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Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development
Pioneering research on developmental mechanisms at the University of London since 1998.
The Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development (CBCD) is a world-leading research hub exploring how the human brain develops from infancy through adulthood. Founded in 1998 at Birkbeck, University of London, the CBCD has grown into an internationally recognised center known for its interdisciplinary work.​​​ Researchers at CBCD use converging methods – from behavioural observations and eye-tracking to genetics, neuroimaging and computational modeling – to test how infants, children, adolescents, adults, and older adults perceive the world, learn, think, and communicate as they grow​​​. The centre’s work is theory-driven and spans perceptual, cognitive, motor, social, emotional, and language development, relying on close collaboration with families (through its BabyLab and ToddlerLab facilities) and support from major funders to understand mechanisms underlying human development.
Our Research Focus
Cognitive Development
Testing how cognitive abilities emerge and evolve from infancy and adulthood.
Neurodiversity
Researching conditions as autism and ADHD to develop strategies for detection and intervention.
Perception, Action, & Emotion
Studying how perception and action develop hand-in-hand from birth, how we learn the social world and develop our emotional skills.
Brain Development
Tracking how the brain's structure and function mature throughout development and understand its connection to behaviour.
Meet Our Team
Our centre brings together world-class researchers, dedicated staff, and talented students from across the globe.
Leading experts directing specialised research teams and mentoring the next generation of scientists.
Dedicated scientific staff providing essential administrative, technical, and research assistance across various projects and labs.
Postgraduate and undergarduate researchers contributing fresh perspectives and innovative approaches.
The Birkbeck Babylab & Toddlerlab Facilities
Located at the Bloomsbury campus of the University of London, our labs combine cutting-edge research technology with child-friendly environments designed to make every visit comfortable and enjoyable. To this goal, each laboratory is shaped to mimic real-world settings such as a living room or a classroom in order to investigate development in ecologically-valid scenarios. Each lab has its own control room that allows to control the equipment without interfering with the study ongoing inside the lab. This also allows to maintain a real world look to the labs with no interference from computers and cables. We welcome our young scientists and their families in our beautiful garden or in private receptions located on every floor.
For more information, check the Babylab & Toddlerlab.
Preschool Lab
The Preschool Lab mimics a typical classroom and allows to study development of one or multiple kids simultaneously while they freely play and move around.
Exploration Lab
The Exploration Lab aims at conducting developmental research in more conventional settings. The room is equipped with movable walls to change the structure of the room and create smaller or larger spaces within the lab to fit with the requirements of the study.
Brain Lab
The Brain Lab includes a shielded room to perform EEG experiments inside a Faraday cage.
Home Lab
The Home Lab mimics a typical house living room and allows to study development of one or multiple kids simultaneously while they freely play and move around.
Nap Lab
The Nap Lab is shaped like a typical toddler bedroom and allows to investigate how sleep influences the brain and cognitive development in toddlers.
Peltz CAVE Lab
The Peltz CAVE Lab is our unique virtual reality CAVE (CAVE audiovisual environment) laboratory able to simulate real-world surroundings. The CAVE Lab includes an integrated multimodal platform that allows to monitor toddlers’ brain activity and behavior changes depending on the simulated world around them.
We wish to thank all of those who made generous support and made these facilities possible: Wellcome Trust, The Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation, The Wolfson Foundation, CareTech Charitable Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Elizabeth and Daniel Peltz OBE, and the many donors who have supported this new research facility.
Advanced Research Methods
EEG
Measuring electrical activity in the brain to understand neural processes underlying cognition and behavior.
fNIRS
Detecting brain activity through changes in blood oxygenation levels using near-infrared light, ideal for infants and young children.
fMRI
Capturing detailed images of brain activity by measuring blood oxygen levels to explore cognitive and developmental functions.
Virtual Reality
Creating immersive simulated environments to study how children interact, learn, and behave in realistic, controlled scenarios.
Eye Tracking
Recording visual attention and gaze patterns to understand how infants and children perceive and process information from their environment.
Motion Tracking
Precisely capturing body movements to investigate the development of motor skills and their link to cognition.
Computer Vision
Analyzing child behavior and social interactions that are documented in video using advanced machine learning techniques.
Behavioural Genetics
Examining genetic factors and their influence on individual differences in behavioural and neural development.
Online Studies
Conducting remote, web-based research to investigate developmental processes in diverse populations and natural settings.
Computational Modeling
Using mathematical models and computer simulations to understand developmental mechanisms and predict cognitive and behavioral outcomes.
Robotics
Using simulated humanoid robots and AI models to simulate learning and developmental processes, providing insights into infant cognition and action.
Naturalistic Experimentation
Recording children's behaviors in realistic, everyday settings to understand how development unfolds in real-world environments.
Our History and Legacy
1
1998
The centre was founded by Prof Mark Johnson, Leslie Tucker, and colleagues who moved from the MRC Cognitive Development Unit to Birkbeck, aiming to revolutionise child development research with an interdisciplinary, multi-method approach. The CBCD was among the first to study babies across multiple domains (perception, cognition, neuroscience) longitudinally rather than in isolated small lab settings.
