On-demand Webinars

The Luria Neuroscience Institute is pleased to introduce on-demand webinars. The webinars are designed to be taken at your own pace, allowing you to fit them into your busy schedule.

The webinars are presented by Elkhonon Goldberg, Ph.D., ABPP., a clinical neuropsychologist and cognitive neuroscientist, and Diplomate of The American Board of Professional Psychology in Clinical Neuropsychology. His critically acclaimed and bestselling books have been translated into 24 languages.

Each webinar takes 3 hours. The webinars are intended for professionals concerned with mental health and with brain and brain disorders.

Conflicts of Interest:
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.

Cancellation Policy:
Please email us to request your cancellation.

Grievance Policy:
We seek to ensure equitable treatment of every person and to make every attempt to resolve grievances in a fair manner. Please email us with your written grievance. Grievances would receive, to the best of our ability, corrective action in order to prevent further problems.

Accessibility Policy:
This program adheres to the standards of the Americans Disabilities Act. Please contact us if special accommodation is required.

Fee: Professional: $165.

Format:
online video course
 
3 CE Credits will be awarded for every on-demand webinar by CE credit sponsor to licensed professionals after completing a test.

For the international attendees: a certificate of webinar completion can be issued upon request and sent by email in PDF format. Please contact us after completing the webinar if you wish to receive the certificate.

 

(After receiving your payment we will send you an email from “info@lninstitute.org” email address with the instructions on how to access the webinar. To keep our email messages out of your Spam folder please add this email address to your contacts list.)
 

Executive Functions and the Frontal Lobes

Executive functions represent the highest level of cognitive control and involve goal formation, planning, mental flexibility, impulse control, working memory. Executive functions are mediated by the prefrontal cortex and related structures. In this webinar we will examine their cognitive composition, neural mechanisms, changes throughout the lifespan, and gender differences. We will also examine how executive functions become impaired in a wide range of neurological, neuropsychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and neurogeriatric disorders.

Topics to be covered:
Executive functions and frontal-lobe functions: are they the same?
Components of executive functions (planning, impulse control, working memory, and others).
Novel approaches to understanding the frontal-lobe functions.
Frontal lobes and large-scale networks (Central Executive, Default Mode, and others).
Executive functions and laterality.
Executive functions and sex differences.
Regulation of emotions: frontal lobes and amygdala.
Executive functions and intelligence.
Executive functions in development and aging.

Learning Objectives:

1. List Brain Mechanisms of Executive Functions. Identify and describe the structure and function of the prefrontal cortex, including its subdivisions (e.g., dorsolateral, ventromedial, and orbitofrontal regions) and their roles in executive functions.
2. Explain the Process and Brain Mechanisms of Decision-Making. Describe the neural circuits involved in decision-making, emphasizing the role of the prefrontal cortex and its interactions with other brain regions.
3. Explain the Brain Mechanisms of Emotions. Identify the amygdala’s role in emotion processing and its connections with the prefrontal cortex.
4. Describe Executive Functions in Normal Development and Aging. Outline the developmental trajectory of executive functions from childhood through adolescence, highlighting key milestones and brain maturation processes.

Recording date: November 26, 2023.

 

Executive Dysfunction in Brain Disorders

Executive functions are the most fragile of all cognitive functions. They are affected in a wide range of neurological, psychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and neurogeriatric disorders. In this webinar we will examine how executive functions are affected in various dementias (including Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and Frontotemporal dementia); traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular disease, neuropsychiatric disorders (including schizophrenia and affective disorders), infectious encephalopathies, seizure disorders, and other clinical conditions, including viral encephalopathies, like neuro-COVID.

Topics to be covered:
Executive dysfunction in dementias (Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, Fronto-temporal dementia).
Executive dysfunction in traumatic brain injury (reticulo-frontal disconnection syndrome).
Executive dysfunction in cerebrovascular disorders (CVA, aneurysms).
Executive dysfunction in neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD, Tourette’s Syndrome).
Executive dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, affective disorders).
Executive dysfunction in movement disorders (Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease).
Executive dysfunction in infectious encephalopathies (neuro-COVID and others).
Executive dysfunction and seizure disorders.
Executive dysfunction and laterality.

