Institute of Cognitive Science

Welcome to the Institute of Cognitive Science! Here, we are dedicated to researching cognition and intelligent behavior across various disciplines. Our team of researchers works hand in hand to gain deeper insights into the mysteries of “thinking.” Our goal is to use this knowledge to promote advances in health, education, and technology. Join us as we dive into the fascinating world of cognitive science!

Studierende arbeiten im Virtual Reality Lab an den Computern.

Cognitive Science in Osnabrück: : Research at the forefront

At the IKW, we're pushing boundaries in areas like animal communication, brain-inspired chips, and the exciting field of NeuroAI.

Overview of the research areas

Want to understand the mind and build a better future? : Study Cognitive Science!

Explore the intersection of philosophy, AI, psychology, and neuroscience in this dynamic program.

Information for prospective students

Chimp X-Mas: : Experience 24 Moments with Chimpanzees!

We wish you a festive season and a wonderful end of the year with this advent calendar full of chimps, sweet moments from the field, glimpses from the forest, games, quizzes, and all the small stories that made this year so special.

A big thank you for this “Chimp X-Mas” calendar, provided by the team of the Ozuga Chimpanzee Project led by Prof. Simone Pika from the Comparative Biocognition Lab!
Enjoy the special moments with the chimps!

Find the Chimp X-Mas calender here

News

AI-Driven Research: Osnabrück and Princeton Collaborate

A joint workshop of the Universities of Osnabrück and Princeton investigated how Artificial Intelligence can revolutionize research in the field of cognitive sciences. Initiated by Prof. Dr. Sebastian Musslick, researchers discussed from September 23rd to October 3rd at Princeton University how AI can accelerate experimental design, data collection, and model building in the discovery process. The successful workshop forms the basis for future research projects and a follow-up event in Osnabrück.

Ein Mädchen und ein Roboter bauen einen Turm mit Bauklötzen.

New Project Launched: : Neuro-inspired AI for Efficient Learning

A new BMFTR-funded project titled “Self-Supervised Learning: A Neuro-Inspired Path to Resource-Efficient Multi-Task AI” by Sebastian Musslick, Pascal Nieters, and Tim Kietzmann is launching in December. The project aims to develop AI systems that learn independently and efficiently – much like the human brain. It will integrate neurobiologically inspired mechanisms based on insights into attentional control, cognitive fatigue, and dendritic processing to enable AI systems to learn autonomously. The result will be a publicly available software framework serving as a tool for both AI research and neuroscience to develop adaptive and efficient AI systems.

Explore further:

The team of the "Student Journal" show happily pictures

Insights into the topics and projects of the students : Spotlight on Student Work

Here, students present their work: seminar papers, project reports, interviews, and more!

To the Student Journal

Zwei Moderatorinnen des Kaleidopodcast Teams machen eine Aufnahme

Podcast on topics related to cognitive science : About researchers and what motivates them

Immerse yourself in the world of cognitive science! With a blend of technical depth, curiosity, and accessibility, the project has established itself as an innovative example of student science communication.

To the Website of the Podcast

Studying in an excellent research environment : Research experience during studies

Early research experience in an excellent research environment—that is one of the special features of studying Cognitive Science at the Osnabrück University.

Details about research experience during studies