Upcoming and Recent Events Dr. Sam Sternberg: Expert in CRISPR: Tuesday April 17th @ 8:00 PM, 503 Hamilton

Please join us with Dr. Sternberg, an expert in CRISPR RNA-guided DNA interrogation. At a cellular level, organisms face two fundamental challenges: maintaining integrity of the genome in response to mobile genetic elements and mutagens, and expressing a specific repertoire of genes at the correct time and proper level. It is now widely recognized that noncoding RNAs play crucial and surprisingly diverse roles in controlling both the expression of DNA and the content of DNA itself, by mediating sequence-specific DNA cleavage events. The recent discovery of pervasive genome defense systems in bacteria and archaea known as CRISPR-Cas (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-CRISPR-associated), and the development of these systems for genome engineering, highlight the biological power and technological potential of RNA-guided DNA control.

Past Events How We Perceive Individuals in the Criminal Justice System: Thursday April 12th @ 4:30 PM, 569 Lerner

Join the Columbia Neuroscience Society for a Seminar with Dr. Larisa Heiphetz and Professor Edward Mendelson. Dr. Larisa Heiphetz is an associate professor in the department of Psychology at Columbia University. She will be presenting her research on moral cognition, specifically on how we perceive people who are incarcerated. After Dr. Heiphetz's presentation, Professor Mendelson, a professor of English and Comparative Literature, and the Lionel Trilling Professor in the Humanities at Columbia University, will present on how similar psycholgoical phenomena are present in literature. Professor Mendelson will use Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein" for his talk. We hope to see you there!

The Future of Language: Computer-aided Translation and the Brain: Thursday April 14th @ 8:00 PM, 304 Hamilton

Come for the third installment of our NeuroLinguistics Panel Series as we take on technology and ask the computer scientists about language in the brain. Come to hear Dr. Slav Petrov, researcher at Google translate, PhD in computer science, and professor for a natural language processing course at NYU, speak about his work on machine learning, information extraction, and question answering. We will also have Professor Kathleen McKeown, Director of the Institute for Data Sciences and Engineering, who's research focuses on text sumarization, natural language generation, multi-lingual applications and more! Bring questions for the Q&A portion and bring an appetite for those Free Insomnia Cookies! This event will also be in collaboration with CU Speak. See you all there!

Dr. Martin Chalfie, Nobel Laureate, Speaker: Thursday February 18th @ 8:00 PM, 702 Hamilton

Hear about the research of one of our most distinguished faculty members, Dr. Martin Chalfie, who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2008 for his development of Green Fluorescent Protein as a method for tagging and visualizing proteins in living organisms. Currently he uses GFP to investigate the development of neural circuits and the intricacies of mechanosensation in C. elegans. Some classes (including Intro Bio) will offer extra credit for attending so don't miss out. We will also have Insomnia Cookies!

What is Love? Sunday Synapse Series: Sunday February 14th @ 12:00 PM, Lerner West Ramp Lounge

Join CNS this Valentine's Day for a discussion about love in the brain. It will be skeptics versus romantics as we try to figure out the neural correlates of love. We will watch a video and then dive into a discussion on the following questions: Is it possible to make someone fall in love using neuroscience? What do people mean by "true love"? Can love be diagnosed with fMRI? Could a drug cure a broken heart? What challenges await scientists who try to study such a complicated emotion? Bring your friends and enjoy some fresh fruit as a refreshment.

First General Body Meeting: Sunday January 31 @ 5:00 PM, Lerner 477

Come hear about our exciting line-up of events this semester including another physicians panel, Brain Awareness Week and more NeuroPhilosophy events. We will also discuss memory in the brain and learn how scientists are already manipulating the memories of mice. Insomnia Cookies will be served!

NeuroPhilosophy: How to Isolate Consciousness in the Brain without Reports: Thursday December 3rd @ 8:00 PM, Hamilton 516

The attempt to isolate consciousness in the brain has been dogged by the need to elicit reports from experimental subjects. Without reports of some kind it is hard to know whether a subject is consciously perceiving something or what the subject is consciously perceiving. But brain imaging of reported conscious perception inevitably mixes together consciousness with the cognitive processes underlying report. New paradigms have been developed to try to finesse this problem. In one kind of case, reports of some subjects are used to verify conscious experiences of other subjects who are not reporting anything. In another kind of paradigm, reports are elicited long after the conscious experience. And in another kind of paradigm, ensemble judgments are used that escape some of the problems of reports of specific details.

Free Westside Cookies will be served!!

Neuroscience Majors Forum Dinner: Friday November 20th @ 6:30 - 8:00 PM, Lerner Satow Room

We will be hosting the first ever Neuroscience Majors Forum at Columbia. Dinner will be served in a casual setting with Neuroscience Major Advisors. This is a great way to answer all of your questions, meet other neuromajors, connect with your advisors and get a free meal out of the deal as well. Space will be limited and on a first-come-first-served basis so please fill out this google form ASAP. The deadline to submit is Tuesday November 17th at 12:00 Noon.

10th Annual Research Fair: Saturday November 14th @ 1:00 - 3:00 PM, Lerner 555

Are you interested in doing research? Do you want to join a lab? Are you interested in hearing what some of the most brilliant people on campus are working on? This is the ideal way to meet researchers and make that critical connection to get you into a lab. Each lab will have a table where they will present their work and you can ask in depth questions in a casual setting.

But maybe you're just not that interested in neuroscience. Now I might be offended, except that we'll have labs from at least 13 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS! If you or anyone you know is looking for research opportunities in neuroscience, psychiatry, biology, developmental biology, chemistry, public health, biomedical engineering, civil engineering, biophysics, cellular biophysics, molecular biophysics, astronomy, biochemistry, etc, this is a can't miss opportunity. And we're still getting more labs to join us. No experience in a lab is required, and all of the labs present will be actively recruiting undergraduate research assistants. Don't miss out on this amazing experience and all of the experiences you could have down the road doing hands-on research. We are looking forward to seeing all of you there for our biggest event of the year!

Please refer to the following program for more information.

Cold Spring Harbor Research Talk and Info Session: Monday October 26th @ 7:30 PM, Hamilton 602

Dr. Anthony Zador, Professor of Biology and Program Chair in Neuroscience at CSHL will give a research talk on his work studying the neural correlates of decision making in the auditory cortex. Come hear about different research methods on the molecular, cellular, circuit and behavioral levels as his lab tries to answer the question, "How do we use what we hear to make decisions?"

In addition to the research talk, we will have Dr. Carrie Cowan from the Watson School at CSHL to talk about their Summer Undergraduate Research Program open to current Sophomores and Juniors as well as their graduate program in biological sciences. If you or anyone you know is interested in these opportunities this is an invaluable opportunity to find out more.

Oh, and did I mention free pizza will be served?

Imagine Science Film Festival Screening: Friday October 23rd @ 7 PM, Hamilton 602

Join Imagine Science for a screening of films from Jean Painlevé, a pioneer science film maker who's films explore marine animal physiology and behavior. Columbia neuroscience faculty will give opening remarks. Tickets are sold-out online, but a limited number will still be available at the door, free with CUID. Learn more at the event page.

