September 2007

Posted September 14, 2007

MAPS, MAZES & MINDS -- HOW DO WE NAVIGATE

Kansas City, Missouri, September 13, 2007 — People, horses, fish, snakes and all other animals are constantly moving. We go from here to there without any thought. We “just do it.” If we take a moment to consider what is involved in even the most simple movements it can be overwhelming. Dr. Gary Muir, Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, will explain how brain systems work in relation to movement and navigation when he presents “Maps, Mazes, and Minds: The Neuroscience of Navigation,” next Thursday, September 20, 2007, at 5:30 p.m. in the Main Reading Room of the Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering & Technology.

Dr. Muir says, “Every day, we make our way around our house or office, and often travel complex routes in our cars without as much as a second thought. We take this ability to get from Point A to Point B for granted. We would be devastated if we were to suddenly get lost, even from the kitchen to the living room!” Without our realizing it, our brain is working hard to keep track of our location and direction throughout our daily activities.

Dr. Muir’s talk will focus on research that attempts to understand the brain systems that may underlie these remarkable abilities by examining the activity of single neurons with unique spatial properties.

Learn how you get around! Mark your calendar for this talk at the Linda Hall Library, 5109 Cherry Street, on Thursday, September 20, 2007, at 5:30 p.m. in the Main Reading Room for the first of the fall 2007 Linda Hall Lectures.

The library is the world’s largest privately funded library of science, engineering and technology open to the public. Library hours are Monday, 9:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5%3:00 p.m.; and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

For more information about the library or the Linda Hall Lecture Series see the library's web page at www.lindahall.org or contact Kathy Alshouse at 816-926-8727.