Derek Hodgson is noted for research into how the neuroscience of vision can shed light on cognitive evolution and the way cognition relates to material culture in the context of the origins of art. He has published numerous articles on the subject in international journals and edited books, and has been aninvited speaker at conferences worldwide. He was a Research Associate in the Department of Archaeology at University of York, UK, for many years and is a reviewer and advisor for many prestigious academic journals and institutions. He has contributed to the ten year British Academy research program, "Lucy to Language” and is, at present, scientific advisor for the European research project “Inscribe”, which explores the foundations of the first writing systems. He has recently published two books entitled The Roots of Visual Depiction in Art and From Deep Patterns to the Origin of Writing and Information Systems.