Languages in the Brain: Thursday October 22nd @ 8 PM, Kent 413

Join us Thursday October 22 at 8pm for Part 1 of our two-part panel series, Languages in the Brain. For this first installment we will have two distinguished speakers, Dr. Peter Gordon and Dr. Erika Levy, to discuss multilingualism, linguistic development, and language education. Who knows? Maybe you'll get some helpful tips to study for that next Spanish quiz.

If you've ever wondered how your brain interprets words or learns a new language then this is the event for you. Maybe you're just interested in the free cookies that will be provided. Either way we look forward to seeing you there!

Synapse Series Journal Club: Sunday October 4th @ 4 PM, Lerner 569

Join us Sunday October 4 at 4pm in Lerner 569 for the first Synapse Series Discussion of the semester. We will explore the question - When did Darwin Begin to Think? We will be talking about evolution and consciousness. When did organisms first become aware? Which ones have the inner experience we call consciousness? How do different species perceive the world around us?

We are specifically asking questions that no one knows the answers to. No experience is required to join the discussion! We want to hear what you think, so bring questions, bring theories, bring your friends who you've had this debate with before! If you want to read up on the topic beforehand, check out the link in this email and on our website to this seminal paper describing the visual system of the frog and how it perceives the world.

And if somehow you're still not sure you want to come:

"The Marshmallow Test"--Discussing the Work of Dr. Walter Mischel: Wednesday, April 22nd @ 8 PM, Pupin 424

Join the CNS for a lively discussion on the research of Columbia Professor and social psychologist Dr. Walter Mischel. Dr. Mischel is a leader in personality theory, examining concepts such as delayed gratification and self-regulation. We will spend the evening discussing his book, "The Marshmallow Test," and maybe even enjoy some marshmallow treats afterwards!

Physician Panel: Probing the Brains of Neurologists and Neurosurgeons: Thursday, April 2nd @ 8 PM, Hamilton 717

Join us for a Q&A with a panel of current residents and physicians in the Neurosurgery and Neurology departments of New York Presbyterian Hospital/ Columbia University Medical Center. Our panelists each have diverse research and clinical interests, and this event will be an opportunity for you to ask them about their time in medical school, their decision to pursue a neuro-related specialty, potential shadowing and research opportunities, and anything else! Refreshments will be provided.

Here is the panelist line-up:

You can RSVP at the Facebook event page. Also, please check out the event flyer.

CeleBrain, in honor of Brain Awareness Week: Thursday, March 12th @ 2-5 PM, Low Plaza

The CNS, in collaboration with Columbia Brainiacs, is excited to invite you all to one of our biggest events of the year, "CeleBrain," being held this Thursday, March 12th on Low Plaza from 2 to 5 pm. In honor of Brain Awareness Week, a global campaign to increase awareness about brain research, we will be giving away brain T-shirts, prizes, "power" snacks and drinks to boost your brain, and more. Drop by our table outside Low Plaza for brain-related demos, games, and trivia!

Grand prizes include:

Please check out the flyer and join the Facebook event. You can learn more about Brain Awareness Week at the Dana Foundation website.

Brain Insight Lecture "In Darwin's Footsteps: Witnessing the Origin of a New Species in the Galapagos": Tuesday, March 3rd @ 6:30-8:00 PM, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Lecture Hall (2950 Broadway)

Pulitzer-prize-winning author Jonathan Weiner of Columbia University will tell a story of discovery. By going back to the Galapagos year after year, scientists in Darwin's islands have now witnessed an event that Darwin himself did not think could be seen at all. The work throws light on many aspects of the science of life--including the science of the brain. See the attached flyer for more information.

Towards a Political Theory of the Social Brain, Political Neuroscience and its Implications: Tuesday February 24th @ 8 PM, 301 Hamilton

The CNS and Barnard Psych are excited to have Columbia Dept. of Political Science PhD candidate, Liya Yu, present her work in the novel field of political neuroscience. Her talk will cover existing studies that examine brain regions implicated in racial exclusion, political orientation and attitudes, and intergroup conflict. She will then present data on fMRI techniques for understanding these complex political dynamics and pose the larger questions of whether and how the government should address these fMRI findings in legislation. Can we and should we change our legislation and state education based on new knowledge on how the human brain discriminates against people of different phenotypical appearance? Join us for this fascinating talk next Tuesday evening in 301 Hamilton! There will be cookies and snacks.

NeuroDinner with MD/PhD Student at P&S: Wednesday February 18th @ 8 PM, 700 Fairchild

Are you interested in getting an MD, a PhD, or both? Do you think neuroscience is cool and want to learn about how to control live mice using lasers? Are you a fan of free food? If you said yes to any of these questions than this week's neurodinner event is for you! Come to 700 Fairchild at 8pm this Wednesday to have dinner with Sam Clark, an MD/PhD student and researcher at CUMC. Chat about his research using cutting edge optogenetics to explore learning and memory in mice, and ask him questions about applying to medical and graduate school! We'll see you there!

Join the FB Event to RSVP.

Synapse Series Journal Club: Wednesday February 11th @ 8 PM, 522B Kent

Interested in mental disorders? Unsatisfied with the sometimes subjective methods of diagnosis? Come discuss the recent progress a group of researchers at Northwestern has made towards a faster and more objective diagnosis for a mental illness: a possible blood test for depression! The study shows a link between different types of RNA and depression, as well as a prediction of talk therapy effectiveness for the diagnosed subjects. We will cover the mechanisms behind the study, and also discuss the significance of this test for the field of psychiatry and mental health. Here are the links to the Nature paper on the study, as well as a news feature on the results.

Original paper
Pop article

Remember, you can join us for discussion even if you don't get to read the papers. Our Journal Clubs are very informal, and no neuroscience background is required!

Kavli Institute NeuroLunch Seminar: Tuesday February 10th @ 12PM, 800 Fairchild

Enjoy a free lunch with Dr. Rayman, neuroscientist from the lab of Nobel laureate Dr. Eric Kandel, and hear him discuss his research on post-traumatic stress disorder!

Speaker: Joseph B. Rayman, PhD
Department of Neuroscience, The Kavli Institute for Brain Science
Kandel Lab
"TIA-1-deficient mice: A novel gene x environment model of stress vulnerability"

Presentation Summary:
PTSD and other stress-related psychiatric disorders are caused by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. However, we have yet to identify specific genes that reliably predict the development of these disorders. Towards this goal, Dr. Rayman's research in mice has led to the identification of TIA1 as a potential susceptibility locus for stress vulnerability, a question that is now being investigated in human populations. These studies may provide new molecular insight into the biological basis of PTSD and anxiety.

Synapse Series: Wednesday February 4th @ 8PM, 511 Kent

Behind every note is a neuron. It may sound strange, but neuroscientists are looking for new ways to visualize music, and it doesn't look like your traditional five-line staff. Come to our general body Synapse Series to discuss what happens in your brain as you listen to your favorite tune, and what that means for how we perceive, create, and experience music. We will focus our discussion on this article from Nature, which reviews several neuroimaging studies that all attempt to find the connection between music and the brain. This event is open to all, meaning you do not have to have any neuroscience background to attend!

