Phantoms, Purple Numbers, and Imposter Poodles

Session Details

Speaker(s)

• V.S. Ramachandran, Professor and Director of the Center for Brain and Cognition, University of California, San Diego

Abstract

What does an amputee who still feels a phantom limb have in common with an avant-garde artist, or a schizophrenic who claims to be controlled by alien implants, or an autistic child who can draw a hyper-realistic horse? According to neuroscientist Ramachandran, the answer lies deep in the physical structures of the brain. Ramachandran will offer a thought-provoking survey of his area of research. Through examples, anecdotes, and conjecture, he aims "to make neuroscience . . . more accessible to a broad audience." In this session, Ramachandran explains how the roots of both psychological disorders and aesthetic accomplishment (such as learning) can be located in various regions of the brain and the connections (or lack thereof) between them.