Center for Mind and Brain | lettersandsciencemag

The Center for Mind and Brain

Understanding the mind is arguably the single greatest challenge in science, because that quest requires the human mind to understand itself. Scientists at the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain are pursuing the most fundamental questions about how the human mind perceives, thinks, feels and acts, and how the mind arises from the biology of the brain. Solving these mysteries can lead to new treatments for psychiatric and neurological disorders and help people from all walks of live throughout the world achieve the enormous potential of the human mind.

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Toddlers’ Eye Movements Predict Ability to Judge Memories, New Research Suggests

by Alex Russell
June 11, 2025

Self & Society

New research from the University of California, Davis, has found that toddlers who tend to look more closely at and compare paired images during a memory task are more aware of the accuracy of their own memories a year later. This finding connects the earliest process of seeking information with the developing ability to judge the accuracy of memories.

Focus on the Butterfly: New Research on Attention Seeks to Expand Tools to Support Children and Adults with Attention Deficits

by Alex Russell
April 02, 2025

Self & Society

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common childhood behavioral disorder. A research collaboration between the Center for Mind and Brain and the UC Davis School of Medicine are using virtual reality to understand ADHD better, which could improve its diagnosis and treatment in children and adults.

Three L&S Faculty Elected as AAAS Fellows

by Andy Fell
March 27, 2025

News & Noteworthy

Three faculty from the College of Letters and Science at UC Davis are among 471 scientists, engineers and innovators newly elected as fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the society announced today, March 27. AAAS fellows are recognized for their exceptional achievements in science, including research, teaching, administration and science communication.

a close up of electronodes on a person's cheek an jaw

Restoring Voices and Identity with Neuroengineering

by Douglas Fox
February 27, 2025

Lee Miller is working to restore original voices to those who have lost them — based partly on adapting technology for interpreting gestures and controlling robotic limbs. Miller and his collaborators are developing a system that could one day restore a person’s unique, original voice.

Two Ways to Avoid the Procrastination Loop and Get Started on Anything

by Alex Russell
December 16, 2024

Self & Society

New research in psychology describes some of the factors that contribute to procrastination in both children and adults. Learn some tips on how we can build the motivation to get started on that last-minute holiday shopping and any other tasks that need to get done.

Steven Luck, Distinguished Professor of Psychology at UC Davis, teaches a class in 2024

It’s What We Focus on and Remember that Lasts

by Alex Russell
December 10, 2024

News & Noteworthy

Across his career, Distinguished Professor of Psychology Steven Luck has shifted his own focus multiple times, from mainly research to an intense focus on teaching and mentoring students who make the most out of every opportunity. For this work, Luck has just received the 2025 UC Davis Prize for Undergraduate Teaching and Scholarly Achievement.

father holds oxygen mask up to young daughter

Asthma May Place Children at Risk of Memory Difficulties, New Research Finds

by Alex Russell
November 12, 2024

Self & Society

Asthma is associated with memory difficulties in children, and early onset of asthma may exacerbate memory deficits, according to a new study from the College of Letters and Science. The study is the first of its kind to connect asthma to memory deficits in children.

Ron Mangun, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at UC Davis

Pioneer in Cognitive Neuroscience Receives Major Award for Education in Neuroscience

by Alex Russell
September 16, 2024

News & Noteworthy

Ron Mangun, Distinguished Professor of psychology and neurology and co-director of the Center for Mind and Brain at UC Davis, has just been awarded the 2024 Award for Education in Neuroscience by the Society for Neuroscience for his contributions to neuroscience education and training.

A teaches starnds in the front of the classroom while students sit in the foreground at tables.

Children’s Lockdown Memories May Predict Declines in Psychological Well-being During the Pandemic

by Andy Fell
August 14, 2024

Self & Society

A new study shows how children’s and adolescents’ memories of the COVID lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 changed over time and related to their mental health.

Letters and Science Faculty Fulbright Scholars Build Global Research Community

by Alex Russell
June 28, 2024

This year, the Fulbright Program named two College of Letters and Science faculty as scholars who will advance their research with international colleagues. Fulbright US Scholar Awards, which are administered through the U.S. Department of State, are among the most prestigious international awards.

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