First General Body Meeting of the Semester: Sunday February 1st @ 3PM, Jed D. Satow Room in Lerner Hall

Join us this Sunday, February 1st at 3 PM for our first general body meeting of the semester. We will discuss our lineup of events for the semester and how you can get more involved with the CNS. We'll also play a game of Brain Facts trivia and discuss some recent research in the field.

Brain Insight Lecture: "Race matters, but not how you think it does: How stereotypes affect how we live, work, play and pray," featuring Dr. Valerie Purdie-Vaughns - Wednesday, December 3rd from 6:30-8 PM at 515 Malcolm X Blvd

Dr. Purdie-Vaughns is an associate professor in the Psychology Department at Columbia. Her talk will cover recent findings in brain science that can be used by individuals to reduce stress and improve performance, and that could help bridge racial and gender disparities in the population. See this flyer for more information.

NeuroNutrition Talk with Dr. Avena - Tuesday, December 2nd at 6 PM in 302 Fayerweather Hall

Ever wonder why you just can't put down the junk food? Is it possible that some people are actually addicted to sweets? Join us next week at "NeuroNutrition," a guest speaker event featuring Dr. Nicole Avena from the New York Obesity Research Center. Dr. Avena is a research neuroscientist and author. She will be discussing her research on sugar and junk food addiction in a presentation and Q&A session. Food will be provided (healthy options of course).

9th Annual Research Symposium, Saturday Nov 22nd

Are you looking to gain research experience and join a lab on campus?

The Columbia Neuroscience Society is pleased to announce that our 9th Annual Research Fair will be taking place next Saturday, November 22nd from 1 to 3 PM in Lerner's Satow Room (5th floor).

This year, we will have representatives from various research labs across several disciplines, including departments in Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Anatomy and the Cell, Biomedical Informatics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Mathematics, and Biomedical Engineering. All research groups are open to and/or actively recruiting undergraduates, so this will be a great opportunity for students to meet and learn about various research groups and to find research positions.

The event is open to all undergraduates in the Columbia community, so mark your calendars for Saturday, November 22nd from 1-3 PM. Sandwiches and desserts will be provided.

Questions are welcome and can be sent to the CNS at thecns@columbia.edu.

Science Resume Workshop: Tuesday Nov. 18th at 1:30 pm in the Lerner Broadway Room

In preparation for our 9th Annual Research Fair next Saturday, the Columbia Neuroscience Society is partnering with the Center for Career Education to offer a Science Resume Workshop Tuesday, November 18th from 1:30-2:30 pm in the Broadway Room in Lerner. We're looking to give students an opportunity for students to market themselves to prospective labs, no matter their level of previous research experience. There will be a thirty-minute workshop presentation by CCE, followed by break-out sessions with CNS executive board members! Hope to see you there!

Join the event here.

Synapse Series: Journal Club on Tuesday, November 18th at 8 PM in Hamilton 318

This week's Synapse Series will be a discussion on this year's Nobel Prize winners in medicine and physiology for their work on the brain's spatial representation system. This is a great example of how molecular processes can lead to higher level brain function and answer a fundamental question abouthow we see the world. We will be discussing May-Britt and Edvard Moser's 2005 paper introducing the concepts of "grid cells" in the entorhinal cortex and how they create an "internal GPS" that allows the brain to navigate space. Feel free to just read the official Nobel press release or summary and come with any questions (links below).

Press Release
Scientific Background (On the official Nobel Prize website, a middle ground between the academic research paper and the general press release)
Paper

"Neurodinners": Dinner and Discussion with Professor Qi Wang on Wednesday, October 29th from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, BME Conference Room on the 3rd floor of Mudd

Are you curious to learn more about a career in the neurosciences? Perhaps you are simply interested in neuroscience research? Then join the Columbia Neuroscience Society for the first "Neurodinners" series Wednesday, October 29th from 6:30 to 7:30 PM in the BME Conference Room on the 3rd floor of Mudd! Our inaugural dinner will be co-hosted with the Biomedical Engineering Society and will feature Dr. Qi Wang. Dr. Wang's research focuses on the neural encoding of touch sensation and interfaces engineering applications in the neurosciences! **A catered dinner will be provided.**

Please join the Facebook event here.

Cold Spring Harbor Research Information Session on Monday, October 20 at 7 PM (Location: Satow Room in Lerner Hall)

Dr. Steve Shea, a researcher from Cold Spring Harbor, will give a presentation on his research. The Shea lab studies the anatomy and physiology underlying the neural circuits that mediate social behavior and communication in mice, as well as the dysfunctions that can arise in those circuits.

After the talk, a representative from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory will discuss the undergraduate summer research program (open to sophomores and juniors) as well as the CSHL graduate school. This is a great chance to make a connection at an excellent research institution, whether for this summer or for the future! **Pizza will be provided.**

Synapse Series: Delving into Eric Kandel's Research on Alzheimer's and Aging - Tuesday, October 14th at 8 PM in Hamilton 318

Did you make it out to Dr. Eric Kandel's lecture last week and are looking to talk more about the exciting things you learned? Were you unable to make it but really wanted to hear what he had to say? Maybe you just want to talk about exciting topics in memory and aging! This week's synapse series is a follow-up to our special edition last week, where we will discuss one of the topics from Dr. Kandel's talk, RbAp48 protein in the dentate gyrus and its role in age-related memory loss. The paper talks about how the researchers identified this protein and tested its effects through transgenic mouse models to determine its effects on memory. This is a great experiment, so it is highly recommended you read the article, not only for the content but also as a model of exemplary neuroscience research. We will go into depth about the methodology of the study, talk aboutimplications for memory, aging and Alzheimer's, as well as answer questions you may still have from the lecture.

Article:
Molecular mechanism for age-related memory loss: the histone-binding protein RbAp48. - Pavlopoulos, et. al

The Biology of Memory and Age-Related Memory Disorders: A Talk by Nobel-Prize Winning Neuroscientist Dr. Eric Kandel

The Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute is inviting Nobel Laureate Eric R. Kandel, M.D.to speak on the Morningside Campus in Miller Theater this Tuesday, October 7th at 6:30 PM. This is an exciting opportunity to hear Dr. Kandel speak about recent advances in our biological understanding of memory and age-related memory loss. Because this event will be happening during our regularly scheduled weekly journal club, the CNS will be attending the talk as a group instead of holding our usual Synapse series this week. During next week's journal club, we will discuss Dr. Kandel's talk, as well as his recent research on Alzheimer's and memory.

Meet the Synapse group at 6:15 PM on Tuesday, October 7th by the Columbia gates, so that we can all head over together. Please e-mail Selin at ss4118@columbia.edu if you cannot find the group.

Also, I highly encourage you all to register for the event if you intend to come. It will likely fill up quickly!!

"Making Sense of it All: An investigation of Multisensory Integration": Synapse Series THIS Tuesday, September 30th in Hamilton 318

Ever wonder how the brain appears to seamlessly integrate all of the discrete stimuli it is barraged with into one coherent schema? We do too!

That's why this week we will be examining the truly nuanced and magnificent phenomenon of multisensory integration. We will investigate how the brain processes information from different senses to make one unified representation of a given object.

