Why do most mental health problems arise during adolescence? And how is this related to brain development?
Download the Brain Explorer app now and help us to understand how the brain works!
Play fun games to help us understand the brain
Be a space explorer, travel through the universe and help us solve fun puzzles!
Win medals, find your brain strength, and compete with your friends!
Our games are based on the latest insights from brain research. And while you play, you will help our research!
The Games
Milky Way
Find the best place to buy goods on the busy outerspace market, but beware the space pirates!
This game investigates how you learn and decide.
Scavenger
As a scavenger you will exploit abandoned spaceships on a deserted planet. Are you taking risks and bet on the big win?
This game tests your risk-taking skills.
Space Observer
As a space observer, you will help us to discover new planets and find out which aliens live there.
This games tests how quick your perception is.
Treasure Hunt
As a space miner you will explore foreign planets and need to find the best treasure hidden on each one.
This game tests how decisive you are.
What do we research?
We are interested how our brains develop during adolescence and throughout our lifetimes. We want to understand why most mental health problems, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), emerge during adolescence. By playing the games on our app, you will help us to understand how different brain mechanisms influence how we think and feel. This will allow us to better understand how brain processes are linked to mental health problems and may help to find new treatments.
How do we analyse your data?
This is a ‘citizen science’ project. This means that everyone can take part and contribute valuable information for our research. We will use statistics, computer models and machine learning to analyse the information from the app and to investigate the brain mechanisms underlying our behaviours. This will allow us to find new and important associations between the brain and mental health.
Who can take part?
Everyone aged 9 years or older is invited to take part! The games are fun for all ages and everyone who plays will help us to understand how the brain works! If you are below 16, then we will ask your parents or guardians to let us know that they are happy for you to play our games.
What will happen with your data?
Privacy is very important to us. Please rest assured that all your data is completely anonymised – which means we do not know who you are and we cannot find out. We will only use your data for research purposes here at University College London. We will not use your data for any commercial purposes. We are only collecting the data you are willing to share with us.
We are not collecting any passive data (such as GPS location or what you do on other apps). You can always opt out from data collection and/or request to delete your data.
However, you will then no longer be able to help us with our research. For all details, please see the Privacy Notice below.
Do you have more questions about our research or the app? Or do you have some feedback for us? Please get in touch! You can contact us via the form below.
You can also find more about our research on our lab website:
The Brain Explorer App is a fantastic tool for neuroscientific and psychological research in decision-making. The app has enabled us to get high quality data from hundreds of participants in a very short amount of time. Our participants report that it is easy to use, and even fun!Micah A., Neuroscientist
Galactically cool games!Alisa L.
On the whole [...], the games are fun and not overly long. The app itself is charming, bright and calming, and I've not only enjoyed my time with Brain Explorer but will return to it.anonymous user
Mega cool, die Studie in einer App zu verpacken! :)anonymous user
The Researchers
Developmental Computational Psychiatry Lab
The Developmental Computational Psychiatry lab is based at University College London (UCL). The lab aims to understand why so many psychiatric disorders arise during adolescence, and how this is related to problems with brain development. We combine brain imaging techniques and mathematical models to understand how the brain develops and how it goes awry and lead to mental health problems. The app was developed by Dr Vasilisa Skvortsova and Dr Tobias Hauser.
The Brain Explorer app was programmed by THKP, LLC. THKP is a small engineering shop specializing in building mobile and web apps. It comprises Jon Bedard and Matt Keller.
