This theme investigates the cognitive and neural processes that underlie how humans perceive, attend to, and interact with their environment. The research spans naturalistic behaviour, memory, decision-making, and multisensory integration, employing diverse methods such as neuroimaging, computational modelling, virtual reality, and cross-cultural studies. A key focus is understanding how cognition unfolds in real-world contexts, including how memories guide behaviour, how attention is regulated across tasks, and how neural networks support perception and action. The theme also explores developmental trajectories, clinical populations, and individual differences, with implications for education, mental health, and human-centred design.

The groups in theme examine both typical and atypical cognition, including neurodevelopmental conditions, dementia, and speech disorders, to uncover the neural and computational principles governing behaviour. The work extends to practical applications, such as improving learning algorithms, designing multisensory environments, and developing tools to enhance attention and decision-making. The Department houses facilities for multisensory research including a state-of-the-art olfaction lab. By bridging laboratory science with real-world challenges, the theme advances a comprehensive understanding of how sensing, thinking, and doing are interconnected in the human mind and brain.