The human brain has been called the most complex object in the universe. As much as neuroscience has progressed in understanding brain functions and its structures, most of what the brain does remains a mystery to scientists and lay people alike.

With all the buzz surrounding artificial intelligence, little attention is paid in the media to the very thing that makes our lives meaningful: human memory. The brain is a vast network of billions of cells called neurons that transmit electro-chemical signals ranging from 4-30 herz or cycles per second. But how are our most precious thoughts and memories stored? How does the brain recall them? Why do memories fade? And what effects does aging have on memory and the neuroplasticity of the brain? Can these effects be reversed or stalled?

In this lecture, Dr. Jill Rich will delve into all of these questions, with a focus on the neuroscientific basis of memory. She will explain what we know of how memory works, why memory changes with aging, and the neural basis of these changes. If you want to know more about how your own brain works and its memory sytems, this lecture is for you!

Dr. Rich is an Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health at York University. Her research focuses on examining memory and other aspects of cognition in older adults and in neurodegenerative disease. She's the recipient of the CCPPP Award for Excellence in Professional Training and has published extensively on working and implicit memory and neurocognitive impairment.