Comprehending the meaning of a word takes less than a second and occurs more than a thousand times a day. But what happens when a learning disorder like dyslexia disrupts the process?
Dr. John Hart, a professor of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas, discusses his research regarding mapping the portion of the brain associated with word retrieval as part of The Winston School Lecture Series, 7 to 8:30 p.m. tonight in the gymnasium at The Winston School, 5707 Royal Lane in Dallas.
For the past 25 years, Dr. Hart has studied how humans perform the complicated task of retrieving the meaning of words. Through techniques of functional MRI and electroencephalography (EEG), he and his associates have been able to identify the brain regions where this seemingly simple process occurs.
A native of Baltimore, Dr. Hart graduated from Johns Hopkins University where he majored in psychology. It was during his years as an undergraduate that his interest in cognitive neuroscience began. He has authored scores of papers, and lectured nationally and internationally.
Dr. Hart is a past president of the Behavioral Neurology Section of the American Academy of Neurology. In 2005, Dr. Hart received a joint appointment to the University of Texas at Dallas and UT Southwestern. He serves as the Medical Science Director for the UTD Center for BrainHealth. Dr. Hart is also a professor in the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry at UTSW. He recently completed service on the VA Committee on Gulf War Veterans.
His special interest is in semantic memory, specifically as it relates to Alzheimer’s and thought disorders. Dr. Hart’s comprehensive work in neurology and neuroscience has led to several groundbreaking discoveries, and he is a nationally known author and lecturer.