16 to 16 Jun. 2026 - 21:00
Why do we remember our childhood bedtime stories more vividly than literature we read in high school?
Join us on 16 June for the upcoming Ar Event “We begin with a story” to delve into the fascinating connection between storytelling and the human mind!
Dr. Buddhika Bellana is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the Glendon Campus of York University inToronto, Canada. His research focuses on the cognitive neuroscience of episodic memory — our ability to re-experience the past. In particular, he is interested in how episodic memory draws upon, and contributes to, meaning-making. To learn more about his work, visit www.bellanalab.com.
*This talk will be online.
Dr. Joe Stubbersfield is a senior lecturer in Psychology at the University of Winchester, UK. His research draws on social learning, cultural evolution, and cognitive anthropology, and focuses on how biases in cognition shape the way that information spreads through social networks, particularly misinformation, conspiracy theories, and urban legends.
Lydia Fettweis Neto is a research technician at Champalimaud Research’s Systems Neuroscience Lab. With a background in set and costume design, she combines her creative flair with her scientific pursuits, showcasing the exciting possibilities at the intersection of art and cognitive neuroscience. Currently, Lydia applies these methods to study visual perception and investigate how environmental design can improve the pre-surgical experience.
Saheli Roy is a PhD student studying Neuroscience at the Innate Behavior Laboratory of the Champalimaud Foundation. Her current work utilizes tiny fruit flies to understand behavioral prioritization: when faced with threats, do animals prioritize their own safety or the survival of their species? A keen reader of Bengali and English literature, she also occasionally dabbles in writing, across both scientific as well as more creative realms.
In this age of instant communication, our days are filled with stories. From our favorite dishes to our political preferences — our cherished memories, and thereby our identities are defined by stories. Over time, as these stories get repeated, they influence our perception of ourselves and how we understand the world around us.
Join us on June 16th at 9 PM, as we delve into the fascinating connection between storytelling and the human mind. We will explore how traditional tales helped define different cultures around the globe—through storytelling and anthropological insights. Buddhika Bellana from York University will tell us how our spontaneous thoughts are shaped by the stories we get exposed to. Joe Stubbersfield from the University of Winchester will then unravel how our cognitive biases cause some stories to appeal to us more than others.
This live event will be in English and will also be transmitted online.
Register here.
