Since the first color-coded functional brain images were recorded in 1977, there has been a virtual explosion of information about our brains and how they work. Yet, we still crave a better understanding of this cradle of intellect, emotion, creativity and sensory perception.

The University of Kentucky College of Arts and Science is sponsoring a free public lecture series this fall to share what UK researchers have learned. "Frontiers of Learning: The Brain and How it Works" is a four-part adventure in discovery. The discussions will be in the auditorium of the William T. Young Library at 10:30 a.m. on four Saturdays in September and October. Scheduled speakers are:

• Sept. 11 -- Psychology Professor Rich Milich’s topic is "Demystifying Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)." ADHD has been described as having a whirlwind in your mind with everything blowing around and nothing staying put. Others say it is like watching television while someone else changes the channels every few seconds. After years of study, researchers are learning more about ADHD and how certain medications seem to help. Milich will share the latest research on ADHD and discuss the controversial use of Ritalin and other pharmaceuticals. He is professor and associate chairman in the Department of Psychology at UK. He has been engaged in research in ADHD for more than 20 years, and has written more than 100 publications on the topic.
• Sept. 18 -- Susan Bordo of the Department of English will address an intriguing subject, "Beauty on the Brain." A brief look at contemporary fashion magazines, an evening of television viewing or a trip to the movies suggests that we are a culture with "beauty on the brain." But is it our culture that is responsible? Or are our brains "wired" to be drawn to beauty, even to particular kinds of beauty? This is one of today’s hottest debates, inspired by two equally compelling but seemingly contradictory trends in current research. Bordo will present some of the most compelling research from each "camp," exposing some fallacious reasoning on both sides, but also showing how a cultural perspective and an evolutionary perspective can work together in the study of human behavior.
• Sept. 25 -- Chemistry Professor Allan Butterfield’s topic is "Alzheimer’s Disease and Free Radicals." Genetics research now suggests that a 42-amino acid peptide may be central to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, increasing evidence, much of it from Butterfield and other UK researchers, suggests that the brain of someone with Alzheimer’s disease is under great stress from free radicals, or highly reactive, oxygen-containing molecules. Butterfield’s team has discovered that these two observations may be linked. Internationally known for his research into the possible causes and prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease, Butterfield will review the latest research and what is being done to combat this devastating disease.
• Oct. 2 -- Jonathan Golding of the Department of Psychology will explore memory in his lecture, "Intentional Forgetting: Can We Remember to Forget?" The ability to segregate relevant from irrelevant information is critical for the efficient use of memory. Often, we receive explicit "memory cues" about the relevance of information, such as being told we should "forget" some information and "remember" other information. The effectiveness of memory cues has been shown to be a function of several factors, including the type of materials presented and the context of the presentation of a particular memory cue. Golding will describe his own research and that of other researchers investigating the effectiveness of explicit cues to forget. In addition, he will discuss the implications of this research outside the laboratory.

The Frontiers of Learning lecture series is being co-sponsored by the UK Library Associates. A reception will be held at 9:30 a.m. each Saturday and tours of the new library are available following the lecture. The series is intended for the public as an opportunity to learn more about the work of researchers in the UK College of Arts and Sciences.