Learning Objectives:

1. Analyze Executive Dysfunction in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Differentiate between executive dysfunction in ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
2. Analyze Executive Dysfunction in Dementias. Describe the patterns of executive dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease and how they evolve with disease progression.
3. Analyze Executive Dysfunction in Traumatic Brain Injury. Discuss the prevalence and nature of executive dysfunction in mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the long-term consequences.

Recording date: November 11, 2023.

 

Laterality and Functional Organization of the Brain

Laterality is a fundamental feature of brain organization. In this webinar we will discuss why the traditional understanding of hemispheric specialization fails to capture all its essential aspects, and will introduce a new understanding of brain laterality which permits a broader evolutionary perspective. We will review the neuroanatomical and biochemical differences between the two hemispheres; their respective (and changing) roles in cognition across the lifespan; examine gender and handedness differences in laterality; as well as the relationship between hemispheric specialization and emotions. We will also review the nature of hemispheric specialization across species throughout evolution.

Topics to be covered:
Where the traditional notions of hemispheric specialization got it wrong.
Functional laterality and brain anatomy. Laterality throughout evolution.
Novel approaches to hemispheric specialization.
How the two hemispheres develop and age.
Laterality and gender and handedness differences.
Laterality and regulation of emotions.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe Biological Differences Between the Cerebral Hemispheres. Identify and describe the morphological differences between the left and right cerebral hemispheres, including structural asymmetries.
2. Explain the Limitations of the Traditional Paradigm. Critically assess the traditional paradigm that associates the left hemisphere with language and the right hemisphere with spatial processing.
3. Explain the Roles of the Two Hemispheres in Learning. Describe the role of the right hemisphere in processing cognitive novelty, including its involvement in attention, perception, and problem-solving.

Recording date: September 23, 2023.

 

Laterality and Brain Dysfunction

A number of neurocognitive disorders impact the two cerebral hemispheres to unequal degrees. In this webinar we will review several such disorders from the standpoint of hemispheric specialization. They will include neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. dyslexias, non-verbal learning disabilities); dementias (e.g. frontotemporal dementia); striatal disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s disease and Tourette’s syndrome); neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g. schizophrenia); and certain cerebrovascular disorders. We will also discuss why certain forms of diffuse brain dysfunction may masquerade as lateralized brain disease.

Topics to be covered:
Laterality and learning disabilities (dyslexias vs NVLD).
Laterality and dementias: Is fronto-temporal dementia lateralized?
Laterality and striatal disorders (Parkinson’s disease and Tourette’s syndrome).
Major cerebrovascular disorders and cerebral hemispheres.
Laterality and neuropsychiatric disorders: Schizophrenia and the left hemisphere.
Laterality and differential functional breakdown threshold.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe Left Hemispheric Dysfunction in Schizophrenia. Identify and describe the structural and functional abnormalities associated with schizophrenia.
2. Describe Left Hemispheric Dysfunction in Frontotemporal Dementia. Describe the characteristic features of left hemispheric dysfunction in frontotemporal dementia, including language impairments and changes in behavior.
3. Describe Left Hemineglect and Right-Hemispheric Damage. Define left hemineglect and discuss its occurrence following right-hemispheric damage.
4. Describe Pseudodepression and Belle Indifference in Lateralized Frontal CVA. Define pseudodepression and belle indifference and discuss their occurrence in patients with lateralized frontal cerebrovascular accidents (CVA).

Recording date: September 14, 2022.

 

Aging and Dementias

Dementias are among the most prevalent neurocognitive disorders presenting a unique set of clinical and societal challenges. In this webinar we will review several major types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia and its relationship to Parkinson’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, and others. For each of these disorders we will discuss the underlying neurobiology, epidemiology, natural history, diagnosis, and cognitive characteristics. We will also discuss cognitive aging, as well as both protective and risk factors associated with it.

