Cognition, one of the great mysteries of life, is a debate-riddled topic. Many scientists cannot decide whether it belongs to the discipline of psychology, philosophy, biology, or still other fields, or even a combination of these endeavors.

On Feb. 23, The University of Alabama’s ALLELE lectures will continue, featuring Dr. Michael Anderson, a professor of cognitive psychology at Franklin & Marshall College. Dr. Anderson’s research probes questions about cognitive behavior and its evolution over time. His lecture, which will be in North Lawn Hall at 7:30 p.m., is titled “Neural reuse in the evolution and development of the Brain.”

WHO: Dr. Michael L. Anderson studies cognitive psychology by integrating the disciplines of psychology, philosophy, computer science, and neuroscience to pursue information about the structural foundation of neural networks. 

The lecture is open to all students.

WHAT: Dr. Anderson will give a lecture on his theory of neural reuse, discussing how it could explain evolution of the human brain.

WHEN: The lecture will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23.

WHERE: The lecture will be held in the North Lawn Hall auditorium.

WHY: Dr. Anderson has been influential in the field of evolutionary cognition, and his 2014 book, After Phrenology: Neural Reuse and the Interactive Brain, was published by the MIT Press. According to the Evolutionary Studies website, “the book has been called “hugely significant” and the ‘best thing written about the brain this century.’ ”

For questions regarding the lecture, e-mail Firat Soylu at [email protected].