New Research Center Will Investigate the Biology of the Mind

Princeton has established an interdisciplinary research center to investigate the biology behind such elusive and quintessentially human aspects of our being as consciousness, moral behavior and logical thought.

The consortium, called the Center for the Study of Brain, Mind and Behavior, will use an array of emerging approaches, from brain imaging to genetic engineering, to reveal how the physical mechanisms of the brain give rise to the functions of the mind.

"The brain is the most complex device in the known universe; it has more synapses than stars," said the center's director, Jonathan Cohen. "But for centuries, we could offer only verbal ideas about how one part affects another. Through the contributions of many disciplines, we are now beginning to develop rigorous mathematical descriptions of how the brain works."

Contact: Justin Harmon (609) 258-3601