Junior Fellow Lecture Series – The Brain, The Mind

Presented by the Junior Fellows, these lectures take place roughly once a month and invite three Junior Fellows to give an after dinner lecture on a chosen topic through the lens of their various fields of study. 

March’s topic is The Brain, The Mind. 

Evaluating the Da Vinci Robotic System in Neurosurgical Tasks: Motion and Force Analysis

Robotic-assisted surgery has transformed neurosurgical procedures, offering enhanced precision and control. However, assessing the performance of these systems is critical to their continued development. This presentation examines a structured approach to evaluating the Da Vinci robotic system for neurosurgical tasks. This presentation aims to identify strengths and limitations of this system, providing insights that can guide future advancements in robotic-assisted neurosurgery. The discussion will contribute to the broader conversation on optimizing surgical robotics for improved patient outcomes and procedural efficiency.

Kejah Bascon is a PhD student in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto and a Non-resident Junior fellow. She conducts research within the Sed Lab under the supervision of Professor Myrtede Alfred. Her work explores how the design and implementation of adaptive haptic feedback influences neurosurgeon performance during corpus callosotomy procedures. Her research aims to enhance surgical precision and improve the effectiveness of robotic-assisted neurosurgical systems. She is passionate about advancing human-centered innovations in surgical robotics and their real-world applications.

The Brain Mechanisms of Aesthetic Experience 

Aesthetic experiences are often linked to sense of self. Neuroaesthetics studies show that aesthetic experiences engage a large network of brain regions. Self-referential and visual perceptual processes both contribute to aesthetic experience. In this presentation, I will present the results of an fMRI experiment identifying brain networks engaged during aesthetic experiences of self-relevant artwork. 

Delaram Farzanfar is a PhD candidate in the department of psychology at the University of Toronto. She is a Junior fellow at Massey College and serves on the advisory committee for Inlight student mental health research at UofT. 

The Claustrum and Consciousness: From Mystery to Measurement

The claustrum, a thin sheet of neurons deep in the brain, has been proposed as a conductor of consciousness, integrating information across brain regions into a unified experience. Until recently, this hypothesis was untestable due to the resolution limits of conventional MRI. My research maps the claustrum at cellular resolution (creating the first 3D model of its kind) and leverages ultra-high field MRI to demonstrate that it can now be resolved in vivo, enabling functional investigation. This work advances efforts to determine whether the claustrum is a true neural correlate of consciousness or merely an intriguing bystander, bringing us closer to answering one of the most enduring questions in science and philosophy: How does the brain generate the mind?

Navona Calarco is a PhD student in Medical Biophysics. Her research interests lie at the intersection of philosophy and neuroscience. She is particularly excited about applying new neuroimaging and statistical methods to probe age-old questions, such as how we represent the world around us (and how this can go awry), and how it is that the brain can give rise to conscious experience. Her work is supported by a CIHR Vanier and an ACM fellowship in Computing and Data Science. 

Make this an evening filled with excellent food and wonderful company – register to attend Formal Dinner in advance of the Junior Fellow lecture Series! All are welcome and encouraged to attend.