Taking place this evening at 19:00 (GMT) is the first in a new series of online lectures and talks hosted by Fondazione Prada that investigate the anatomy of our brains. With guest speakers for each episode, the daily program of events will delve into the latest research on neural biology and human consciousness, giving viewers access to some of the most exciting new developments in the field.

Consider it a substitute for that psychology class you wish you’d taken, or that neuroscience book you’ve been meaning to read, only it’s free, available in easily digested, hour-long episodes and provided by an A-list roster of scientists and researchers. Today’s debut episode for example, sees Spanish neuroscientist Mavi Sanchez-Vives in conversation with French neuroscientist and widely-published author, Jean-Pierre Changeux.

In this heavyweight match-up, the two will be debating current issues surrounding the biological basis of consciousness, molecular mechanisms and neuro-chemical bases, as well as analysis on revolutionary techniques of in vivo brain studies. If you’d rather test the waters first or as a general appetiser to tonight’s main course, we recommend you check out Sanchez-Vives 2019 talk at Science Unlimited. Working primarily with virtual reality, Sanchez-Vives discusses how experiences in the virtual world can carry over into the physical, with physiological, behavioural and cognitive consequences. You don’t need to know much about neuroscience or virtual reality to see how prescient this research is.

Tune in for free at 19:00 GMT here