How do the billions of neurons in your head, looking like tangled rice noodles, give rise to consciousness? Can we even define consciousness? We may not agree on a precise definition, but scientists can now measure brain activity during experiences that we think of as “conscious”, such as deliberation, remembering, noticing, inner conflict, and coming awake. Prof. Mark Reimers will talk about what scientists have uncovered so far about conscious brain activity, and the limitations of current theories and technology. Then we will discuss whether this effort can really lead us to a scientific understanding of consciousness, and whether a scientific approach can help guide a religious understanding of human consciousness. Join URL: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89595110616?pwd=Dlb8tA4lds9R4YwgDLUDsbyQ65bsZv.1

About the Speaker

Mark Reimers is an Associate Professor in the Neuroscience Program and the Department of Statistics and Probability at Michigan State University. His lab, the Reimers Lab for Computational and Systems Neuroscience, develops and applies statistical methods to analyze high-dimensional data from neuroscience experiments. A primary focus of his work is understanding the molecular and genetic underpinnings of brain activity, aging, and complex disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. Dr. Reimers holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of British Columbia and has previously held positions at the Allen Institute for Brain Science and Virginia Commonwealth University.