Moreover, we will delve into the consequences that abnormal sensory processing can bear on cognitive development in autism and schizophrenia.

Join is in 318 Hamilton at 8PM on Tuesday, September 30th if you want to come and make sense of it all!

Pop news feature: Autism Research Finds Empirical Link Between Multisensory Integration and Autism
Articles:
Humans integrate visual and haptic information in a statistically optimal fashion - Ernst and Banks
Humans integrate visual and haptic information in a statistically optimal fashion [Extended] - Ernst and Banks

The First Synapse Series of the Year: Tuesday, September 23rd in Hamilton 318

Join us for our first Synapse of the new school year. Our first topic will cover neuroscience through both translational and computational lenses (pun intended!) We'll be discussing the work of Sheila Nirenberg, who has been able to rewire cells in the retina to help try to restore vision in mice. Check out some, all, or none of the articles below (the last one is the original PNAS article) and discuss the technique and implications of Dr. Nirenberg's work. Come Synapse with us Tuesday, September 23rd at 8 pm in 318 Hamilton.

Articles:
MacArthur Genius Working to Bring Sight to the Blind - Tanya Basu
Prosthetic retina helps to restore sight in mice - Geoff Brumfiel
Retinal prosthetic strategy with the capacity to restore normal vision - Sheila Nirenberg and Chethan Pandarinath

Graduate Student Panel: Tuesday, April 29 at 7:30pm to 8:30 pm in 568 Lerner

We will be hosting 7 graduate students from Columbia graduate programs, including the chemistry, neurobiology, and molecular biology departments. Come learn about these students' experiences applying to graduate school, living life as a graduate student, and more! This casual conversation will allow curious students to learn more about graduate programs in the sciences, and light refreshments will be served.

Synapse Series: Wednesday, April 9th at 8 pm in 511 Hamilton

"Ego, Id, Super-Ego, and Alter Ego: Is anyone else out there?"

Is it an all too familiar feeling that after a sleep deprived week at Butler you begin to see things? Curious to find out what neuronal mechanisms are at play for that out of body experience? Well, join the CNS for our Synapse Series this Wednesday at 8PM in Hamilton 511 to find out what neuronal underpinnings which may be responsible for those out-of-body experiences.

We will be discussing Smith et al's paper on the, "Voluntary out-of-body experience" (attached) by examining what substrates are at play for the convergence of this somatosensory and motor potentials which may cause us to feel another us. Moreover, we will critique the validity of fMRI substantiation of the given results and divulge the secrets of how the brain identifies it's position in space relative to itself and other objects.

Fresh off our discussions on hallucinogenic drugs last week and phantom limbs last semester we will continue to explore this uncharted territory of proprioceptive in Out-of-Body experiences with interesting videos from Oliver Sacks and patients who have experienced OBE (out-of-body experiences).

Articles:
Exploring How Hallucinations Happen - Oliver Sacks
Voluntary out-of-body experience: an fMRI study - Andra M. Smith and Claude Messier

Synapse Series: Wednesday, April 2nd at 8 pm in 511 Hamilton

Hallucinogenic drugs such as mescaline, LSD, psilocybin, and DOI all cause profound alterations in human consciousness, cognition, and emotion. They all cause people to, well, hallucinate, as their name suggests. How a chemical is able to cause such profound effects on the human brain is still being worked out, and may have implications on conditions like schizophrenia. Interestingly, they all act on Serotonin 2A receptors (5-HT2aR), and blocking these receptors appears to block many of the effects associated with hallucinogenic drugs.

It has recently been discovered that hallucinogenic drugs appear to act on specific 5-HT2aRs in the cortex that couple with glutamate receptors (mGluR2) and that hallucinogenic drugs acting on these receptor complexes are responsible for causing many of the hallucinogenic behaviors. Thus, this implies that what we may perceive as real and some of how we understand the world around us may lie in the workings of these serotonin and glutamate receptors, and depend heavily on these systems.

Articles:
Metabotropic glutamate mGlu2 receptor is necessary for the pharmacological and behavioral effects induced by hallucinogenic 5-HT2A receptor agonists - Moreno, et. al
Identification of a serotonin/glutamate receptor complex implicated in psychosis - González-Maeso, et. al

Autism Lecture by Raun Kaufman: Monday, March 24th from 7-8pm in Lerner room 569

Join the CNS for a special lecture on Monday, March 24th from 7-8pm in Lerner room 569. Raun Kaufman is the former CEO of the Autism Treatment Center of America and has spent the last 15 years lecturing internationally and working directly with families. He grew up with autism, and claims that his parents developed a method that has helped him overcome his autism. His talk will cover his experience with this method, called Son-Rise, as it is the topic of his new book Autism Breakthrough: The Groundbreaking Method That Has Helped Families All Over the World. This lecture is part of his national book tour, in anticipation for the book's release on April 1st, 2014.

CeleBrain: Monday, March 10th from 2 to 4 pm at the Sundial (rain location: Lerner ramps)

Come celebrate your brain for Brain Awareness Week, a worldwide campaign!

Free t-shirts||Free brain food||Fun games||Brain bank||Meditation||Prizes||
Stop by for a chance to win:
A SIGNED copy of "In Search of Memory" by Columbia's own Dr. Eric Kandel
"The High Price" by Columbia professor Dr. Carl Hart
"The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat" and "Musicophilia" by Dr. Oliver Sacks
"The Language Instinct" by Steven Pinker
Take a brain break during midterms!

Brought to you by the Columbia Neuroscience Society, braiNY, The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, Columbia University Neuroscience Outreach, and the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute

Autism Panel: Sunday, March 2nd at 2 pm in Lerner's Satow room

Join the CNS this Sunday, March 2nd at 2pm in Lerner's Satow room, to learn about the current state of autism from various experts in the field. Panelists include physician-scientist Andrew Gerber, MD/PhD, clinical psychiatrist Martha Welch, M.D., special needs advocate attorney Marion Walsh, Esq., and the educational director of a local autism charter school, Moira Cray. The panelists will discuss autism from the perspective of their specific careers, and will help clarify common misconceptions about autism. They will also be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Light snacks will be provided!

Synapse Series: Wednesday, February 26th at 8 pm in 511 Hamilton

Our next Synapse Series will be on Wednesday, February 26 at 8 pm in 511 Hamilton. The discussion will focus on the merits of the study and on the idea that music might be a "universal language."
Articles:
The musical brain: Novel study of jazz players shows common brain circuitry processes both music, language (summary) - Johns Hopkins Medicine
The musical brain: Novel study of jazz players shows common brain circuitry processes both music, language (full article) - Johns Hopkins Medicine

Synapse Series: Wednesday, February 19th at 8 pm in 511 Hamilton

"Is the new field of 'neurolaw' inherently political?"

Join the CNS and Jozef Meszaros, JD for a lecture and discussion regarding the intersection between neuroscience and the law. Refreshments will be served.

Jozsef Meszaros, JD is a graduate student working in the Department of Neurology at the Columbia University Medical Center, where he studies neurotransmitter release and its determinants. Previously, while a student at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Jozsef wrote and published an article in the Yale Journal of Law and Feminism, describing how neurobiology defense could be used to mitigate guilt for victims of domestic violence who are accused of crimes.

