All a question of age? How the brain and behaviours develop over time
The Max Planck Forum as guest at the British Embassy in Berlin presents the new Max Planck Centre for ageing research in London.
Why do some people become depressed when subjected to stress while others do not? Why don’t all people remain sharp in old age? With a wealth of new data from empirical studies in neuroscience and behavioural science, scientists are increasingly able to describe such differences. But viable explanations for the causes of such differences remain elusive.
The ability to learn, make decisions or experience curiosity changes over the course of a person’s life as the brain changes. But the question of what neurological processes influence what behaviour – and how all this changes during a person’s lifetime – remains unanswered. The new Max Planck Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research is now seeking answers to this question. In April, the Max Planck Society and University College London will open a new research centre which uses computer models based on large amounts of data to simulate neuronal processes and disruptions to these processes.
The Forum will consider what scientists understand about the connections between age, brain development and cognition. Can computer models allow us to describe age-appropriate behaviour for adults? Could this help us to better understand or perhaps even take pre-emptive action against neurodegenerative illnesses such as dementia? And what visions and expectations do scientists themselves have?
The Max Planck Forum is the events series of the Max Planck Society. The Forum’s panel discussions examine the latest political, economic and social issues against the backdrop of the cutting-edge research conducted by more than 80 Max Planck Institutes across Germany and the world. Since 2013, the Forum has been hosted in a number of Embassies in Berlin, thereby raising awareness of the Max Planck Society’s international activities and collaborations.
Panel discussion with:
Prof. Dr. Raymond Dolan, Director of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging at University College London
Prof. Dr. Ulman Lindenberger, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin
Prof. Dr. Arno Villringer, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig
Presented by: Steve Ayan, Science Journalist, Gehirn & Geist
Date: 9.4.2014 | 20.00 h
Venue: British Embassy Berlin
Wilhelmstrasse 70 | 10117 Berlin-Mitte