A new Centre for Brain Science (CBS) is to be opened in the Department of Psychology, with a public lecture by a leading neuroscientist on the nature of brain and mind preceding the official opening by the Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Elaine Fox, Head of the Department, said: ‘The development of the CBS is exciting and significant for Psychology at the University of Essex. The SRIF-funded building contains state-of-the-art equipment allowing us to directly measure and modulate brain activity, as well as a range of equipment to measure eye-movements and various indices of physiological response. These technologies are a fantastic resource for all members of the Department, as well as members of other academic departments at Essex who are interested in the neural and physiological correlates of behavioural and cognitive processes.’

Professor Alvaro Pascual-Leone of Harvard University will present a guest lecture, ‘Stimulating the Mind: Modern Methods of Neuromodulation’, to mark the occasion. Professor Fox added: ‘Cognitive neuroscience is one of the fastest growing areas in psychology, and indeed science generally, and Professor Pascual-Leone has been at the forefront of many of these developments. We expect a highly entertaining lecture as he is known as an excellent speaker and won the Daniel D Federman Outstanding Clinical Educator Award in 2000.’

Professor Pascual-Leone’s talk will be in the Senate Room (Room 4.722) from 4pm to 5pm on Tuesday 24 March. All are welcome to attend. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Colin Riordan, will be present and will officially open the new Centre at a reception following the lecture.

Designed by Stanley Bragg Associates, the CBS building won a Sustainable Developments award in the 2008 Colchester 2020 and RIBA Architectural Awards. It is one of the most environmentally sustainable buildings on the Colchester Campus, with solar shading, a rainwater recovery system and a ground source heat pump.

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Notes to editors:
The attached picture shows the new Centre for Brain Science at the University of Essex.

Professor Alvaro Pascual-Leone of Harvard University will present, ‘Stimulating the Mind: Modern Methods of Neuromodulation’, in the Senate Room (Room 4.722) from 4pm to 5pm on Tuesday 24 March. All are welcome to attend. The Vice-Chancellor will be present and will officially open the new Centre at a reception following the lecture. For more information, please contact Jo Page on e-mail: jopage@essex.ac.uk

For more information, please contact the University of Essex Communications Office on telephone: 01206 872807 or e-mail: comms@essex.ac.uk