Topics to be covered:
Epidemiology and demographics of dementias.
Alzheimer’s disease: neurobiology, epidemiology, natural history, neurocognitive characteristics, and diagnosis. Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease: neurobiology, epidemiology, natural history, neurocognitive characteristics, and diagnosis.
Fronto-temporal dementia: neurobiology, epidemiology, natural history, neurocognitive characteristics, and diagnosis. Vascular dementia: neurobiology, epidemiology, natural history, neurocognitive characteristics, and diagnosis.
Korsakoff’s syndrome: neurobiology, epidemiology, natural history, neurocognitive characteristics, and diagnosis. Mixed dementias: neurobiology, epidemiology, natural history, neurocognitive characteristics, and diagnosis.
Mild Neurocognitive disorder and its relationship to dementias. Diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and misdiagnosis.
Memory impairment in dementias and the fallacy of old diagnostic criteria. Executive impairment in dementias: still underrecognized.
Arousal impairment in dementias. Changes in the epidemiology of dementias and possible causes behind them.
Cognitive aging: its characteristics, protective factors, and risk factors.
Cognitive enhancement and surrounding controversies.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the Biological Characteristics of Major Dementias. Identify and explain the neuropathological features of Alzheimer’s disease, including amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and brain atrophy.
2. Describe the Cognitive Characteristics of Major Dementias. Discuss the language and behavioral changes typical of frontotemporal dementia.
3. Discuss the Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis of Dementias. Outline the criteria for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia according to current clinical guidelines (e.g. DSM-5).

Recording date: September 21, 2023.

 

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a highly prevalent condition sometimes referred to as a “silent epidemic.” In this webinar we will review various types of TBI (closed, open, blast); various causes and unique characteristics of motor vehicle accidents, workplace-related, military and sports TBI; various mechanisms of TBI (diffuse axonal injury, contre-coup, neurometabolic cascade); cognitive characteristics (particularly executive and memory impairment); recovery from TBI and long-term outcomes; and forensic issues commonly associated with TBI.

Topics to be covered:
Epidemiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Types of traumatic brain injury (TBI): closed, open (penetrating and perforating), blast. Severity and criteria of traumatic brain injury (TBI): mild, moderate, severe.
Causes of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Mechanisms of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Focal vs. diffuse components of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Neuroanatomical structures most vulnerable in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Natural course of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the multiple forms it may take.
Secondary complications in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Cognitive consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Executive deficit in traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Memory impairment in traumatic brain injury (TBI): anterograde and retrograde amnesia.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in sports and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
Military traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Forensic issues in traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the Types of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Identify and describe the different types of TBI, including concussions, contusions, diffuse axonal injury, and penetrating injuries.
2. Explain the Mechanisms of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Describe the biomechanical forces involved in TBI, including impact, acceleration-deceleration, and rotational forces.
3. List the Multiple Possible Courses of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Identify the different clinical trajectories of TBI, including recovery patterns and potential complications.
4. Explain the Cognitive Characteristics of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Describe the common cognitive deficits associated with TBI, including impairments in attention, memory, and executive functions.

Recording date: November 5, 2023.

 

Tourette and ADHD: A New Look at an Old Quandary

The ADHD diagnosis has acquired the status of a fad and is often given too casually and inclusively. Conflation between two distinct classes of clinical phenomena, hyperactivity and exploratory behavior, is a common source of ADHD overdiagnosis. Inspired by early insights by Oliver Sacks, we examine the relationship between frontal-lobe syndromes, Tourette syndrome, and Parkinson’s disease. This synthesis leads to a new understanding of Tourette syndrome and helps identify its distinct subtypes. These subtypes are caused, respectively, by predominant dysregulation in the left vs right fronto-striatal systems, and result in the preponderance of tics vs excessive exploratory behaviors. We examine the difference between
hyperactivity and excessive exploratory behavior, and the potential for diagnostic confusion
between ADHD and Tourette if this difference is ignored.

