Connecting Mind to Brain through Computation: The Birth of Computational Psychiatry

Read Montague, Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine

Monday, October 26, 2009

Pearl Stable Auditorium (directions)

6:30 pm

The last 50 years have witnessed an increased understanding of the biological underpinnings of mental function. Our current ability to identify and study neurotransmitter systems and their impact on important behaviors has provided neuroscience and modern psychiatry with new sets of tools. Modern computational models are making inroads to understanding normal and pathological mental function. Dr. Montague will review this exciting new area and give a perspective on current accomplishments and future promise.

Dr. Read Montague is a Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine, Director of the Human Neuroimaging Lab, and Director of the Center for Theoretical Neuroscience. His work focuses on computational neuroscience - the connection between the physical mechanisms present in real neural tissue and the computational functions that these mechanisms embody. Work in the Montague group also extends into several experimental areas including synaptic physiology, human neuroimaging, and human behavior.