SPP 2205
Evolutionary optimization of neuronal processing

July 11, 2026

09:00-09:15 opening remarks


session I: Neural circuit and brain evolution through encephalization bursts

  • 09:15-10:00 lecture I: Daniel Sol (CREAF, Campus de Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain)
  • 10:00-10:30 Roberto Toro (Institut Pasteur, Paris, France)
  • 10:30-11:00 coffee break
  • 11:00:11:30 Kristina Kverková (Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic)
  • 11:30-12:00 Chris Vendetti (University of Reading, UK)


12:00-13:00 lunch break


session II: Palaeoneurology of mosaic and correlated brain evolution (part 1)

  • 13:15-14:00 lecture II: Amy M. Balanoff (Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA)
  • 14:00-14:30 Katja Heuer (Paris Brain Institute, France)


14:30-15:30 poster session and coffee break


session II: Palaeoneurology of mosaic and correlated brain evolution (part 2)

  • 15:30-16:00 Alexandra A. de Sousa (Auburn University, Alabama, USA), "Energetic Constraints on Brain Organization in Human Paleoneurology"
  • 16:00-16:30 Gabriel S. Feirrera (Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, University of Tübingen, Germany)
  • 16:30-17:00 Ryan Felice (University College London, UK), "3D morphometric analysis reveals mosaic macroevolution of brain shape in mammalia"


    • closing remarks day 1


    July 12, 2026

    09:00-09:15 opening remarks, day 2


    session III: Evolution of body, brain and lifestyle in ecological context

    • 09:15-09:45 Margot Michaud (Institut Polytechnique UniLaSalle, Université d’Artois, France | Université de Liège, Belgium), "Multiscale brain evolution in Carnivora: an ecological perspective"
    • 09:45-10:15 Fernando Blanco (Doñana Biological Station, Sevilla, Spain)
    • 10:15-10:45 t.b.a.
    • 10:45-11:15 coffee break
    • 11:15-11:45 Camilo López Aguirre (Universidad de La Salle, Bogota, Colombia)
    • 11:45-12:15 Simone Macri (University of Helsinki, Finland)


    12:15-13:15 lunch break


    session IV: Brain evolution in relation to behaviour and senses (part 1)

    • 13:15-14:00 lecture III: Sue Healy (University of St Andrews, UK)
    • 14:00-14:30 Kei Yamamoto (Institut des Neuroscience, Paris, France)


    14:30-15:00 coffee break


    session IV: Brain evolution in relation to behaviour and senses (part 2)

    • 15:00-15:30 Magdalena Boch (University of Oxford, UK | University of Vienna, Austria)
    • 15:30-16:00 Robyn Gant (Manchester Metropolitan University, UK)


        • closing remarks and good bye