Tribute to Nobel Laureate Gerald M. Edelman and Book Launch of "On Consciousness: Science & Subjectivity" by Dr. Bernard J. Baars, with Dr. David Edelman and Natalie Geld

SAN DIEGO, May 17, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Could Darwinian selectionism help explain how complex nervous systems encounter and adapt to an ever-changing world? "Naturalizing Consciousness: A Tribute to Big Ideas" is an evening salon with a special tribute to Nobel Laureate Gerald M. Edelman, featuring a talk with Bernard J. Baars to launch the publication of "On Consciousness: Science and Subjectivity - Updated Works on Global Workspace Theory," a new highlights collection of his work.

This upcoming roundtable discussion of Gerald Edelman's Neural Darwinism and Consciousness will be part of an evening salon - a free event with spirits, cuisine, and live music by the Hutchins Consort at the historic Athenaeum Music & Arts Library in La Jolla, CA on Tuesday, May 21st, 2019. To RSVP: https://naturalizingconsciousness.splashthat.com

Bernard J. Baars is best known as the originator of the global workspace theory and global workspace dynamics, a theory of human cognitive architecture, the cortex and consciousness. A former Senior Fellow in Theoretical Neurobiology at Gerald Edelman's Neurosciences Institute in La Jolla, CA. Baars' work in recent years has been very much influenced by Gerald Edelman and others in neurobiology.

A neuroscientist and currently Visiting Scholar in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Dartmouth College, Dr. David Edelman, the son of Gerald Edelman, will talk on the subject of his father's work in connection with the conscious brain, and says, "More than 40 years ago, Gerald Edelman proposed Neural Darwinism, or the Theory of Neuronal Group Selection (TNGS), to account for the evolution, development, and moment-to-moment functioning of the human brain. Neural Darwinism proposes that the functional circuitry of the brain is determined by selective forces during development and throughout the life of a conscious organism. This provided a robust biological framework for understanding brain function, including conscious cognition -- the most complex and mysterious of all brain processes.

"In a nearly six-decade career, Gerald M. Edelman's work spanned immunology, developmental biology, and neuroscience. One common thread in Gerald Edelman's intellectual life was the close link between biology, medicine, human welfare, and human experience. Neural Darwinism is the culmination of his efforts."

Similarly, cognitive scientist Bernard Baars has sought to link the brain and the stream of consciousness. Baars' Global Workspace Theory and Edelman's Neural Darwinism naturally complement one another, as they co-wrote in 2011. Both ideas suggest that the conscious brain supports numerous unconscious processes which together yield a single, coherent stream of experiences, leading to the question, "Is cortex the organ of mind?"

Recent neuroscientific advances may begin to lift the veil of mystery surrounding consciousness. The panel will explore Neural Darwinism (ND) and Global Workspace Theory (GWT). These complementary theories may provide a roadmap for improved understanding of subjective experiences.

Professor of Cognitive Robotics at Imperial College London, and Senior Research Scientist at DeepMind, Murray Shanahan, PhD says, "The works of Bernard Baars collected here are among the foundational texts of the scientific study of consciousness. Their influence in cognitive science and philosophy of mind is enormous, and their impact on my own thinking has been profound."

Guest Speakers include:

Dr. Jay Giedd is the Chair and Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Rady Children's Hospital and Professor of Psychiatry, UCSD School of Medicine. Dr. Giedd was chief of the Section on Brain Imaging, Child Psychiatry Branch of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Jeff Krichmar, PhD is a Computational Neuroscientist and Roboticist, and Professor in the Department of Cognitive Sciences and the Department of Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine.

Mark Mitton is a professional magician who is fascinated by using magic to better understand how we see the world. Mark has performed for Mick Jagger, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Sylvester Stallone, Katy Perry, Salman Rushdie, and many others, and has lectured with Gerald Edelman at NSI.

Dr. David Edelman, a neuroscientist and currently Visiting Scholar in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Dartmouth College, David has taught neuroscience at the University of San Diego and UCSD. David conducts research in a wide range of areas, including mechanisms of gene regulation, the relationship between mitochondrial transport and brain activity, and visual perception in the octopus.

Moderator for these dialogues will be author Natalie Geld, CEO and founder of MedNeuro, and editor of Baars' book "On Consciousness: Science & Subjectivity."

Please join us in exploring these ancient frontier questions.

Live music will be performed by the virtuosic Hutchins Consort. The evening will begin with a wine and cuisine reception, and culminate with dessert, coffee, more wine and music, and informal conversations with Bernie Baars and our guest speakers.

This special event is free. More details and to RSVP: https://naturalizingconsciousness.splashthat.com

Tuesday, May 21, 2019 | 6:30PM – 9:00pm
Athenaeum Music & Arts Library | 1008 Wall Street, La Jolla CA 92037

Contact: Erika Torri
Joan & Irwin Jacobs Executive Director
Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
1008 Wall Street
La Jolla, CA 92037
858-454-5872
http://www.ljathenaeum.org

Contact: Natalie Geld
CEO, MedNeuro
646-280-0280

SOURCE Dr. Bernard J. Baars