Keith Crutcher has a B.S. in Biology and a Ph.D. in Human Anatomy with postdoctoral training in Human Aging and Neuronal Plasticity. His academic career included faculty positions at the University of Utah and the University of Cincinnati where he taught and carried out research on brain plasticity. He has published over 100 research articles, has two issued patents, and has given numerous invited lectures and seminars. He has a wide-ranging interest in the role of modern science in society and has a passion for communicating the excitement and challenges of new discoveries on the brain to non-scientists.
Talks
Introducing the brain
Each of us has one, and it is arguably what most defines who we are, but few of us know much about it. We will examine the highlights of this enigmatic 2-pound organ with special consideration of what aspects distinguish us from other brain-containing creatures on the planet.
Mysteries of the brain: consciousness
All of us have it but science can’t seem to explain what it is. And why do so many of us seek ways to alter it? Modern advances in brain science have started giving us some insights on this mysterious thing called consciousness.
Mysteries of the brain: sleep and dreams
We spend a third of our time doing it but no one really understands why. And what is our brain really up to when we are asleep, especially when dreaming?
Mysteries of the brain: learning and memory
Remembering a childhood birthday party and learning to ride a bicycle are just two examples of memories, each of which involves different parts of the brain. Much of our identity depends on memory and scientists are gradually uncovering clues as to how this happens.
Mysteries of the brain: intelligence
What does it mean to be smart? Does the size of one’s brain, or other anatomical features, predict intelligence? Is it possible to reliably measure intelligence? In spite of extensive effort, intelligence remains hard to define and even harder to measure.
Mysteries of the brain: the plastic brain
How do infants acquire language, the ability to walk, and social skills? The secret is neuronal plasticity, the ability of the brain to make new connections during development. But brain plasticity doesn’t end there. Some areas of the brain remain plastic throughout life.
Mysteries of the brain: emotions
Is falling in love just the secretion of hormones? Can we control our feelings? These are just a couple of the questions that accompany the study of emotions. Studies have identified specific brain regions that appear to play a critical role in both the perception and expression of emotions.
Mysteries of the brain: vision
Almost two thirds of our brain is devoted to sight. Much progress has been made in identifying the key pathways that account for perception and processing of visual information. Additional advances in the field of vision may even allow for restoring sight to the blind.
Mysteries of the brain: addiction
Not all addictions are due to drug abuse. Increasing evidence suggests that activation of specific brain “reward” pathways can lead to addictive behaviors ranging from gambling to playing video games. But the same pathways are involved in helping us develop healthy habits and lifestyles.
How did the brain come to be?
What does the theory of evolution have to say about how our brains came to be the way they are? The historical evidence is fragmentary but by comparing different species, a dramatic picture emerges of the development of specialized structures that allow creatures to survive in a changing world.
The future of the brain
Artificial intelligence is increasingly poised to take over tasks that our brains used to do. What does this mean for our future? Will our brains become obsolete?
Marine Brains
Life is thought to have started in the oceans or a similar aquatic environment. What kinds of brains are needed to survive in a place where competition is fierce and strategies need to be developed to both avoid predators and find prey? It turns out that some very intelligent creatures inhabit the deep blue sea.
