WWU's "Neuroscience on Tap" continues today, Feb. 1, downtown
Faculty from WWU’s Behavioral Neuroscience Program and Biology and Psychology departments will gather for a monthly neighborhood round-table discussion, “Neuroscience on Tap: Bring Your Own Brain (BYOB),” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1, at Bob’s Burgers & Brew, 202 E. Holly St. in downtown Bellingham.
“Monkey See Monkey Do! The Mirror Neuron Revolution” is this month’s topic, which will be hosted by Kelly Jantzen, an assistant professor in Western’s Psychology Department.
The recent discovery of mirror neurons provides evidence that we can - at least in a way. Mirror neurons are rather simple in nature - they fire both when we perform an action and also when we watch someone else perform a similar action. This simple property provides the neural foundation for shared experiences. You can understand the intention of another because watching their behavior activates the same behavior in your brain. You literally simulate their actions. The exciting discovery of mirror neurons has rapidly dissolved the age old divide between action, thinking and perceiving by demonstrating that acting and perceiving involve overlapping brain systems. Extensive research into mirror neurons has led the provocative suggestion that they play a key role in empathy, the development of theory of mind and even may have provided the foundation for the development of language. Recent theories also suggest that deficits in mirror neuron function may underlie some of the symptoms of autism.
Regular monthly meetings occur on the first Monday of each month. At each meeting, a faculty member will lead the discussion of a specific topic, from mental illness to food addiction to brain injury. The location for these meetings is now a private upstairs room at Bob’s Burgers & Brew.
For more information on this event, contact Coco Besson, WWU Behavioral Neuroscience Program Coordinator, at (360) 650-2148 or at coco.besson@wwu.edu. Additional program information can also be found at http://www.wwu.edu/neuroscience/.