UT Dallas Center for BrainHealth

The Brain: An Owner’s Guide is the Center for BrainHealth’s annual lecture series. This year’s series theme is,  “An Organized Life. A Sharp Mind.”

The Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas has announced the lineup for its sell-out February lecture series, The Brain: An Owner’s Guide.

The lectures offer audiences information about transformative brain research directly from renowned scientists who are at the forefront of their field..

The Brain: An Owner’s Guide, sponsored by The Container Store, runs weekly with lectures at 7 p.m. every Tuesday during the month of  February.

Dr. Sandi Chapman, BrainHealth founder and chief director, described the 2012 speakers as among the world’s leading neuroscience groundbreakers.

“Brain health is the scientific cause of the 21st century. We are thrilled to be in a position to present up-to-the-minute results from researchers making indelible imprints on our knowledge of the brain,” she said.

The series theme, “An Organized Life. A Sharp Mind,” fits well with The Container Store partnership.

“We are delighted to have this opportunity to support the Center for a fifth year in its remarkable mission to advance brain health, a focus for our customers and employees,” said Melissa Reiff, president of The Container Store. 

This year’s lectures feature:

  • Feb. 7: “The Biology of Addiction”
    Dr. Eric Nestler, Mount Sinai Medical Center

    Nestler’s research focuses on the molecular neurobiology of drug addiction and depression. The lecture will address ways his work has contributed to the formation of a molecular approach to psychiatry and furthered the understanding of the molecular basis within depression and drug addiction.
  • Feb. 14: “The Drive to Love and Who We Choose”
    Dr. Helen Fisher, Rutgers University

    The author of five books on the evolution and future of human sexuality, monogamy and adultery, and the chemistry of romantic love, Fisher studies human personality types and why we fall in love with one person over another. She will discuss the neuromechanisms of love and how they determine the romantic choices we make.
  • Feb. 21: “Stress and the Brain”
    Dr. Robert Sapolsky, Stanford University

    Sapolsky, an expert on stress and the degeneration of the brain’s neurons, is among the first to document that stress can damage the neurons of the hippocampus. The author of Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers: An Updated Guide to Stress, he will discuss the latest research into the damaging consequences of stress.
  • Feb. 28: “Controlling the Brain With Light: New Technologies for Repairing Neural Circuits”
    Dr. Ed Boyden, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Boyden’s research includes developing new strategies for manipulating brain activity. He is currently working on controlling specific nerve cells within the brain using light in hopes of opening doors to new treatments for conditions like epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and mood disorders. Named one of the “20 Best Brains Under 40” by Discover, Boyden will discuss applications of this leading-edge research.

All lectures are at the Center for BrainHealth, 2200 West Mockingbird Lane in Dallas. The price is $35 for a single ticket to one lecture, $45 for a ticket at the door, and $130 for a single series pass to all four lectures. To make a purchase or for more information, visit www.CenterforBrainHealth.org or call (972)883-3225.