Speaker: Dr Laura Bradfield (UTS)Title: Hippocampal dysregulation causes transient deficits in decision-making: consequences for old age and Alzheimer’s disease Abstract: The hippocampus is a central component of learning and memory systems in the brain, but its role in decision-making has received comparatively little attention. We found that, similar to its role in learning and memory, the hippocampus […]
Speaker: Dr Nicky Quinn (Macquarie University) Title: Applying behavioural science to government policy Abstract: In psychology, we take many principles of behavioural science as given. We know that we regularly make decisions that are ‘bad’ for us or irrational, we fail to follow through with even our strongly-held good intentions, and we show a range of biases […]
Speaker: Dr Samuel Mehr (Harvard University)Title: Psychological functions of music in infancy Abstract: In 1871, Darwin wrote, “As neither the enjoyment nor the capacity of producing musical notes are faculties of the least use to man … they must be ranked among the most mysterious with which he is endowed.” Infants and parents worldwide engage […]
Speaker: Dr Emma Alleyne (University of Kent)Title: ‘Taking it out on the dog’: Why adults abuse animals Abstract: One of the most acute and distressing animal welfare problems is abuse carried out by adults. There are difficulties to detect, intervene, and prevent animal cruelty incidents due to the very nature of animals as ‘voiceless victims’. As […]
Speaker: Emeritus Professor Robert (Bob) Boakes (University of Sydney)Title: The monkey, the lettuce leaf, sugar and disappointment: From translation to discovery Abstract: For some years our group has run translational experiments to study metabolic and cognitive impairments in rats that have drunk large amounts of a sugar solution. Metabolic problems have included development of large amounts […]
Speaker: Dr Ann Meulders (KU Leuven) Title: TBA Abstract: TBA