The Cambridge Science Festival began this week and there’s everything from astronomy to zoology – but you may find some of the most fascinating talks, activities and workshops are to do with the brain and how it affects everything we do.

We all think we know our own brains – the control centre controlling our bodies, intelligence, creativity, emotion, and memory – but what happens when it goes wrong? And what are neuroscience researchers and psychologists discovering about its abilities?

The University of Cambridge festival aims to find out by taking an in-depth look into the workings of the brain, from psychosis and dementia to how other systems in the body control the mind, and reveals some of the latest research into brain damage repair.

There is a packed series of neuroscience and psychology events that would cater for any person interested in understanding and exploring the fascinating world of how our brain functions.

Some of the attractions on offer include a talk by Dr Duncan Astle from the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit who will be highlighting learning, attention and memory – in other words, our cognitive behaviour.

There are other systems in the body that can have an impact on how our brain controls our thoughts and feelings and on Saturday, you can catch Dr Philippe Gilchrist discussing some of the relationships between day-to-day cardiovascular functioning and our thoughts, feelings and behaviours in his event – From Heart to Emotion.

Neural Networks community workshops take place on Tuesday and Friday next week, where you can find out how to improve our own brain health with the Neural Knitworks team.

The team get crafty to discover more about Cambridge neuroscience and allow you to create textile neurons from scientifically informed patterns to improve your brain health.

If you are someone who is intrigued by how the brain really works and how scientists, psychologists and neuroscience can help us all understand more about the brain and all its intricacies, then the’ll definitely be segments of the two-week festival that you’ll want to put in your diary.

For a programme of the festival, which closes on Sunday, March 25, and information on what events you need to prebook go to www.sciencefestival.cam.ac.uk.