Body vs Mind

The human brain is an enormously complex structure that enables abstract thought, creativity and humour. Understanding this complexity is a daunting task but can be made easier by going back to humble beginnings both in embryonic development and in the evolution of the brain. I will talk about what we have learned over the past decades about basic principles in the construction of the brain. We will look at how nerve cells are formed, how they establish connections with each other and how the first functional network of nerve cells is formed.

What is pain? How is it perceived and importantly, can it be treated? Although these questions may be simple, they are still being asked today. This is evidenced by approx. 60 million people worldwide who endure long-term pain linked with poor mental health and reduced quality of life. This talk will provide an overview of the global impact followed by a discussion on what we know so far about how we perceive pain. Finally, the talk will discuss novel treatment approaches to manage pain and how they have contributed to our understanding of pain processes.

Flashbulb memories refer to your memory response about a dramatic public event. Although people hold unusually vivid memories for such events and are confident in the accuracy of these memories, researchers find these memories are in fact often inaccurate and can shift over time. In this talk I will explore the enigma represented by simultaneous confidence in which memories are held and their frequent inaccuracy. I will conclude by addressing the personal and cultural function of these memories and why they do not need to be accurate in order to serve an important role in peoples lives.