Because I believe we can learn much from zombies, I sometimes blog about them. Often those posts include mention of Harvard Med School prof Dr. Steven Schlozman. In the current edition of Stanford Magazine, Schlozman and the zombie twists and turns of his career are described in an article. From "Zombies on the Brain":
Schlozman, who has authored 70 bona fide scientific articles, uses the premise to make neuroscience engaging for students and, increasingly, for members of the media who crave an actual doctor's take on the well-worn subject. He is partially to blame for a widely read blog post from the usually straight-faced Centers for Disease Control, which earlier this year cited his work in using a "zombie apocalypse" scenario as a pretext for teaching disaster preparedness. Schlozman was as surprised as anyone to find the CDC referencing his fake paper.
Given that his psychiatry practice helps kids work through real nightmares, it may seem odd that the doctor spends his off hours dreaming up imaginary ones. But Schlozman says horror stories can play a role in therapy through displacement. They offer a side channel for dealing with something awful, without having to face the unbearable head-on. The strategy works especially well for kids who lack the maturity and language skills to grapple with complex problems. Most children won't be drawn into direct discussions about their troubles, Schlozman says. "Instead we'll talk about a video or a movie, when we both know what we're really talking about."
Click to watch a video of the zombie doc talking about brains; you will be entertained and learn about both your brain and those of zombies.
Note (added November 6, 2011): Click to read a series on the zombie brain by Bradley Voytek and Tim Verstynen.
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