"Many of today's hotly contested criminal law doctrines have their precedents in Roman law and the laws of Europe in the Middle Ages. Self-defense, insanity, and provocation are all defenses that consecrate pre-enlightenment notions of a fallible decision-making apparatus: the mind. Science, in its capacity to be a legitimizing force behind government action, has entered an obligate relationship with law.

This talk is intended to motivate inquiry into the practices and protocol that dictate science and lawmaking. Examples of outstanding quandaries in the area of law and neuroscience to be discussed: To what degree are chronically abused persons responsible for their actions? How are environmental insults, such as lead poisoning or exposure to violence, affecting an entire population's ability to act lawfully? Who is best-positioned to resolve these issues: scientists, lawmakers, or neither?"

Synapse Series: Wednesday, February 12th at 8 pm in 511 Hamilton

The Winter Olympics are underway, and while the focus may be on physical competition, the secret to success may not lie in the athletes' bodies, but in their brains. Come to the first Synapse Series Journal Discussion of the semester to discuss the neural correlates of competition. We will try to uncover the physical and biological basis of practice, pressure and performance.
Article:
Inside the brain of an elite athlete: the neural processes that support high achievement in sports - Yarrow, et. al

Synapse Series: Wednesday, December 4 at 8 pm in 325 Pupin

Psychologists have long wondered about the significance of dreams as they relate to a person's subconscious processes, but recently neuroscientists have taken a new approach to studying dreams. Researchers in Japan have begun creating a system that can use fMRI to "decode" the visual imagery present while a subject is dreaming. Come to the final Synapse Series of the semester this Wednesday to learn more about this new approach. We will discuss what dreams are, the impact they have on our minds, and how science can be used to investigate this other-worldly realm of the mind.
Articles:
Researchers Use Brain Scans To Reveal Hidden Dreamscape - Rob Stein
Neural Decoding of Visual Imagery During Sleep - Horikawa, et. al

Saturday, November 23 from 1 to 3 pm in the Satow Room of Lerner Hall

Come check out some of the work of research labs on campus! They will be recruiting volunteers--this is a great way to get involved in research on campus!
See our program here.

Synapse Series: Wednesday, November 20 at 8 pm in 325 Pupin

Have you ever thought about what dogs feel? Well, a recent study that came out claims that dogs feel and think like humans. Join us as we discuss these findings and the implications! There is a shorter New York Times article as well as a journal article on the matter. Read either or both or neither!
Articles:
Dogs Are People, Too - Gregory Berns
Functional MRI in Awake Unrestrained Dogs - Berns, et. al

Drug Desserts: Tuesday, November 19 at 9 pm in the Dodge Room of Earl Hall

Join the CNS and Dr. Carl Hart for a discussion on his research and views on drug usage. Desserts will be served.

Synapse Series: Wednesday, November 13 at 7 pm on the 7th floor of Havemeyer

The Neuroscience of Gambling
The topic of a minisymposium at the annual Society for Neuroscience conference going on this week, the neural basis for gambling is also the topic of this week's Synapse series. Come and discuss the interplay between reward circuitry in the brain and the addictive tendencies found in gamblers.
Article: Pathological Choice: The Neuroscience of Gambling and Gambling Addiction - Clark, et. al

Bake sale: Monday, November 11 from 9 am to 3 pm on Lerner Hall ramps

Come grab a neuroscience treat and learn more about our events!

Synapse Series: Wednesday, November 6 at 8 pm in 325 Pupin

Obama's Brain Initiative and Rafa Yuste's Contribution
In case you might have thought that the only thing that Rafa Yuste and Obama had in common was their Lion Pride, you might want to reconsider given light of Obama's newest Brain Mapping Initiative. Neuroscience has now made its way to the White House and has enraptured the public as it faces one of its final frontiers. This week during the Synapse Series, we will explore the science and novel technological advancements that are set to take place for this vast scientific voyage which has garnered as much attention as the Human Genome Project. We explore premier nanotechnologies to be employed in the mapping of the brain and examine how the future of neuroscience will be altered as we unlock the mysteries of the mind! Come Synapse with us and help us mapout the future of neuroscience!
Article: The Brain Activity Map Project and the Challenge of Functional Connectomics - Alivisatos, et. al

Synapse Series: Wednesday, October 23 at 8 pm in 325 Pupin

This week's article is a review on autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), analyzing their history and trajectory in the medical community. We will discuss the DSM-5's recent changes to ASD diagnostic criteria and the implications for Asperger's syndrome, as well as the genetic vs. environmental causes of ASDs. Feel free to bring your questions and any other discussion topics of interest!
Articles:
Autism spectrum disorders: a pediatric overview and update - Alexis Tchaconas and Andrew Adesman

Cold Spring Harbor Information Session on Thursday, October 17 at 7:30 in 602 Hamilton

A representative from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory will be here to discuss their undergraduate summer research program as well as their graduate school. This is a great chance to make a connection at an excellent research institution, whether for this summer or for the future! Additionally, Dr. Steve Shea, a researcher from Cold Spring Harbor, will give a presentation on his research on decision making! Pizza will be provided. Check out the Facebook event.

Synapse Series: Spirituality and Neuroscience on Wednesday, October 16 at 8 pm in 325 Pupin

This week's Synapse Series will focus on the intersection between spirituality and neuroscience. Come and discuss the neurological basis of incredible phenomena like out-of-body experiences and religious visions. We'll explore how neuroscientists are approaching these interesting questions, and whether or not science can be used as a tool to investigate this aspect of the human experience. The three (short!) articles can be found here:
The Dalai Lama has Ideas for Neuroscience - Daniel Goleman
Ictal autoscopic phenomena and near death experiences: a study of five patients with ictal autoscopies - Hoepner, et. al
Sign of the Cross (Signum Crucis): Observation of an uncommon ictal manifestation of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy - Lin, et. al

CNS Synapse Series - Wednesday, 10/09/2013, 8:00 PM

We have another Synapse Series this Wednesday, October 9 at 8:00 PM in 325 Pupin. We'll be discussing amusia, also known as "musical deafness." Those who have the disorder can have a hard time recognizing melodies, singing, writing/reading music, or playing an instrument. Come learn more about the disorder and about how music is processed in the brain! Here are the articles to supplement our discussion:
Congenital Amusia - Brain Journal
Listening Displeasure - BBC News
The basis of musical consonance as revealed by congenital amusia - PNAS

CNS Synapse Series - Wednesday, 10/02/2013, 8:00 PM

The advantages of bilingualism have recently become an area of great interest in neuroscience. But, what do we really know about the effects of language acquisition on the brain? What do these findings mean from a linguistic standpoint? Does speaking more than one language really provide an advantage in certain degenerative diseases? What changes in the brain can be observed during language acquisition? And what do certain techniques—like fMRI—really allow us to discern? In this week's journal club, we will seek to answer and discuss some of these hot issues and more. Join us on Wednesday at 8:00 PM in Pupin 325 for this week's installment of the Synapse Series!
Please email Zakary Plautz Posewitz (zrp2106@columbia.edu) or Alexis Tchaconas (aet2129@columbia.edu) with any questions. We will be examining a publication titled "Clinical Neurolinguistics of Bilingualism" by Andrea Marini, Cosimo Urgesi, and Franco Fabbro [The Handbook of the Neuropsychology of Language, 2012; ed. Faust, Miriam] and an article titled "Multilingualism and fMRI: Longitudinal Study of Second Language Acquisition" by Edna Andrews, et al., published in Brain Science, May 2013.

