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Tonight Mark will discuss how memory works, and Andrew will describe what we can learn from bizarre disorders of the brain and unusual circumstances. Pint of Science pint glasses and tshirts to be won! (Please note: ground floor event, easily accessible)
Working memory: how the brain keeps thoughts in mind
Dr Mark Stokes
(Associate Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience)
Intelligent behaviour depends on our ability to hold information in mind for brief periods of time. For example, playing a game of chess, you might need to keep in mind various potential moves (and their consequences) while you evaluate your best options. In cognitive psychology, this ability is known as working memory. Our research is trying to understand how the brain keeps information in working memory using a variety of neuroscientific methods. I will discuss what we have learned so far, and what big questions remain unanswered.
How we know what we know about the brain
Dr Andrew Bell
(Senior Investigator Scientist in Social Neuroscience)
What do explosions, gunshot wounds, and large fancy machines have in common? Answer: 1) They all feature heavily in James Bond movies, and 2) They have all provided critical insights into the human brain. Using examples from history, I will show how our understanding of human brain has grown thanks to some rather unusual circumstances. I will also describe some of the many bizarre neurological disorders that occur following damage to specific brain regions.
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