Ten Unsolved Questions of Neuroscience

David Eagleman (Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy at the University of Texas)

Abstract

Neuroscience, being a young field, does not yet enjoy the benefits of having established its general principles. Results abound, but with little theoretical scaffolding, it is often difficult to understand what those results mean about remembering, reasoning, dreaming, catching a ball, and so on. Motivated by a desire for 'field-sense', this talk introduces 10 major problems in the field of neuroscience. Topics include memory, sleep, consciousness, information in neural activity, emotions, plasticity, intelligence, and several others. For each problem I will address why the question is important, what its history is, what we think we currently understand, what guesses we have for the future, and by what methods we might chase down the answers. The talk is intended to illustrate (and often challenge) current thinking in the field. Its outline will follow the upcoming book "Ten Unsolved Questions of Neuroscience" by David Eagleman & Patricia Churchland (MIT Press 2005).

Date: Friday, April 8, 2005
Time: 10:00 AM
Place: Concordia University, Loyola Campus, Science Pavilion (Building SP), 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, 3rd Floor
Room: SP 365.01
Contact: (514) 848-2424 ext 2595

Note: There are regular shuttle buses traveling between Sir George Williams Campus (1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W.) and Loyola Campus; see Shuttle bus schedule.




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