CNS Synapse Series - Wednesday, 09/25/2013, 8:00 PM

Join us for CNS Synapse Series on Wednesday, September 25, 8:00 PM in 703 Hamilton. This week, the CNS will be demystifying the phenomenon of phantom limbs. What changes happen in an amputee's brain that cause him to feel pain in a limb he no longer has? Join us for a spirited discussion and you will find out the answer!
Articles: Living With Ghostly Limbs - Scientific American
Thalamic Microstimulation - Nature

CNS Synapse Series - Wednesday, 09/18/2013, 8:00 PM

Join us for our first Synapse Series of the year on Wednesday, September 18 at 8 pm in Kent 423. We will be discussing Clarity, a new technique for looking at brain networks. Feel free to read either article or both and come for an interesting discussion.

The two articles we will be discussing can be found here and here.

First Fall 2013 CNS Meeting - Sunday, 9/15/2013, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Our first Columbia Neuroscience Society meeting of the semester will be held on Sunday, September 15th, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM in the Roone Arledge Cinema

CNS Synapse Series - Monday, 2/18/2013, 7:30 PM

Synapse Series is the weekly discussion of the latest neuroscience articles and topics hosted by Columbia Neuroscience Society.

Join us for the next Synapse Series meeting on Monday, 2/18 at 7:30 PM on the 7th floor of Havemeyer. The upcoming topic will be on human perceptions of visual art and music.

We will be discussing the following article.

Love Factually - the CNS Valentine's Day event, Saturday, 2/16/2013

In light of Valentine's Day, CNS wants to bring a bit of scientific flair to spice things up. Please join us for a public screening of the Discovery Channel's "The Science of Sex Appeal" this Saturday 2/16 from 1-2 PM in Carman lounge. We will also be serving "aphrodisiac" snacks some come on by and show some love!

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK 3/25-3/31

Goal of the week: We are hosting Mental Health Awareness Week in an effort to create awareness and stimulate discourse about mental health on campus with the intent of helping to remove the stigma that surrounds mental illness. We hope to enlighten students and also give them hope. We want students to know that they are not alone and that there are resources and support for them both at Columbia and outside of the Columbia community. Facebook Event

Writing and Art Submissions: Want to share your story about how mental health affects you? The Columbia Neuroscience Society (CNS) is looking for writing and art submissions about any aspect of mental health. Selected submissions will be presented at some of the upcoming Mental Health Awareness Week events. Just email thecns@columbia.edu. If you prefer to send an anonymous submission, email CNS via http://send-email.org. Also, join the Facebook Event to spread the word!

The Week: Detailed Calendar!

Monday: Sexual Orientation and Mental Health; Lifeguard Workshop: How to recognize a friend in Distress with the Trevor Project.

Tuesday: Black Swan Screening

Wednesday: Culture and Mental Health; Fountain House -- Experiences with Mental Illness

Thursday: Relate2Us and ROOTEd Discussion on Stigma

Friday: A Night of Relaxation!

Saturday: Science Panel on Mental Illness

M-F there will be tabling on college walk with t-shirts, mental health statistics and resources, Alice! stress balls and sleep kits, and Stressbusters backrubs!

Press: Meeting of the Minds, Accessing Mental Health Resoucres, Supporting Student Wellness, Mental Health Awareness Week to highlight resources, Mental Health Awareness Week educates on resources

"Rights Come to Mind and the Struggle for Consciousness" 1/26/12

Thursday, Jan. 26, 7-8pm, Satow Room
Come to our first mini-lecture of 2012! Dr. Joe Fins will talk to us about disorders of consciousness and what society owes this population. The talk deals with neuroscience, ethics and law and is sure to be fantastic. Dr. Fins is the Director of Medical Ethics and an attending physician at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Center. To learn more about Dr. Fins click here. To see a youtube video of Dr. Fins click here. Refreshments will be served.

Annual Research Symposium 12/3/11

Saturday, Dec. 3, 1-3pm, Satow Room
Want to get involved in research? Come to Columbia Neuroscience Society's annual research symposium! Talk to professors, researchers, and grad students from different labs in Biology, Psychology, and more. They will be sharing information about their research and recruiting research assistants, so this is a great opportunity if you want to get involved in research this semester or next, or even over the summer! Free food will be served!

Cold Spring Harbor

Tuesday, November 15
8-9pm
602 Hamilton

Are you interested in getting involved in research this summer? Or are you interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in biology? Come enjoy FREE PIZZA and find out about the summer undergraduate research program and the innovative 4-year Ph.D. program in the biological sciences offered at The Watson School of Biological Sciences at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, located on Long Island. Through these programs, you can conduct research in a variety of fields, including cancer biology, neuroscience, quantitative or structural biology, bioinformatics, and genomics. Keisha John, the Associate Director of Recruitment and Undergraduate Research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's Ph.D. program will be joining the Columbia Neuroscience Society to tell you more about the opportunities for research that are available at Cold Spring Harbor. In addition, Dr. John is a recent graduate and can answer questions such as what it takes to get into graduate school, what graduate school is like, and what the career options are after completing a Ph.D.
For more information about Cold Spring Harbor, please visit www.cshl.edu.

Movie Screening: The Electric Mind

Sunday, Nov 13
3-4pm
Satow Room, Lerner Hall

Film synopsis: Do we exist beyond the electric interactions of brain tissues? Our love, body movement, memory, depression, or religious beliefs - all are expressed electrically in our brain. This film follows people suffering from brain disorders, who are undergoing groundbreaking medical treatments involving the electric stimulation of the brain. The prospect of manipulating our minds with machines has for decades been considered science fiction, but the accelerating advancements of brain sciences today are materializing into a genuine cure for the millions of people suffering from brain disorders. "The Electric Mind" raises significant questions about man machines interfacing, ethics and technology, our body, and the mystery of our mind.
Trailer
Facebook event

CNS table at CSC Night Market 10/28/11

Friday, Oct. 28, 6-9pm, Low Plaza
The CNS will be having a table at the Chinese Student Club's annual Night Market! We will be selling delicious neuroscience-inspired snacks, so drop by, get some food and chat with the club!

Advising Study Break 11/1/11

Tuesday, Nov. 1, 7-8pm, West Ramp Lounge
Come join the CNS board for a fun and informative study break! E-board members will be on hand to answer your questions and give you advice on classes, majors, research, and more, just in time for spring course registration. Free milk and cookies and free massages from Stressbusters!

