The National Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science was approved for construction by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2005, and passed acceptance in 2007 to officially commence operations.

The laboratory focuses on major scientific issues in cognitive science such as "basic units of cognition", "learning and decision-making" and "mechanisms of consciousness". It conducts research across multiple evolutionary levels, cognitive levels, and interdisciplinary levels, achieving systematic and original results. The laboratory has also been highly effective in researching molecular neural mechanisms of cognition and cognitive disorders. It has established a world-class brain imaging facility centered around ultra-high-field magnetic resonance imaging, characterized by a combination of various brain imaging methods.The laboratory emphasizes the irreplaceable role of cognitive science in researching brain diseases, conducting innovative studies on scientific definitions and behavioral models of various mental and neurological disorders, as well as objective behavioral detection and diagnostic methods. It has proposed core foundational scientific questions for the study of the next generation of artificial intelligence: the relationship between cognition and computation. The laboratory initiated the establishment of the national first-tier academic society, the "Chinese Association for Cognitive Science", significantly promoting the development of this emerging and socially impactful science in China. It has twice received an "excellent" rating in national key laboratory evaluations.

Major research areas

(1) Theoretical frameworks of cognitive basic units - research at multiple cognitive, interdisciplinary, and evolutionary levels.

(2) Neuro-mechanisms of fruit fly behavior and basic cognitive functions.

(3) Molecular neural basis of cognition and cognitive disorders.

(4) Construction of brain imaging experimental platforms combining high-field magnetic resonance imaging as the core with various imaging methods.

(5) Cognitive and neural mechanisms of social information (faces and biological motion).

Over the past five years, the laboratory has led multiple National Key Research and Development Program of China and the major project for the Brain science and brain-like intelligence technology under the Sci-Tech Innovation 2030 Agenda. It has published over 30 papers in journals such as PNAS and above, including 1 in Nature and 1 in Science. It was selected as one of "China's Top 10 Advances in Life Sciences" in 2020, and has received awards such as the second prize of the Beijing Science and Technology Award and institutional awards for technology transfer achievements. The laboratory has also obtained more than 30 new authorized patents and has incubated 2 companies.

The laboratory has assembled a high-level team of full-time researchers and technical support staff with interdisciplinary backgrounds in brain science, cognitive science, neuroscience, psychology, molecular biology, biophysics, computer science, and mathematical sciences. The current director of the laboratory is Researcher He Sheng, and the director of the Academic Committee is Academician Lin Chen. There are 18 academic leaders in the laboratory, including 2 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 3 recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (NSFC), and 3 winners of the National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars (NSFC).

The laboratory currently occupies research facilities covering an area of over 9,000 square meters. It pioneered the construction of the largest and most comprehensive brain functional imaging center in China. This center includes 9.4T + 7T (two units) + 3T (three units) whole-body MRI systems for humans, an 11.7T animal MRI system, PET-MRI (Positron Emission Tomography-Magnetic Resonance Imaging fusion), MEG (Magnetoencephalography), EEG (Electroencephalography), TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation), TCS (Transcranial Current Stimulation), and various optical imaging devices.

Brain and cognitive science are not only at the forefront of basic life sciences research but also highly influential in fields such as mathematical sciences and information sciences. To closely align with national strategic needs, target the forefront of global scientific development, and serve public health, the laboratory will further refine its development goals and research directions to seize the high ground in brain and cognitive science research.