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About

Thomas Wennekers is a computational neuroscientist and robotics researcher whose work sits at the intersection of neuromorphic computing, cognitive robotics, and brain-inspired artificial intelligence. His research focuses on translating biological principles of neural computation into functioning robotic systems, with particular emphasis on spiking neural networks, visual attention, and sensorimotor learning. Wennekers has made significant contributions to neurorobotics by demonstrating how neuromorphic hardware, particularly the SpiNNaker chip, can be integrated with humanoid platforms like the iCub robot to perform real-world tasks such as object recognition and attention-guided behavior. His most-cited work, "Behavioral Learning in a Cognitive Neuromorphic Robot" (2018, 24 citations), exemplifies this integrative philosophy, combining biological realism with practical robotic application. Complementary studies on bio-inspired visual attention and Cell Assembly learning further established his reputation for grounding robotic cognition in neuroanatomically plausible models. More recently, Wennekers has expanded into social robotics, exploring data-driven emotional body language generation to enhance human-robot interaction. Spanning over a decade of published research, his body of work reflects a sustained commitment to bridging neuroscience and engineering, offering students and researchers a rigorous yet accessible roadmap for building truly brain-inspired intelligent systems.