Topics to be covered:
Overdiagnosis of ADHD. A source of overdiagnosis: conflation of hyperactivity and exploratory behavior. What is the difference?
Are the diagnostic criteria for ADHD too broad? Duality of symptoms in Tourette syndrome: tics vs exploratory behavior.
Are the diagnostic criteria for Tourette too narrow? The triple-decker: Frontal lesions, Tourette syndrome, and Parkinson’s disease.
Introducing “hemi-Tourette” subtypes.
Clinical features of “hemi-Tourette” subtypes.
Clearing up the diagnostic confusion between Tourette and ADHD.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain the Relationship Between Tourette and ADHD Diagnoses. Describe the diagnostic criteria for Tourette syndrome and ADHD, highlighting the overlapping symptoms and co morbidities.
2. Describe the Concept of “Excessive Exploratory Behavior” and How It Is Different from Hyperactivity. Define “excessive exploratory behavior” and compare it to the traditional concept of hyperactivity observed in ADHD.
3. Explain the Role of Fronto-Striatal Interaction Breakdown in Tourette Syndrome. Describe the structure and function of the fronto-striatal circuits involved in motor control and behavior regulation.
4. Summarize the Concept of “Hemi-Tourette” Syndrome Variants. Define “hemi-Tourette” syndrome and describe its clinical presentation and diagnostic criteria.

Recording date: November 12, 2023.

 

COVID-19 and Brain Dysfunction: Evolving Understanding

COVID-19 is a viral illness caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which has become
a global pandemic affecting all of us. While it has been originally characterized as respiratory
illness, a growing body of evidence suggests that the brain may also be affected. In this webinar
we will discuss the concept of “neuro-COVID” and examine the emerging evidence of COVID-19
impact on the human brain and the multiple clinical neurological and neuropsychological
manifestations of this impact. In particular, we will discuss the potential for long-term
neurocognitive sequelae of neuro-COVID and the role of neuropsychology in addressing them.
In addition, we will briefly review the impact of diseases caused by other coronaviruses (SARS,
MERS) on the brain.

Topics to be covered:
COVID-19 pandemic and the brain.
Brain as the target of COVID-19.
Direct vs indirect mechanisms of brain damage in COVID-19.
Primary mechanisms of brain infection: transsynaptic vs hematogenous.
Mechanisms of infection: the role of ACE2 receptor.
COVID-19 and immune response.
Clinical neurological and neuropsychiatric manifestations of COVID-19.
Introducing “Neuro-COVID”.
Long-term sequelae of Neuro-COVID.
Other coronaviruses and the brain: SARS, MERS.
Other viruses and the brain: HIV, and HSV.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the Neurobiological Impact of COVID-19. Identify the primary neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19, including anosmia, ageusia, headaches, and encephalopathy.
2. Explain the Cognitive and Psychiatric Sequelae of COVID-19. Describe the cognitive deficits observed in individuals recovering from COVID-19, including impairments in attention, memory, and executive functions.
3. Analyze the Effects of COVID-19 on Pre-existing Neurological Conditions. Identify how COVID-19 exacerbates symptoms in individuals with pre-existing neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.
4. Summarize the Emerging Research on Long COVID and Brain Dysfunction. Define Long COVID and describe the range of neurological symptoms associated with this condition.

Recording date: August 31, 2022.

 

NEUROCOVID-19: Cognitive, Psychiatric, and Psychological Manifestations

COVID-19 can affect the brain of infected individuals, which may result in a wide range of neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms. It can also have a profound psychological and psychiatric impact on the general population. In this webinar we will further discuss the concept of “neuro-COVID” and examine the expanding knowledge of its impact on specific brain systems. We will examine the causal role of neuro-COVID in dementia and delirium; in executive deficit, memory impairment and other specific cognitive impairments; in psychosis and psychiatric and psychological disorders; and its pediatric manifestations. We will also review the emerging therapeutic approaches, global research and clinical initiatives, and how one can participate in them.

