The brain is the implementation for the mind; and it is a product of evolution. Its only output are motor signals ("you can only move or drool"). The primary force in evolving the nervous system was the need for planning and predicting the consequence of actions. As the neuroscientist Rodolfo Llinas has suggested, much of what we call thinking is "a premotor act".
In this mini-workshop, we bring together neuroscientists and cognitive scientists to explore the ways in which the brain defines us.
We shall be looking at the question from several points of view. Starting with the view that knowledge is itself a product of evolution, we shall be progressing from insect cognition to brain development in vertebrates. We will consider brain oscillations and how they define higher-level functions such as attention.
We expect a lively discussion and interaction as we explore these issues and related topics in the Cognitive Neurosciences - one of the fastest growing areas in cognitive science today.
1700: Opening 1710: Bipin Indurkhya : A Poincaréan approach to the evolution of knowledge 1730: Discussion 1740: Nitin Gupta : Insect olfaction: a window into the early days of cognition 1800: Discussion 1810: Jonaki Sen: Exploring how the brain is shaped and wired 1830: Discussion 1840: Tea break 1900: Supratim Ray : Attention and Gamma Rhythms 1920: Discussion 1930: Moderator's remarks 1940: General Discussion 2000: Conclusion