HSE Scientists Reveal How Disrupted Brain Connectivity Affects Cognitive and Social Behaviour in Children with Autism
An international team of scientists, including researchers from the HSE Centre for Language and Brain, has for the first time studied the connectivity between the brain's sensorimotor and cognitive control networks in children with autism. Using fMRI data, the researchers found that connections within the cognitive control network (responsible for attention and inhibitory control) are weakened, while connections between this network and the sensorimotor network (responsible for movement and sensory processing) are, by contrast, excessively strong. These features manifest as difficulties in social interaction and behavioural regulation in children. The study has been published in Brain Imaging and Behavior.
‘Himalaya Calling’: Dean of St Petersburg School of Social Sciences Speaks at Global Summit at UPES
Alexander Sorokin, Dean of the School of Social Sciences at HSE University–St Petersburg, was a key speaker at the Himalaya Calling global summit at UPES University in India.
Doing Business with China: Practical Advice for Russian Entrepreneurs
Doing business in China today requires expertise in the specifics of national culture, business ethics, and sanctions risks. HSE's Eastern Perspective continuing education programmes, which feature the involvement of leading experts and businesspeople, provide the knowledge and skills needed to enter and work successfully in the Chinese market. HSE University recently hosted a conference on doing business with China.
HSE University–St Petersburg Expands Partnership with Leading Vietnamese University
HSE University–St Petersburg welcomed a delegation from VNU University of Economics and Business (VNU-UEB). The visit took place in the framework of the year of Russian–Vietnamese relations.
Parion Mission: Hetaera’s Krater, Ancient Urban Technology, and Digital Archaeology
On September 15–16, 2025, the HSE Centre of Classical and Oriental Archaeology at the Institute for Oriental and Classical Studies, Faculty of Humanities, held an international conference marking the fifth anniversary of excavations carried out by HSE archaeologists as part of the Parion Mission of Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, at the agora of Parion.
Similar Comprehension, Different Reading: How Native Language Affects Reading in English as a Second Language
Researchers from the MECO international project, including experts from the HSE Centre for Language and Brain, have developed a tool for analysing data on English text reading by native speakers of more than 19 languages. In a large-scale experiment involving over 1,200 people, researchers recorded participants’ eye movements as they silently read the same English texts and then assessed their level of comprehension. The results showed that even when comprehension levels were the same, the reading process—such as gaze fixations, rereading, and word skipping—varied depending on the reader's native language and their English proficiency. The study has been published in Studies in Second Language Acquisition.
‘The Future Is Not Predetermined—We Shape It with the Decisions We Make Today’
The strategic technological project ‘National Centre of Science, Technology, and Socio-Economic Foresight’ at HSE University spans horizons of 10 to 30 years and involves developing new methodologies of scenario analysis. It brings together researchers from different fields and helps to form a holistic vision of the future. The aim of the project is not only to produce forecasts but also to generate practical recommendations for government and business. Anastasia Likhacheva, Dean of the HSE Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, explains why it is important to learn to ask the right questions about the future.
Orientation Day for International Students at HSE University–St Petersburg
HSE University–St Petersburg held a comprehensive adaptation event for international bachelor's and master's first-years and participants of academic mobility programmes. Read on to find out why students from all over the world choose HSE University–St Petersburg for their studies.
Registration for Russian Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence 2025 Now Open
Registration for the fifth season of the Russian Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence has opened. This year, the competition has gained international status. The event is open to students in the 8–11 grades both in Russia and abroad. The winners will receive benefits when applying to Russian universities.
Mortgage and Demography: HSE Scientists Reveal How Mortgage Debt Shapes Family Priorities
Having a mortgage increases the likelihood that a Russian family will plan to have a child within the next three years by 39 percentage points. This is the conclusion of a study by Prof. Elena Vakulenko and doctoral student Rufina Evgrafova from the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences. The authors emphasise that this effect is most pronounced among women, people under 36, and those without children. The study findings have been published in Voprosy Ekonomiki.
Abstracts submission - August 10, 2025