The event comprises ~20 plenary talks given by invited speakers. Poster sessions and a social programme will give you the opportunity to present your own work and discuss with other attendees.

Confirmed speakers (as of April 2026): Tatjana Engel, Katja Nowick, Marieke Schölvinck, Matthias Kaschube, Henner Koch, Ken Miller, Huib Mansfelder, Wiktor Mlynarski, Fabian Sinz, Andreas Neef, Dan Eric Nilsson, Madineh Sedigh-Sarvestani, Ziad Hafed, Moritz Helias, Fred Wolf and Udo Ernst.