Cognitive Science Seminar
The Cognitive Science Seminar is a course of MEi:CogSci study programme that is a legacy of original interdisciplinary Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence Seminar, which started in 2015. In winter semester the seminar is oriented mostly for the students of cognitive science, to provide insight into the current research in the field of cognitive science by people from FMPI UK and beyond. In summer semester it is a community activity and focuses on current trends in AI and CogSci. The seminar is open, everybody is welcome to attend the offered lectures.
The seminar is organized by Kristína Malinovská.
Time and place: Tuesday 16:30-18:00 in I9 and MS Teams CogSci seminar
Program for winter semester 2025/2026
14.10.2025 - Ján Bakoš
Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava
Department of Neuroscience, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences
Field: neuroscience
Oxytocin's role in neurodevelopment and autism
Our main objective is to understand the mechanisms of nervous system development, neuronal cell formation and differentiation, and the dynamics of neuroendocrine responses to various stimuli. Neuropeptides, such as oxytocin, likely play a role in early brain development through mechanisms of neurogenesis and neuritogenesis. However, detailed knowledge of oxytocin signaling alterations in neurodevelopmental disorders remains limited. Therefore, we investigate the role of oxytocin and other neuropeptides and neuromodulators in brain development, with a specific focus on determining the etiology of autism. We discovered that oxytocin interferes with neurite outgrowth regulation and significantly impacts early nervous system development.
21.10.2025 - Xenia Daniela Poslon
Institute for Research in Social Communication, Slovak Academy of Sciences
Department of Applied Informatics, FMPI, Comenius University Bratislava
Field: social psychology
Social cognition: Psychology of prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination (and what to do about it)
Building on social, cognitive, as well as political psychology, I will present some of the basic socio-cognitive processes that contribute to stereotyping and prejudice, and how these automatic mechanisms may result in severe dehumanization and discrimination of others. Our research is primarily concerned with how diverse normative and societal contexts shape the formation and expression of prejudice against various disadvantaged and minority groups. Specifically, we are interested in how people make sense of political discourse and social norms in society, how it may contribute to social identities, which in turn influence not only attitudes, but also engagement for social change on behalf of disadvantaged groups.
28.10.2025 - Beáta Sobotová
The Czech Academy of Sciences
Field: health psychology
Psychological barriers to pro-environmental behavior
In environmental psychology research, there is a well-documented disparity, called the “green gap”, between what people think of the seriousness of climate change as an issue and how they behave in this regard. When we look at large representative surveys across European countries (e.g. Eurobarometer), we see that while most people consider climate change to be a serious issue, the same people usually do relatively little to decrease they own carbon footprint or to support initiatives that aim to do so. In a our recent studies with a large representative samples of Slovak population, me and my colleagues have tried to examine various psychological barriers that could explain this gap between attitudes and behaviors in domain of climate change. We also developed two different interventions to reduce these barriers and promote pro-environmental behavior. In this talk, I will present selected findings of the recent research on psychological barriers of pro-environmental behavior at the Institute of Experimental Psychology of Slovak Academy of Sciences and will attempt to link our findings to the most recent international trends in this domain of psychological study.
04.11.2025 - Martin Takáč
Department of Applied Informatics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University Bratislava
Field: artificial intelligence - models of cognition
How to build a baby: a developmental approach to artificial general intelligence
We can view the human mind as a collection of interacting dynamical systems with emergent behaviour. More importantly, we are constantly engaged in interactions with our environment and other people. Learning from interactions is essential for BECOMING intelligent. In my talk I will present several computational models serving as building blocks of a cognitive architecture for experiments with developing artificial general intelligence. I will also present BabyX – AI-driven hyperrealistic simulation of a human baby - and experiments in development of cognitive abilities and communication using BabyX as a model.
11.11.2025 - Zuzana Rošťáková
Institute of Measurement Science, Slovak Academy of Sciences
Field: neuroscience - neurophysiological data analysis
Using Tensor Decomposition to Analyse Human Electroencephalogram: Three Different Examples from Cognitive Neuroscience
The human electroencephalogram (EEG) represents a rich source of information about brain function, reflecting both physiological and cognitive processes. Variations in EEG characteristics can serve as biomarkers for neurophysiological disorders, indicate changes in mental states, or even be used to control external devices. However, the meaningful information in the EEG signal is often hidden within complex, directly unobservable patterns. These hidden patterns - known as latent structures - can be uncovered using advanced analytical methods. Tensor decomposition methods offer powerful tools for analysis of multidimensional EEG signal. In this presentation, we introduce the fundamental concepts of tensor decomposition and demonstrate its application in three cognitive neuroscience contexts: (1) identifying subject-specific narrowband oscillatory rhythms in EEG, (2) tracking mental fatigue during motor imagery tasks in a virtual environment, and (3) detecting quasi-stable EEG microstates during resting-state conditions. Together, these examples highlight how tensor decomposition methods can help us better understand the brain’s complex and dynamic activity.
20.11.2025 - Zuzana Berger Haladová
Department of Applied Informatics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University Bratislava
Field: computer vision and XR
Note: This seminar takes place on Thursday at 13:10 (same room I-9)
XR and CV applications in Art and Humanities
Abstract: The exploration of XR domains has expanded into various fields of application research. In the talk, we will explore two specific application domains we are collaborating on: applied psychology (in collaboration with the Faculty of social and economic sciences, UK, Bratislava) and restoration (in collaboration with restorers from Academy of Fine Arts, Bratislava). We will present two use cases: the first involves using AR to present the restoration process to the public, and the second involves VR for virtual psychological interventions, such as virtual forest therapy and the empty chair technique.
25.11.2025 - Michal Tölgyessy
Institute of Robotics and Cybernetics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology
Field: robotics - HRI
...tba
02.12.2025 - Michal Teplan
Institute of Measurement Science, Slovak Academy of Sciences
Field: psychology - neuroimaging
The mental state of flow as a research challenge
...tba
09.12.2025 - Daniela Vacek
Department of Analytic Philosophy, Institute of Philosophy, Slovak Academy of Sciences
Department of Logic and the Methodology of Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Comenius University Bratislava
Field: philosophy
...tba