2012 Psychology Chair's Colloquium

Dr. Marcus Raichle

12:30pm - 1:30pm

October 25, 2012

Wyckoff Auditorium

The Psychology Department welcomes Dr. Marcus Raichle for a talk titled “Two views of brain function,” with an abstract as follows: 

"Traditionally studies of brain function have focused on task-evoked responses. By their very nature such experiments tacitly encourage a reflexive view of brain function. While such an approach has been remarkably productive it ignores the alternative possibility that brain functions are mainly intrinsic and largely non-conscious involving information processing for interpreting, responding to and predicting environmental demands. I will argue, as others have before me, that the latter view best captures the essence of brain function. A true understanding of human behavior requires an appreciation of the role of the brain's intrinsic activity."

Dr. Raichle, a neurologist, is a Professor of Radiology, Neurology, Neurobiology and Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in St Louis. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, The Institute of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He and his colleagues have made outstanding contributions to the study of human brain function through the development and use of positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Their landmark study (Nature, 1988) described the first integrated strategy for the design, execution and interpretation of functional brain images. For more details, see http://www.nil.wustl.edu/labs/raichle/ . In short Dr. Raichle and his research group have been at the forefront of brain imaging. We are so happy and honored to have him coming to SU!

Please contact Rebecca Severson at (206) 296-5400 or psychology@seattleu.edu.

Cosponsored by the College of Arts & Sciences and Departments of Biology & General Science.