Topics to be covered:
COVID-19 pandemic and the brain: a brief recap.
The impact of neuro-COVID on the frontal lobes, temporal lobes, brainstem, and other structures.
Specific types of cognitive impairment caused by neuro-COVID: executive deficit, amnestic syndromes, and others.
Delirium and dementia in neuro-COVID. Psychiatric manifestations of neuro-COVID.
Psychosis in neuro-COVID.
Neuro-COVID in children.
Emerging therapeutic approaches.
Global initiatives.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the Cognitive Manifestations of NEUROCOVID-19. Identify the common cognitive deficits associated with NEUROCOVID-19, including impairments in memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed.
2. Explain the Psychiatric Manifestations of NEUROCOVID-19. Describe the psychiatric symptoms observed in NEUROCOVID-19, including anxiety, depression, psychosis, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
3. Describe the Psychological Manifestations of NEUROCOVID-19. Identify the psychological stressors and emotional responses associated with NEUROCOVID-19, including depression and anxiety.

Recording date: September 6, 2022.

 

Long NEUROCOVID: What Has Been Learned

New information will be presented about the evolution of the pandemic, challenges associated
with vaccination, and the variants. As the pandemic evolves, its character changes. Vaccines
are here, but so are the new virus variants. We have a better understanding of the mechanisms
of acute and long NEUROCOVID, and of its impact on various segments of the population.
NEUROVID in children and in the elderly is of particular concern, as well as its being a risk
factor for later-life dementia. The burden of the pandemic on the overall psychological state of
the world is growing, but so are the arsenal of tools to counter its effects. These and other
issues will be discussed in the new webinar.

Topics to be covered:
Evolving pandemic statistics.
Vaccination and its challenges.
Acute NEUROCOVID and the variants.
Long NEUROCOVID.
NEUROCOVID and later-life dementias – growing concerns.
NEUROCOVID in children – recent findings.
Worldwide psychological burden of the pandemic two years later.
Rehabilitation of NEUROCOVID.
Telemedicine and NEUROCOVID.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the worldwide dynamics of the pandemic. Understand the global spread of COVID-19 and its impact on various regions.
2. Describe the challenges of vaccination. Identify the logistical challenges in the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide.
3. Explain the growing concerns about dementia later in life after COVID-19 infection. Understand the potential long-term neurological impacts of COVID-19, particularly the increased risk of developing dementia.
4. Describe the new findings about NEUROCOVID in children. Identify the neurological symptoms and complications observed in children with Long COVID.

Recording date: September 24, 2023.

 

Memory and Memory Impairments

Memory is among the most important cognitive functions, and memory impairment is among the most common and most catastrophic consequences of neurological and psychiatric conditions. In this webinar we will review the basic neurobiology of memory and various forms of memory in normal cognition, including associative memory and working memory. We will then review various amnestic syndromes, e.g. anterograde and retrograde amnesias; and types of memory impairments across a wide range of brain disorders. These include Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias; Korsakoff syndrome; traumatic brain injury; temporal lobe epilepsy; viral encephalopathies including COVID-19, HIV encephalopathy, and herpes simplex encephalopathy; and other disorders, as well as usually ignored neurodevelopmental memory impairments. We will discuss memory changes in aging and efforts to protect it.

Topics to be covered:
Basic neurobiology of memory. Components of memory circuits and their neuroanatomy.
Types of memory from a cognitive standpoint: associative vs working; explicit vs implicit; intentional vs incidental.
Forgetting and why it is useful.
Amnesias: anterograde vs retrograde; general vs modality specific.
Assessment of memory and amnesias.
Memory and aging.
Memory impairment in dementias (Alzheimer’s and others).
Memory impairment in traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Memory impairment in viral encephalopathies (Herpes Simplex, HIV, COVID-19).
Memory and neurodevelopmental disorders: neglected condition.

Learning Objectives:

1. Fundamental Concepts of Memory. Define memory and its essential components. Explain the neurobiological basis of memory formation, including synaptic plasticity and neuronal circuits involved.
2. Forms of Amnesia. Define retrograde and anterograde amnesia, detailing their cognitive and neurological underpinnings.
3. Memory Impairments in Neurological Conditions. Analyze memory deficits in Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.
4. Clinical Assessment and Management of Memory Disorders. Outline diagnostic criteria and assessment tools used to evaluate memory impairments across different neurological disorders.

Recording date: September 10, 2023.

