Sensory Worlds in the Brain
How does our brain integrate information from various senses? How does it decide which information is important? We investigate these processes and study difficulties in sensory processing – such as those that may occur in people with developmental or learning disabilities.
Our brain receives information from different senses and combines it to create an internal representation of the world around us. So far, we only have a rudimentary understanding of exactly what happens in the brain during this process.
Thanks to modern technologies, researchers can now observe structures and processes that were previously hidden. Advanced microscopes, for example, allow us to visualize individual nerve cells and track their activity.
New insights into the biological mechanisms of sensory perception help us better understand developmental and learning disorders, such as autism, reading and spelling disorders, or dyscalculia. Research findings suggest that the perception and integration of sensory input may be altered in these disorders.
The University Research Priority Program (URPP) «Adaptive Brain Circuits in Development and Learning (AdaBD)» investigates these mechanisms at multiple levels,: ranging from basic laboratory research to clinical studies aimed at improving diagnostic methods and therapies for people with developmental and learning disorders.
At our booth, you can use virtual reality headsets to explore the brain and experience impressive 3D images of brain networks and reconstructions of neural pathways in the human brain. We also invite you and your children to try out a variety of interactive games, some of which we use in our research.
Further information:
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- New exhibition at the Science Pavilion UZH: «Lernen mit allen Sinnen». Opening in January 2027.
Other events by the URPP Adaptive Brain Circuits in Development and Learning at Scientifica:
Science Café: Attention under pressure – the brain in our digital everyday lives
Saturday, 29. August 2026, 16.00
Workshop: Gain a Better Understanding of Autism
Saturday, 29. August 2026, 14.00; 15.00; 16.00
Sunday, 30. August 2026, 14.00; 15.00; 16.00
