Launching New Initiatives in Neuroscience Research—Nine Academicians from Home and Abroad Joined NTU Interdisciplinary Team to Participate in International Seminar on Brain and Mind

Because of the breakthroughs in brain science in late Twentieth century, issues such as emotion, cognition, intent, motivation, and even social interaction, ethical values and moral standards have become areas of exploration of the functions of the brain. The brain and cognitive science related areas have expanded from the traditional neural anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and psychology to immunity, genetics, evolution, engineering, computing, and even philosophy, language, economics, education, politics, management, and art. In the twenty first century, the integrated research on the brain and cognitive science will not only inspire the metastasis and treatment of neural illness, but will also have great impacts on biology, medicine, and engineering, and exert long lasting influence on humanities and social sciences. In view of this, Taiwan cannot lag behind in this important development, and, as the highest academic institution in Taiwan, National Taiwan University is duty bound to have a positive development in this area. Hence, four years ago, NTU established the "Neurobiology and Cognitive Science Center", and in this year, NTU is planning to set up the "Institute of Brain and Cognitive |Science" and "NTU Hospital Clinical Neurology Center," as part of the efforts to pursue the "Brain and Mind Science Project." In order to promote the importance of brain and cognitive science, to enhance people's understanding and the research quality thereof, the NTU "Neurology and Cognitive Science Center" , the NTU "Institute of Brain and Cognitive Science" and the " NTU Hospital Clinical Neurology Center" jointly organized the "New Frontiers in Brain and Mind Research: Meet the Masters" International seminar (May 9^th to May 10^th) under the support and assistance of the National Science Council, to which a number of distinguished speakers were invited, including 9 academicians from Academia Sinica, whose areas of specialization covered neural biology, medical engineering, nerve medicine, psychiatry, psychology, and neural philosophy. The speakers and their topics are as follows:

1. Biomedical Engineering
Professor Shu Chien, University of California, San Diego, Member of National Academy of Science, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, USA, and member of Academia Sinica.

2. Morality and the Social Brain
Professor Patricia S. Churchland, University of California, San Diego, Member of National Academy of Humanism, USA.

3. How are Biological Patterns Made, Recognized and How do they Evolve?
Professor Cheng Ming Chuong, University of Southern California, member of Academia Sinica.

4. Conscious and Unconscious Memory Systems of the Mammalian Brain
Professor Larry R. Squire, University of California, San Diego, Member of National Academy of Science, USA.

5. Mu-opioid Receptor in Methamphetamine-induced Sensitization.
Professor Ing K. Ho, National Health Research Institute, Member of Academia Sinica.

6. Impulsivity and Addiction in Animals and Humans.
Professor Trevor Robbins, Cambridge University, Fellow of Royal Society, UK.

7.Gene Expression in Schizophrenia:　Mechanism and Biomarkers
Professor Ian Paul Everall,　University of Melbourne, Australia, Fellow, Royal College of Psychiatrists and Pathologists .

8. Biomarker Discoveries for Major Psychoses: An Application of Methamphetamine Psychosis and a Discussion of the Future Direction of Research Towards Prevention and Maintenance of Well-Being.
Professor Ming T. Tsung, UCSD and NTU,　Member of Institute of Medicine, USA，Member of Academia Sinica.

9. The Dynamic Brain: A Moving Experience.
Professor William C Mobley, University of California, San Diego, Member of Institute of Medicine, USA .

To support this important international seminar, the NTU "Neurobiology and Cognitive Center", also launched the "NTU Neuroscience Week" under the planning of Professor Han-Wen Liao of the School of Medicine and the assistance of the NTU Center for the Arts. From May 6th to May 11th the "NTU Neuroscience Week" will feature a series of public lectures, poster exhibitions and touring activities, including the showing of "Neuroscience in movies" hosted by Professor Bin-Chiang Yeh on May 6th, the lecture by musician Chen-Gia Tsai on "In search of the neurotic basis of musical emotions and musical inspirations" on May 7th, the lecture by psychiatrist Tsung-Zheng Huang on "the neurotic genius musician Schumann" on May 8th and a piano recital by Professor Chao-Huei Chen on Schumann on the same day and tenor Yi-Way Lin singing Schumann's artistic songs, and a lecture on "the occurrence and prevention of brain strokes" by Professor Jiann-Shing Jeng on May 11th. As regards the tours, the visitors are led to tour two core laboratories of the Center, which were: "The Nuclear/Magnetic Resonance Lab" and the "Animal Behavior Experimental Lab". In addition, the posters on neuroscience and the arts and neuroscience and the economy were arranged to be shown all over campus. For details, please refer to: http://neuroscience.ntu.edu.tw/