Ardem Patapoutian - Frontiers in Neuroscience: Perceptions and Consciousness

Severe brain injuries cause disorders of consciousness of which coma is the worst of the spectrum. Recovery of consciousness in brain disorders is a complex process and the outcome can vary depending on the cause and severity of the disorder. Not all comas are the same and the cause, duration, and prognosis can differ. Insights into the ability to identify signals of neurological responses through simple bedside to advanced neurological testing are key to identifying potential neurological recovery. The complexity of the human brain and its neural circuits makes it challenging to determine the most effective drug treatments for various conditions. This is because drugs can have different effects on different parts of the brain and on different neural circuits, leading to varying outcomes. Additionally, individual differences in brain anatomy, genetics, and other factors can also influence drug responses, making it difficult to predict the outcomes of a particular treatment. in this talk, Dr. Rao will discuss recent developments and advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of coma, as well as the ongoing global efforts to find a cure through the curing coma campaign. He will provide insights into the current state of the field and potential future directions for research and treatment.

Large flocks of starlings create beautiful patterns in the sky called murmurations due to the interactions of the birds. Neurons in the brain also create beautiful network patterns that can help us understand complex human experiences. Music is one of those powerful human experiences. This lecture will focus on the emerging field of network neuroscience and the use of network functional MRI techniques to study the effects of music on brain network topology.

We will discuss how people die in modern times. More specifically, what means dying by fulfilling neurological criteria of death (so called brain death). Why this mode of dying came to light during the last 60 years and how it has evolved. Moreover, what is the aftermath: how it affects organ donation and transplantation. In essence, how death in modern medicine translates to life

The science of music engaging brain function and how music can be harnessed as an auditory language for brain rehabilitation has made huge progress over the past 2 decades. In this presentation I will provide an overview of our research work in this arena in 3 parts. First, the theoretical underpinnings of brain processing in music and mechanisms of clinical translations based on music perception, music cognition, and music creation will be presented. Second, the current status and new landmark studies of clinical research in music based interventions in neurorehabilitation and neurodevelopment will be appraised. Lastly, the clinical profession of Neurologic Music Therapy [NMT] will be presented which has emerged as the therapeutic arm of the clinical and basic neuroscience of music. NMT uses standardized techniques based on research evidence and is applied successfully to sensorimotor, speech/language, and cognitive rehabilitation. NMT is practiced by certified specialists in over 65 countries in the world. The Academy of NMT is an institutional member of the World Federation Neurorehabilitation.

Ardem Patapoutian es un biólogo molecular y fisiólogo que, a través de su laboratorio, ha identificado las moléculas que detectan la temperatura y la presión implicadas en el tacto, el dolor y la regulación de la presión sanguínea. Patapoutian nació en Líbano en 1967 y emigró a Estados Unidos en 1986. Se licenció en UCLA en 1990 y se doctoró en Caltech en 1996. Se incorporó al cuerpo docente de Scripps Research en 2000, donde actualmente ocupa la cátedra dotada de Neurobiología y es investigador del Instituto Médico Howard Hughes. Es miembro de la Academia Nacional de Ciencias (2017) y miembro de la Academia Americana de las Artes y las Ciencias (2020). Es coganador del Premio Kavli de Neurociencia 2020, del Premio Fundación BBVA Fronteras del Conocimiento 2021 y del Premio Nobel de Fisiología o Medicina 2021 (todos ellos compartidos con David Julius).