OHSU announces Brain Awareness lecture series

Oregon Health and Science University has announced its lineup for the 2016 Brain Awareness lecture series.

The lectures will begin at 7 p.m. on Feb. 22, Feb, 29 and March 7. All lectures will be held at the Newmark Theatre, 1111 S.W. Broadway Ave., Portland.

Tickets are $27 for each lecture or $72.25 for all three lectures. Tickets can be purchased online, www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/brain/in-community/brain-awareness/lectures-events/how-to-buy-tickets.cfm, or by calling 800-273-1530.

The first lecture, “Alcohol and the Brain,” will explore how behavioral neuroscience informs how, why and when the risks of alcohol may outweigh the benefits. OHSU senior scientist Kathleen Grant will give the lecture.

Dr. Adam Gazzaley, with the University of California San Francisco will give the second lecture, “Gaming and the Brain.” Video games have drawn scrutiny for influencing the obesity epidemic, attention deficits and pronounced violence among youth. But video games also show promise as educational tools, memory enhancers and improving high-level thinking.

Nephi Stella, with the University of Washington, will give the third lecture, “Marijuana and the Brain.” Stella will explain the role marijuana plays in cutting-edge neuroscience research.