Author: Ken Duenke

Three programs highlight the Assembly Series schedule this week, with presentations by cultural historian Janice Radway, computer scientist Jonathan Schaeffer and a panel discussion on the legacy of George Washington.

A new brain-imaging study is shedding light on what it means to “get lost” in a good book — suggesting that readers create vivid mental simulations of the sounds, sights, tastes and movements described in a textual narrative while simultaneously activating brain regions used to process similar experiences in real life.

The Interdisciplinary Project in the Humanites Lecture Sries, “FanZ and Enthusiasts: The Passions of Modern Reading,” will open with a program by noted cultural historian Janice Radway at noon on Tuesday, February 17 in the Women’s Building Lounge.

Since the initial announcement of the 2009 Assembly Series schedule was published, there have been several changes and the addition of four programs. The following list provides all the updated information at this time, beginning with the next program. For the most current information on Assembly Series programs, please visit the Web site at http://assemblyseries.wustl.edu or call 314-935-5285. All programs are free and open to the public.

SchaefferJonathan Schaeffer talks about playing checkers with a computer and the interplay between people and technology in his Assembly Series talk at 11 a.m. on Wed., Feb. 18 in Steinberg Hall Auditorium.

A set of 50 genes can be used to reliably identify the four known types of breast cancer, according to research conducted at the School of Medicine and collaborating institutions. Using this 50-gene set, oncologists can potentially predict the most effective therapy for each breast tumor type and thereby personalize breast cancer treatment for all patients.

Surgeons at the Washington University Eye Center are among the first to use a new surgical device to treat glaucoma. Surgery with the device, called a Trabectome, is an outpatient procedure that takes less time to perform and offers a shorter recovery than traditional glaucoma surgery.

Multi-faceted entertainer Lela Lee will be the featured speaker for the Assembly Series at 4 p.m., Wednesday, February 11 in Graham Chapel.

Autism researchers at the School of Medicine are joining other scientists to image the brains of infants and attempt to identify anatomical and behavioral changes that may be linked to the onset of autism. The $10 million, NIH-funded Infant Brain Imaging Study allows investigators to analyze early brain development in children at risk for autism spectrum disorders by virtue of having an autistic sibling.

Neurobiologists at the School of Medicine have identified pathways that allow microscopic worms to survive in a low-oxygen, or hypoxic, environment. They believe the finding could have implications for conditions such as stroke, heart attack and cancer. Sensitivity to low oxygen helps determine how damaging those medical conditions can be.