May.17,2012
On the afternoon of May 11, world top brain scientist Dick F. Swaab was invited to give a lecture on Brain and Language in SIS. More than sixty teachers and students from SIS and the Center for the Study of Language and Cognition attended this lecture.
Professor Swaab now is the Director of Brain Institute and one of the team leaders of Neuroscience Institute of KNAW. He is also the founder and director of Human Brain Bank of Netherland, neurobiology professor of Medical school of University of Amsterdam, guest professor in Zhejiang University. Professor Swaab has earned prestigious titles like “Mr. Brain” and “Father of Hypothalamus” over the world. His contributions towards the research of Neuroscience worldwide have brought him many honours, such as the Title of Netherland Lion which was specially presented by the Queen of Netherland (1998), Life Achievement Award for Alzheimer's Research (2002), and the Top Honor Medal of KNAW (2008). The research team spearheaded by him has revealed to the world that Hypothalamus not only serves as the nerve centre for basic existence of life, but also actively participates in advanced cognition function and emotion regulation. Up till now, Professor Swaab has been the chief editor of 18 different scientific papers, composed about 200 academic works, and published more than 500 academic papers on SCI Journals like Nature and Science. He has also fostered 76 doctors from more than 20 countries and regions to contribute to the development of brain science all over the world. His famous book Wij zijn ons brein (We Are Our Brains) has achieved staggering high sales volume as soon as it was published.
With visual materials and useful simplification of profound theories in his lecture, Professor Swaab described how brain, this fabulous and yet mysterious organ, determines both the formation and evolution of linguistic ability, and the comprehension and output of languages. He expounded the latest advances in academic research, and introduced the language processing of different encephalic region between different races and languages, the similarity and dissimilarity in utilizing the brain to perform speaking and singing, and the processing of different encephalic region during switching languages between early bilinguals and late bilinguals. His speech was enlightening and full of foresight. His report presented new and unique perspectives supported by clear historical and scientific evidences, leaving a lasting impact among audiences. After the lecture, Professor Swaab patiently and amiably answered the questions from both students and teachers. The two-hour lecture and discussion have proved to be greatly beneficial and insightful, broadening everyone’s outlook.
(Translated by CHEN Qian)
