March 20, 2000

World's top brain experts attend Rotman conference on Frontal Lobes

Scientists working at the frontiers of brain research met in Toronto, March 20-24, at the 10th Annual Rotman Research Institute Conference.

This year's theme --the Frontal Lobes -- attracted over 800 attendees from 33 countries, making this the largest scientific conference ever held on the frontal lobes. Major media were out in force during the week-long event, intrigued by this "mysterious area" of the brain that has baffled scientists for many years.

It's only in the last 10 to 15 years that research has shown the frontal lobes play a critical role in uniquely human attributes such as sense of humor, emotion, planning and organizing for the future, and even making moral decisions as to what's right and wrong. Damage to the frontal lobes has also been implicated in criminal behaviour.

The Toronto Star and Globe & Mail did several stories on the conference. CBC's The National aired two stories during the week, CBC Newsworld aired a long interview with conference co-chair and Rotman director Dr. Donald Stuss, and Discovery channel's web site carried daily briefings.

In its short 10-year history, the Rotman Research Institute, under the leadership of Dr. Donald Stuss, has attracted some of the world's top minds in neuroscience and is ranked among the preeminent brain research institutes on the planet.