T-shirt Design Contest

We are looking for creative CNS members to make a design for new CNS T-shirts! The only restrictions are to incorporate the CNS logo (attached) in some way, have a front and back design, use minimal colors (1-2 colors), and do not include the year. Please send us your design by November 2. The winning design will be featured on CNS T-shirts that will be on sale for all members, and the winner will get a free T-shirt and one of the following prizes: $40 cash OR free dinner with the CNS board and Nobel prize winning professor Martin Chalfie!

General body meeting 9/20/11

Tuesday, Sep. 20, 8-9 pm in Lerner 568
Please come a join us for our first general body meeting of the year! Come meet the board and learn more about what we do, some of our upcoming events for the semester, and open board positions that you can apply for! New members are especially encouraged to come. Milk and cookies will be served!

Open Board Positions

Want to become more involved in the CNS? Meet new friends? Help plan CNS events? Join our board as an Organizational Committee Member! As an OCM, you will attend weekly board meetings and help organize CNS events for the rest of the school year. If you are interested, e-mail the thecns@columbia.edu or attend the general body meeting on Tues Sept 20 to get an application. The applications are due by the end of Thursday, Sep. 22. Interviews will take place that weekend. We look forward to reading your applications!

The Man Who Lived in a Dream 4/30/2011

Saturday, April 30 from 12:00pm to 1:30pm
What is Korsakoff's Syndrome? What can it tell us about our understanding of such neuropsychiatric disorders? Find out in a fascinating talk by Dr. Mark Solms!
Dr. Solms returns to Columbia after giving a wildly popular talk last year. Check it out on Bwog.
For more information visit the Facebook event.

Autism Awareness Day - Fair and Panel Discussion 4/16/2011

From 12-2pm visit us on the Lerner Ramps for the fair and then come to the panel discussion in Roone from 2-3pm.

CNS Study Break! 3/28/2011

Monday, March 28 from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Take a breather from homework and join the CNS for a study break in Boardroom 501, Lerner Hall.

Career Panel 3/26/2011

From 1:00 - 2:30 PM join us in Satow, Lerner Hall to learn what you can do with a background in neuroscience!

MCAT Preview Class 3/4/2011

304 Hamilton Hall, Friday March 4, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Thinking about going to medical school? Want to know what the MCAT is like? Come to the MCAT Preview Class hosted by the CNS and Kaplan! Want more information? Email us or check out our facebook event page.

CNS Study Break 2/21/2011

Join us in Board Room 501 of Lerner Hall from 8:00 - 9:00 PM to take a breather from all that work!

Your Brain in Love 2/12/2011

Saturday February 12 come join us in Satow in Lerner Hall from 12:50PM to 1:50PM for a fascinating video on the science of love, learn interesting facts about love and the brain, and enjoy some sweet treats and aphrodisiacs. Visit our Facebook page.

Erik Kandel Movie Screening Dec 9, 8-10pm

In 312 Math we will be screening the documentary "In Search of Memory," a compelling blend of autobiography and history that recounts the life of Nobel Prize winner and Columbia professor Eric Kandel, one of the most important neuroscientists of the 20th century. Professor Kandel will join us after the movie screening for a Q and A session. For more information visit our Facebook page.

Advising Study break with Pie Nov 15

Monday, Nov. 15, 8:00pm-9:00pm East Ramp Lounge, Lerner Hall

Come join the CNS board for a fun and informative study break the day after the Research Symposium! E-board members will be on hand to answer your questions and give you advice on classes, majors, research, and more. Of course, we will also feed you delicious food, this time it's pies and apple cider!!

Research Symposium Nov 14, 2010

Sunday, Nov. 14, 1:00-3:30pm Satow Room, Lerner Hall

The CNS's annual Research Symposium is coming up next month! Come and learn about research in neuroscience and related areas and find a lab to work in. Free pizza will be served!!

Free MCAT and GRE preview class - 02.26.10 (3:00p.m., Hamilton 303 and 304)

Kaplan is hosting free preview classes for the MCAT and GRE this Friday afternoon (Feb 26) from 3:00 - 4:30 pm. The preview classes will be held in Hamilton 303 and 304 (one room for GRE, one for MCAT). This event will give you a chance to see what both the exams and the prep classes are like, so come check it out!

Research Opportunity for Adults

The NYU Child Study Center, NYU Langone Medical Center's Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, is looking for adult participants between the ages of 18 and 55 without any psychiatric conditions. Participation consists of two visits. The first consists of abbreviated cognitive testing and a psychiatric interview and takes about 3-4 hours. The second consists of an MRI scan and takes about 1.5 hours. You will be compensated $85.00-$105.00 depending on which study you are enrolled in, and it is a really fun and interesting experience! And you will get to take home pictures of your brain!

If you are interested please contact:
Emily (212) 263-4723
Devika (212) 263-4714
http://www.aboutourkids.org/research

FREE Practice Exams - 03.06.10 (12:00p.m., Mathematics Building)

Find out what the LSAT, GRE, DAT, or MCAT is like by taking a FREE PRACTICE EXAM and help the Columbia Neuroscience Society earn money for hosting more awesome events!
Click on this link to register: http://bit.ly/Columbia-Neuro

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The test itself is provided by Kaplan Test Preparation, which means you will see exactly how you would score on the actual exam. In addition to a score, you will also receive a thorough breakdown of your strengths and weaknesses. After the exam, an expert Kaplan instructor will review a few of the questions from the exam. So by registering for this exam, you will not only get a valuable, free graduate school preparation experience, but you will also help our group raise needed funds! Our group will earn $5 for each student that registers for this event (just click on the link below) and stays for the entire exam. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!

Registering is easy!
Just click on the link above and take a few moments fill out the form to register for this free event. Within a few days of submitting the form, you will receive a confirmation email from Kaplan Test Preparation, who is helping us conduct this event.

Event Details
All tests will occur on campus in the Mathematics Building on Saturday, March 6th at the times listed below:

LSAT: 12pm - Columbia University; Mathematics Building
MCAT: 12pm - Columbia University; Mathematics Building
DAT: 12pm - Columbia University; Mathematics Building
GRE: 12pm - Columbia University; Mathematics Building

Brainwave Series 2010 - 02.17.10 to 04.19.10 (Rubin Museum of Art)

The third annual BRAINWAVE brings thinkers from multiple disciplines to sit down with (neuro)scientists and astrophysicists to wrap our minds around the things that matter. Address: 150 West 17th Street, New York, NY 10011. Phone: 212-620-5000

The Storm Within: Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder - 02.25.10 (6:00p.m., Lerner C555)

Counseling and Psychological Services and The Barnard/Columbia Personality Study will host a discussion on the nature of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), a condition that affects college-aged adults. This discussion will feature a personal account of living with BPD, and overview of current clinical perspectives and treatment, as well as an opportunity for dialogue. The disorder, characterized by an inability to regulate emotions and affect, has a serious impact on the lives of people who suffer from it and those who are close to them, but recovery from BPD is possible.

The Department of Psychology's Open House for Prospective Majors! - 02.24.10 (8:00p.m., Schermerhorn Hall 200B)

Faculty and Peer Advisors will present information and answer your questions about:
The Neuroscience and Behavior Major
The Psychology Major and Concentration
The Psychology Honors Program
Course Offerings in 2010-11
Planning your Program
Faculty and Peer Advising
Prospective Majors, please join us for this important event! Pizza and refreshments will be served.