 

Brain Disorders and Criminal Behavior

Various brain disorders may alter behavior in ways that result in behaviors judged by society as antisocial or outright criminal. Ultimately the judgment whether certain acts are criminal and to what extent (if any) a history of brain disorder is a mitigating factor, rests with the legal system. However, mental health professionals can make important contributions to these decisions in an advisory capacity. It is important to educate both mental health professionals and members of the legal profession about the many possible ways in which brain damage may contribute to criminal behavior. Socially aberrant behaviors are more common in certain brain disorders than in others; the manifestations may be different, and so are the underlying mechanisms. In this webinar we will review some of the conditions with which aberrant behaviors may be associated. These include dementias, neurodevelopmental disorders, traumatic brain injury,
seizures, space occupying lesions, neuropsychiatric disorders, and others. It is important for clinicians working with these populations to be aware of the potential for socially aberrant behavior, which may be predicated, entirely or in part, on the intrinsic properties of underlying brain disease and associated cognitive impairment and disinhibition.

Topics to be covered:
Relationship between neuropsychological and legal perspectives.
Frontal lobe dysfunction and aberrant behavior.
Criminal behavior in dementias: frontotemporal (FTD) and others.
Criminal behavior in traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Early life TBI as a risk factor for later-life criminality.
Aggression in temporal lobe epilepsy: real or imagined?
Space occupying lesions: arachnoid cysts and violent psychosis.
Is there a relationship between depression and aggression?
Schizophrenia and violence: is there a link?
Neurodevelopmental disorders: aggression and anger.

Learning Objectives:

1. Neurobiological Foundations. Explain the neuroanatomical and neurophysiological basis of behavior, emphasizing structures and pathways relevant to decision-making, impulse control, and social cognition.
2. Neurological Disorders and Criminal Behavior. Analyze the relationship between specific neurological disorders (e.g., traumatic brain injury, dementia, epilepsy) and criminal conduct.
3. Psychiatric Disorders and Criminality. Explore the association between psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, antisocial personality disorder) and criminal behavior.
4. Lesions and Criminal Behavior. Describe how space-occupying lesions (e.g., tumors, cysts) in the brain can alter personality, impulse control, and moral reasoning, potentially leading to criminal acts.

Recording date: September 14, 2023.

 

How the Brain Deals with Novelty and Uncertainty

Fully deterministic, fixed situations exist only in psychology experiments. By contrast, real life is full of novel challenges and uncertainties. Furthermore, complex systems, both biological and artificial, must have the ability to acquire new information without degrading previously acquired information. In this webinar we will discuss how evolution “solved” these challenges by distributing the responsibilities between the two hemispheres: the right hemisphere is more adept at dealing with novel, ambiguous situations; and the left hemisphere at preserving well established knowledge and cognitive routines. We will review the developmental and neuroimaging evidence for this broad functional distinction, its neural mechanisms, and its evolutionary history in primates, dolphins, birds, and even in invertebrate species. We will also examine how this new understanding of hemispheric specialization sheds new light on certain neurological disorders.

Topics to be covered:
What is wrong with the classic view of hemispheric specialization.
Morphological, cellular, and biochemical asymmetries in the brain.
Novelty vs familiarity is a fundamental cognitive distinction throughout evolution and in human development.
Cognitive novelty and the right hemisphere.
Cognitive routines and the left hemisphere.
Functional lateralization in primates, dolphins, birds, and bees.
Neural mechanisms behind the novelty-routinization distinction.
Aberrant laterality and its clinical manifestations.

Learning Objectives:

1. Hemispheric Morphology and Function. Describe the morphological, cellular, and biochemical differences between the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
2. Cognitive Novelty vs. Routine. Define cognitive novelty and cognitive routines in terms of information processing and learning.
3. Functional Differences Between Hemispheres. Conceptualize the functional differences between the right and left hemispheres, focusing on cognitive domains.
4. Evolutionary History of Hemispheric Specialization. Summarize the evolutionary development of hemispheric specialization in vertebrate and human brains.

Recording date: November 7, 2021.

