[BIC-announce] FW: Lecture - Dr. Michael Frank - Corticostriatal Mechanisms of Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making

[Jennifer Chew, Ms.]

 PLEASE DISCARD IF THIS IS A DUPLICATE.  THANK YOU.  JENNIFER 


Jennifer Chew
McConnell Brain Imaging Centre
MNI - WB317
3801 University Street
Montreal, Qc  H3A 2B4
Telephone:  514-398-8554
Fax:  514-398-2975


-----Original Message-----
From: MNISTAFF - Montreal Neurological Institute Staff [mailto:MNISTAFF at LISTS.MCGILL.CA] On Behalf Of Enza Ferracane, Ms.
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 3:46 PM
To: MNISTAFF at LISTS.MCGILL.CA
Subject: Lecture - Dr. Michael Frank

The MWP Brain-to-Society Research Center invites you to a Presentation by

Dr. Michael Frank
Brown University

Corticostriatal Mechanisms of Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making

Friday, September 3rd, 2010 9:00 AM
Room 451, Bronfman Building
1001 Sherbrooke Street West
   
Corticostriatal Mechanisms of Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making
 
Abstract
The basal ganglia and frontal cortex interact intimately to facilitate adaptive action plans while suppressing those that are less adaptive. Dopamine acting at D1 and D2 receptors plays a critical role in modulating both the selection and learning of actions that are most/least likely to lead to reward. The dynamics of this circuitry in reinforcement learning and decision making have been explored via a series of inter-related computational models.  I will present novel predictions arising from these models and associated experimental findings with human patient populations, pharmacological manipulation, and genetics.
 
Biography
Dr. Michael Frank is widely recognized in the scientific world. After completing his undergraduate degree at Queen's University he pursued his Masters and PhD degrees at the University of Colorado Boulder. Dr. Frank is currently an assistant professor of Psychology and Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences at Brown University. His research combines computational modeling and experimental work to understand the neural mechanisms underlying reinforcement learning, decision making and working memory. In 2010, Dr. Frank was awarded the Janet T Spence Award for Transformative Early Career Contributions, granted by the Association for Psychological Science.