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OHSU Reveals This Year's Brain Awareness Season Lecture Lineup

Events will begin in the end of January

Oregon Health & Science University’s popular Brain Awareness Season lecture series returns this winter with a powerful lineup. The theme of this year’s series, now in its tenth year, is “The Power and Potential of the Brain.” During the five-week event, internationally respected brain experts will delve into the body’s most complex organ to reveal secrets about learning, love and listening.

Following is a full listing of this year’s events:

Monday, Jan. 26 – Neuroplasticity – Mike Merzenich, Ph.D., a well-known neuroscientist from the University of California, San Francisco, and an expert on neuroplasticity ‑ the brain’s amazing ability to reorganize itself when faced with a challenge such as the loss of hearing or sight ‑ will be joined by National Public Radio science correspondent Joe Palca on this special opening event.

Monday, Feb. 2 - Learning, Arts and the Brain – This event will feature a panel of neuroscience and creative experts: Mike Posner, Ph.D., Helen Neville, Ph.D., Dan Weiden of Weiden and Kennedy; and Chris Coleman of Portland Center Stage. The discussion, moderated by John Frohnmayer, past chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, will investigate creativity and learning in the brain and the factors that lead to creative thinking.

Monday, Feb. 9 – Aging Brain Plasticity ‑ Carl Cotman Ph.D., of the University of California, Irvine, shares his research findings about the aging brain and natural adjustments that occur late in life so that we can continue to function at a high level even as our brains slowly change.

Monday, Feb. 16 – Brain Chemistry for Lovers – A special Valentine’s season event and tenth anniversary celebration where the Portland Chamber Orchestra joins forces with Grammy- nominated singer Valerie Day, jazz pianist Darrell Grant, award winning filmmaker Jim Blashfield, orchestrator/arranger John Smith and OHSU neuroscientist Larry Sherman, Ph.D.  Together they will explore the greatest human emotion: love. The event will explore the emotions tied to song, film and the latest discoveries in the world of neuroscience.

*** Free Event - March 2 – Tinnitus, What’s the Buzz About? –William Martin, Ph.D., of the OHSU Hearing Research Center, examines the factors behind one of the brain’s most puzzling, perplexing and annoying health issues. Martin will also discuss breakthroughs that have helped us both understand and treat the problem.

All lectures take place at the Newmark Theater (1111 S.W. Broadway) in the Portland Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Portland. Tickets are available at any TicketMaster outlet or at the PCPA box office, 503 248-4335.

About OHSU

Oregon Health & Science University is the state’s only health and research university and Oregon’s only academic health center. OHSU is Portland's largest employer and the fourth largest in Oregon (excluding government), with 12,700 employees. OHSU's size contributes to its ability to provide many services and community support activities not found anywhere else in the state. It serves patients from every corner of the state, and is a conduit for learning for more than 3,400 students and trainees. OHSU is the source of more than 200 community outreach programs that bring health and education services to every county in the state.

 

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