NO SEMINAR - THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

Thursday, November 26, 2009

NO TALK - THANKSGIVING

Omar Gharbawie, PhD
Vanderbilt University
Department of Psychology/Kaas Lab

Title

Thursday, December 3, 2009
12:10 p.m.
316 Wilson Hall

Abstract

Department of Psychology NEUROSCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES

For additional information, contact Carol Wiley@carol.wiley@vanderbilt.edu

Norbert Ross
Associate Professor
Department of Anthropology
Vanderbilt University

Rearranging the tables: language and spatial cognition revisited; an anthropological perspective
Languages vary in their semantic partitioning of the world. This has led to speculations that language might in fact shape cognitive processes. Spatial cognition has been a prime area of research where linguistic relativity has both been proposed and rejected, leading to differing claims about how the mind works. However, previous studies are inconclusive, lacking either experimental rigor, cross-linguistic design, or, more importantly, a meaningful theory of culture and ethnographic understanding of the study populations. As a result, language has not only been treated, incorrectly, as an independent variable, but has also been confounded with other variables (such as experimental environment, cultural frameworks, education and age of the participants to name just a few). To the best of my knowledge the present study constitutes the first research exploring the spatial cognition of individuals speaking different languages but living (for generations) within the same community. Several tasks were performed to understand the production of spatial language and spatial cognition. Results clearly show that language does not shape spatial cognition and has at best a secondary role in foregrounding alternative possibilities of spatial configurations. Instead I suggest cultural framework theories to guide the perception and encoding of spatial arrangements.

115 Wilson Hall
Friday 12/4/09
4:00 PM

Christopher Moore, PhD
McGovern Institute for Brain Research
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Title

Wednesday, December 9, 2009
4:10 p.m.
1220 Medical Research Building III (MRB III)

Abstract

Graduate Neuroscience Seminar Series

For additional information, contact Carol Wiley@carol.wiley@vanderbilt.edu

Jon Kaas, PhD
Vanderbilt University
Department of Psychology

Title

Thursday, December 10, 2009
12:10 p.m.
316 Wilson Hall

Abstract

Department of Psychology NEUROSCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES

For additional information, contact Carol Wiley@carol.wiley@vanderbilt.edu

Geoff Woodman
Department of Psychology
Vanderbilt University

115 Wilson Hall
Friday 12/11/09
4:00 PM

Hisashi Tanigawa, PhD
Vanderbilt University
Department of Psychology/Roe Lab

Title

Thursday, December 17, 2009
12:10 p.m.
316 Wilson Hall

Abstract

Department of Psychology NEUROSCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES

For additional information, contact Carol Wiley@carol.wiley@vanderbilt.edu

Michael R. DeBaun, M.D., M.P.H.
Professor of Pediatrics, Biostatistics, and Neurology
Washington University-St. Louis

Title TBA; topic likely to include the etiology, medical management, and cognitive outcomes of children with sickle cell disease.

Thursday, January 21, 2010
4:10 p.m.
Room 241 VKC/MRL Bldg _Michael R. DeBaun_ <http://peds.wustl.edu

Vivien Casagrande, PhD
Vanderbilt University
Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology and Psychology

Title

Thursday, February 25, 2010
12:10 p.m.
316 Wilson Hall

Abstract

Department of Psychology NEUROSCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES

For additional information, contact Carol Wiley@carol.wiley@vanderbilt.edu

Steven F. Maier , Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor of Psychology
Director of the Center for Neuroscience
University of Colorado

Title TBA; topic likely to include the neurobiology of stress, with a special emphasis on health and depression.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010
4:10 p.m.
MRB III
Room 1220

Co-sponsor: Vanderbilt Brain Institute

Huda Y. Zoghbi, M.D.
Professor of Molecular & Human Genetics, Pediatrics, Neurology, and Neuroscience
Baylor College of Medicine

Title TBA; topic likely to include genetics and cell biology of Rett syndrome and autism spectrum disorders, polyglutamine neurodegenerative diseases, and genes essential for typical neurodevelopment.

Thursday, March 4, 2010
4:10 p.m.
Room 241
VKC/MRL Bldg

Lisa M. Monteggia, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

Title TBA; topic likely to include the molecular and cellular basis of neural plasticity as it pertains to psychiatric disorders.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010
4:10 p.m.
MRB III
Room 1220

Co-sponsor Vanderbilt Brain Institute

Jeffrey D. Macklis, M.D., D.HST,
Pearlstein Professor of Neuroscience, Neurology, and Neurosurgery
Harvard Medical School Professor of Developmental and Regenerative Biology
Harvard University; Program Head Neuroscience/Nervous System Diseases
Harvard Stem Cell Institute; Director, MGH-HMS Center for Nervous System Repair

Title TBA; topic likely to include neural precursor / "stem cell"
biology, neocortical projection neuron differentiation, functional neuronal circuit repair via transplantation, and induction of neurogenesis by molecular manipulation.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010
4:10 p.m.
MRB III
Room 1220

Co-sponsor: Vanderbilt Brain Institute