As researchers in the Biological Intelligence Research Initiative probe the physiological and cognitive aspects of intelligence, a clear picture is emerging: the human brain is much more impressionable and adaptable than what scientists had previously imagined.
This plasticity of the brain and its relationship to cognition is a theme for a number of Biological Intelligence researchers who are finding that not only does brain physiology affect cognition, but also the reverse is true. They have discovered that humans have the ability to improve their own mental capacities and are able to continue the learning process into older adulthood.
The Biological Intelligence mission has from its inception as a main Beckman research line included the study of cognition from the molecular level to the highest expressions of intelligence. As BI researchers learn more about brain physiology and function at the most elemental levels, they are generating new theories about the development of the nervous system and are providing new insights into how the mind works.
The plasticity of the brain is being demonstrated at the physiological level by BI researchers using pioneering imaging technology to understand brain function. Using imaging technologies they developed and the resources of Beckman’s Biomedical Imaging Center, BI researchers are gaining insight into neural function as it relates to areas such as aging, fitness, attention, memory, perception, and language.
The potential benefits of Biological Intelligence research are as far-reaching as the theories about the brain and cognition originating from the work of BI researchers.
The results of Biological Intelligence research are giving us a better understanding of brain and speech disorders, and aiding in the development of new drug therapies and technologies that assist operators of complex machinery. From the molecular workings of synapses to man’s ability to acquire knowledge, BI researchers are in the forefront of discovering how our brains work and recognizing the potential of the human mind.