Southeastern Louisiana University

Southeastern hosts Oct. 18 lecture by renowned neuroscientist

Contact: Christina Chapple

9/25/07

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     HAMMOND – Neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux, Henry and Lucy Moses Professor of Science and a member of the Center for Neural Science and Department of Psychology at New York University, will present a special lecture, "Fearful Brains in an Anxious World," Thursday, Oct. 18, in the Student Union Theatre at Southeastern Louisiana University.

     The 7 p.m. lecture is sponsored by the Department of Communication in association with the Student Government Association and the Lyceum Arts and Lecture Committee.

     LeDoux's work is focused on the brain mechanisms of emotion and memory, especially the mechanisms of fear. In addition to articles in scholarly journals, he is author of two highly praised books, “The Emotional Brain: The Mysterious Underpinnings of Emotional Life” and “Synaptic Self: How Our Brains Become Who We Are.”

     He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the New York Academy of Science, and the American Academy of Arts and Science, and recipient of the 2005 Fyssen International Prize in Cognitive Science.

     A graduate of LSU and a native of Eunice, La., LeDoux was a postdoctoral fellow and assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at Cornell University Medical College before joining NYU in 1989.

     He is also a singer and guitarist in the band “The Amygdaloids,” formed with three fellow NYU scientists who play a blend of original and standard tunes that has been dubbed “Brain Rock -- BROCK” or “heavy mental.”

     According to the band’s web site, LeDoux uses the band’s songs to convey information about mind and brain in simple terms “because musical communication is powerful and immediate.”

     "Dr. LeDoux's lecture encompasses an area of interest to many academic disciplines as well as to mental health and medical professionals in private practice," said communication faculty member Suzette Bryan "We hope everyone will join us for this exciting presentation."