2
2005
The Centre wins the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education. The prize was awarded in 2005 for impact on understanding child development, with our research findings having implications for education, clinical practice, and social policy,
3
2019
The Centre celebrated 21 years of groundbreaking research. By this milestone, we had attracted roughly £38 million in research grants and conducted over 15,000 baby and child testing sessions.​​​ Alumni and staff reflected on the CBCD’s legacy of innovation.
4
2022
ToddlerLab Grand Opening – Birkbeck officially opened the Wohl Wolfson ToddlerLab, a state-of-the-art, five-storey research facility – the first of its kind in the world dedicated to toddler and preschool research. Outfitted with cutting-edge wearable technologies and naturalistic spaces (like a “Home Lab” living room, a preschool playroom, and an immersive CAVE virtual reality lab), the ToddlerLab allows scientists to study toddlers’ brain, cognitive and socio-emotional development in real-world simulations while the children move freely​.
Recent Media & News
Unleashing the Toddlers: Lessons from the new Birkbeck ToddlerLab
Prof Denis Mareschal recently gave a webinar for Learnus, a charity specialising in bringing research innovations in neuroscience to educators. He discusses lessons learned from 4+ years of studying young participants in our incredible ToddlerLab. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHQhgFSLHAo
The Babylab features in Channel 5's "Are you Autistic" documentary!
Watch Channel 5 to see a family visiting the Babylab and findings from the STAARS study! Prof Emily Jones discusses studying autism and what it means with presenter Dr Claire Taylor. https://www.channel5.com/show/are-you-autistic
ToddlerLab research published!
Our first paper on brain activity in mothers and their children in the Toddlerlab has just been published! We found when mums and kids solve puzzles together, their brains synchronise. Read more here: https://direct.mit.edu/imag/article/doi/10.1162/imag_a_00509/128247/Analytical-pipeline-optimisation-in-developmental
"5-Minute" interview about virtual reality research with young children
Check out Dr Chiara Bulgarelli's "5-Minute" podcast interview, where she explains how and why we use virtual reality to study the development of socialisation and social preferences in young children. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJzGcs-MgA0
Royal Foundation launches "Shaping Us Framework" with forward by Prof Emily Jones!
We are delighted to see the publication the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood's Shaping Us Framework. The Framework describes core social and emotional skills in an accessible way, which everyone in society can use and understand – as the basis for action. Our Prof Emily Jones wrote an essay supporting the launch, focusing on the importance of communication.
Babylab featured on BBC Persia!
Calling all Persian speakers! The Babylab & Toddlerlab, Prof Emily Jones and Dr Jannath Begum Ali were featured on BBC Persia about their work studying ASD in babies and children. From 17:20 in, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-elcd1Nv9M
Brain Imaging feature on ITV news!
The Babylab & Toddlerlab DOT study and Lumo brain imaging device were featured on ITV news with Martin Stew! We had the pleasure of hosting ITV news while they filmed our collaborator Liam Collins-Jones and Prof Emily Jones, not to mention our top infant scientist and very supportive mum! Read the press release or watch on ITV
CBCD featured on BBC Brain Hacks!
CBCD's Prof Ori Ossmy was filmed in the ToddlerLab for BBC's 'Brain Hacks' documentary series. Check out his insights on neural plasticity in babies!https://www.bbc.co.uk/reel/playlist/brain-hacks?vpid=p0gh541h
Participate in Our Research
For Parents
Help advance our understanding of child development by participating in our family-friendly studies. We offer safe, engaging activities for children of all ages, flexible scheduling options, and a chance to contribute to important scientific discoveries.
For Nurseries, Schools, & Charities
Partner with us to bring developmental science into your classroom and provide unique learning experiences. We offer age-appropriate research activities, educational presentations by scientists, and customised programs aligned with your curriculum.
Our Academic Programmes
PhD Programme
The CBCD is an internationally recognised centre for PhD training. Join our vibrant community of doctoral researchers investigating fundamental questions about brain development and cognition.
Interested students should contact potential supervisors in advance of the Birkbeck application deadline (generally late February). 
International students should contact potential supervisors as soon as possible since many fellowship schemes have very early submission deadlines (e.g., in the late summer or autumn of the year before commencement of the PhD programme).
For funding opportunities click here
MSc in Developmental Science & Neurodiversity
Nestled within the Centre, the MA/MSc programme in Developmental Science and Neurodiversity immerses you in the latest research on how biology, brain and environment shape both typical and neurodivergent development.
Through taught modules spanning genetics, neuroscience, global perspectives and advanced research methods, you’ll work alongside leading scientists in our cutting-edge BabyLab and ToddlerLab, design and run your own empirical project, and join weekly seminars with international experts.
Learn more and apply here.
Undergraduate Degree
Some very motivated Birkbeck undergraduate students have done their final-year project (e.g., senior thesis) with CBCD supervisors. For more information about undergraduate study, please see the following link:
have a look here!
Career Opportunities
Volunteering Positions
Gain hands-on experience in a world-class research environment. Opportunities available for undergraduate students and recent graduates interested in developmental science.
PhD Positions
Join our doctoral program and conduct innovative research under the guidance of leading experts in brain and cognitive development.
Postdoctoral Fellowships & Positions
Develop your independent research program with access to cutting-edge methods and collaborative opportunities with international partners.