Annual Research Symposium - 02.20.10 (11:30a.m., Lerner Satow Room)

Come talk to professors and graduate students about current research projects and opportunities to get involved in neuroscience, psychology, biology, and other science labs at Columbia as an undergraduate.

Mini-Lecture by Dr. Solms - 02.06.10 (4:00p.m., Lerner Board Room 502)

Mini-lecture on the Brain Mechanisms of Dreaming given by Dr. Solms. Professor Mark Solms is best known for his discovery of the forebrain mechanisms of dreaming, and for his pioneering integration of psychoanalytic theories and methods with those of modern neuroscience.

Volunteer Opportunity: Columbia Science Outreach

Interested in teaching neuroscience to middle school students in Washington Heights? "The Brainiacs" afterschool teaching program is looking for new teachers! This program is ideal for students who are passionate about neuroscience and education. As a group, we plan and teach lessons to kids eager to learn more about the brain- past lessons have included cow eye and sheep brain dissections as well as basic brain anatomy and various different mini-experiments. The lessons are held once a week on Friday afternoons from 2:15 to 4pm. Attached is an application for the program due Friday, February 5th @ 12 pm, with interviews to be held that same weekend - please send completed applications to columbia.science.outreach@gmail.com. If you have any additional questions you can direct them to ycl2103@columbia.edu.

General Body Meeting - 02.01.10 (8:00p.m., Lerner Board Room 502)

Join us this coming Monday, February 1, at 8 pm in Board Room 502 Lerner for our first General Body Meeting of the new year! We'll have hot chocolate and rice krispie treats and will be discussing our upcoming events and opportunities to get involved in the club and neuroscience in general. We can also answer any questions about majors, lab opportunities, etc. Come learn more about our club and meet our members!

Mini-Lecture by Darcy Kelley - 11.19.09 (7:00p.m., Lerner West Ramp Lounge)

Fourth of the semester's mini-lecture series.

Mini-Lecture by Deborah Mowshowitz - 11.12.09 (7:30p.m., Lerner Broadway Room)

Third of the semester's mini-lecture series.

Mini-Lecture by Jian Yang - 11.07.09 (1:00p.m., Lerner Board Room 501)

Second of the semester's mini-lecture series. Topic: "Ion Channels: From Structure to Disease.

Mini-Lecture by Martin Chalfie - 10.24.09 (1:00p.m., Lerner Board Room 501)

First of the semester's mini-lecture series. Dr. Chalfie will be speaking about genetic approaches to neuronal development and function. The event will be held in Lerner Board Room 501 from 1-2 pm. No registration is necessary, but please note that seating is very limited (only about 30 seats), so please arrive early

House and Cupcake Study Break - 10.14.09 (9:00p.m., Lerner 5th floor Satow Room)

Join the CNS for a "Neuroscience in popular culture" study break next Wednesday, October 14th at 9pm in Satow (5th floor of Lerner). We'll be watching an episode of House and eating cupcakes!

The Brainiacs

The Columbia Neuroscience Society in collaboration with the Columbia Biological Society has created a weekly, after-school Neuroscience education program at the Community Health Academy in Washington Heights. The program is in its first full year, so its curriculum is continually developing. We now have ten teachers who co-teach in groups of four. Our lessons are demonstration- or experiment-based in order to teach science by illustration rather than by lecture. We will be looking for new teachers for the 2009-2010 academic year, so if you are interested, please contact Saroja Bangaru at sdb2113@columbia.edu. Check out our blog.

Dealing with Traumatic Brain Injuries - 03.07.09

Dealing with Traumatic Brain Injuries: A Discussion with Survivors and Therapists presented by the CNS and the Charles Maddock Foundation. Suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be one of the most difficult times in an individual's life, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Hear how individuals and the therapists who treat them deal with the consequences of TBI and manage to overcome incredible odds.

Neuroscience Major Forum - 02.24.09 (10pm, Lerner Ramp Lounge East)

Come to the CNS's Neuroscience Major Forum and speak your mind about the pros and cons of your experiences with the major. Ideas brainstormed here will be brought to the administration and faculty at a later date in the hopes of improving this fast-growing major.

Research Symposium - 02.21.09 (10am-12:30pm, Lerner Broadway Room)

This Saturday the CNS will be hosting our third annual Research Symposium. Come and speak to professors and other leading researchers in the fields of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Biology! This is a great opportunity to not only hear about some of the latest research, but to speak to professors about lab research positions, both during the school year and during the summer. Free food as well!

Neuroscience Career Panel - 11.15.08 (12pm-2pm, Lerner C555)

Do you want to know what Neuromarketing or Neurology is like? We will be hosting a panel of men and women from various Neuroscience-related professions. They will talk about their professions, how they arrived at their careers, and answer any questions. A great way to learn about what careers are available for Neuroscience majors besides medicine and research.

CNS Study Break - 10.28.08 (10pm-11pm, Lerner 568)

Come get free ice cream sundaes and watch a video of neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor talk about how she suffered loss of various functions because of and then recovered, partially, from a massive stroke.

Study Break - 04.15.08

The final study break of the year!

Lecture by Oliver Sacks - 04.05.08 (1:20pm-4:00pm, Lerner Cinema)

A screening of the documentary Awakenings followed by a discussion and Q and A led by Oliver Sacks himself.

CNS Peer Advising Session - 12.04.07

Biology, Psychology, and Neuroscience and Behavior majors shared their experiences, giving the inside scoop on professors and classes.

Brain Bowl - 11.10.07 (2pm-4pm, Satow Room)

Our first Brain Bowl Trivia Night! Participants formed teams to answer trivia questions related to Neuroscience, Biology and Psychology.

MCAT Information Session and Free Sample Class - 10.13.07

A Princeton Review representative discussed the structure and content of the MCAT (Medical School Admission Test) and gave some studying guidelines. The session was followed by a free sample MCAT class with a Princeton Review instructor.

First General Body Meeting of the Year - 09.26.07 (8:30pm-9:30pm, Hamilton 501)

Our first study break of the year! Featured Matthew Garrett speaking about his research in vascular neurosurgery.

Second Research Symposium - 03.25.07

Including representatives from Neuroscience, Psychology, and Biology labs as well as labs at the uptown Medical School Campus, this symposium was an excellent opportunity to learn about the exciting research going on at Columbia and to possibly find an internship for the summer.

Guest Lecturer - 02.13.07

Steen, a graduate student in the Columbia Psychology program, spoke about the science behind attraction and love. A first-year graduate student working in the Higgins lab, Steen hails from New Jersey and went to Colby College in Maine, where he majored in philosophy.

Movie Outing

Many students of CNS went to the see the new movie, Science of Sleep, by the director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Because of the large turnout, similar events are planned in the future.

General Body Meeting - 11.15.06

An opportunity to get to know other members in the club, this meeting was followed by a guest speaker, Tamar Kornblum. Having graduated as a psychology major from Columbia in 2004, Tamar is the lab manager of the Terrace lab, studying primate cognition. As a recent graduate applying to medical school, Tamar offered insight into the post-Columbia world and discussed opportunities for Neuroscience majors.