 

Creativity and Cognition

Creativity is a complex construct involving multiple components. We will discuss the various components of creativity. Creativity is not a monolithic trait; there are many paths to creativity. Even the most innovative creative individual ahead of his or her society is a product of that society. We will discuss the relationship between individual creativity, cognition, and the host culture. In order to be recognized by society as creative, a scientific or artistic product has to be novel. But novelty alone is not sufficient; the product must also be relevant. We will discuss the relationship between creativity, novelty, and salience. The relationship between creativity and intelligence has intrigued psychologists for decades. We will discuss this relationship, as well as the limitations of current approaches – intelligence defined as IQ and creativity as performance on “divergent thinking” tests. The connection between creativity and psychopathology has intrigued scientists, clinicians, and the general public for years. We will discuss the evidence for and against this relationship, as well as the possible brain mechanisms behind it. Can creativity be enhanced? We will discuss some of the programs designed to enhance creativity, or at least it components and prerequisites. Is creativity the unique attribute of human cognition? This point of view may flatter our feeling of exceptionalism but rudimentary creativity may be present already in other species. We will review the evidence.

Topics to be covered:
Creativity and society. Innovator vs consumer.
Creativity deconstructed. Building blocks of creativity.
Innovation, salience, and how they interact in the creative process.
Creativity and intelligence. Are they linked and when do they become uncoupled?
Creativity and psychopathology: Affective disorders, FTD, and other conditions.
Enhancing creativity? Creativity as the new focus of educational process.
Evolutionary roots of creativity.
Defining and studying creativity in other species.
Creativity and artificial intelligence.

Learning Objectives:

1. Main Components of the Creative Process. Identify and describe the main components involved in the creative process, such as those linked to novelty seeking, salience assignation, and expertise.
2. Relationship Between Individual Creativity and Culture. Analyze how cultural norms, values, and beliefs influence individual creativity.
3. Relationship Between Creativity and Intelligence. Evaluate theories and research findings on the relationship between creativity and intelligence.
4. Evolutionary Roots of Creativity. Examine evolutionary theories and hypotheses regarding the origins and adaptive significance of creativity.

Recording date: November 4, 2023.

 

Creativity and the Brain

Numerous claims have been made in the scientific and popular literature, linking creativity to specific brain structures. Which among these claims are accurate and which are tabloid oversimplifications? The multicomponential nature of creativity implies that multiple brain structures are involved. The right hemisphere has a preferential relationship to novelty-seeking. We will discuss the evidence for, and the mechanisms of this relationship. The prefrontal cortex is critical for decision making and for determining what is important. We will discuss the mechanisms of how this happens. Even the most original innovation is built on previously accumulated knowledge and concepts. The left hemisphere is particularly important as the “repository” of such knowledge. What is the relationship between the deliberate and effortful vs. the unconscious and spontaneous? These two complementary components of the creative process may be related to the hyperfrontal vs. hypofrontal brain states. We will discuss this relationship. Is there a genetic basis for creativity? This question is closely linked to another one: the genetic basis of intelligence. We will discuss both questions. The age of a solitary genius is mostly over. Increasingly the creative process is a team process both in science, industry, and the arts. We will discuss the nascent research into group creativity.

Topics to be covered:
Facts and fads of creativity. No single locus in the brain.
Creativity, novelty, and the right hemisphere.
Salience, decision making, and the frontal lobes.
“Standing on the shoulders of giants” and the left hemisphere.
Perspiration and inspiration: hyperfrontality and hypofrontality.
Creativity and the genes: candidate genes and whole genome.
Group creativity: How different brains can work better together.

Learning Objectives:

1. Relationship Between Novelty Seeking, Creativity, and the Right Hemisphere. Describe how novelty seeking behaviors are linked to creative thinking processes.
2. Relationship Between Decision Making, Creativity, and the Frontal Lobes. Explain how frontal lobe functions, including executive functions and decision-making processes, influence creativity.
3. Concepts of Hyperfrontality and Hypofrontality in Innovation and Creativity. Define hyperfrontality and hypofrontality in the context of creative cognition.
4. Evidence for and Against Genetic Basis of Creativity and Intelligence. Evaluate empirical evidence relevant to the heritability of creativity and intelligence.

Recording date: December 2, 2021.