Dr. Sabine Kastner | NJSC 2019 Banquet Speaker & Invited Presenter

Annual Banquet*
Tuesday, October 22
​6:00 PM

Educational Neuroscience for the 21st Century

Session
Wednesday, October 23
10:00-11:00 AM
Room: Fitzgerald

Visual Perception: The Art of the Brain

Most people think that perception is passive – like a camera.  I will give many examples of how the brain processes information in a much more active and creative way.  Your brain is the greatest artist you ever met!

Educational Neuroscience for the 21st Century

​The human brain consists of 100 billion neurons (or nerve cells) that give rise to 100 trillion connections.  Brain scientists like myself have begun to understand how specialized networks of neurons give rise to cognitive functions such as attention, language, memory and learning.  We have also started to understand how the brain forms networks during development that are specific to human cognition and relevant for the school setting, e.g. networks for reading and math.  In my talk, I will give examples how neuroscientific knowledge can inform educational interventions and serve our students to become more efficient learners.

Sabine Kastner is a Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology in the Princeton Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology and serves as the Scientific Director of Princeton’s neuroimaging facility.  Kastner joined the faculty at Princeton University in 2000 after earning MD and PhD degrees and receiving postdoctoral training at the Max-Planck-Institute for Biophysical Chemistry andthe National Institute of Mental Health.  Kastner studies the neural basis of visual perception, attention, and awareness in the healthy, adult primate brain as well as in patients with brain lesions and during development.  Kastner serves on several advisory and editorial boards and is the Editor-in-Chief of Progress in Neurobiology.  Kastner is passionate about public outreach such as fostering the career of young women in science, promoting neuroscience in schools and public education (as chief editor of Frontiers for Young Minds – Understanding neuroscience) and exploring the intersection of visual neuroscience and art.  In her spare time, Sabine enjoys spending time with her two children and playing drums and bass guitar.
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*Convention attendance is not required to attend the banquet.  To purchase banquet tickets: ​(1) Register as a professional.  (2) Fill out personal information. (3) Register as "Not Attending." (4) Enter the number of banquet tickets. (5) Pay to complete your purchase.