Science & Cocktails #2 : Looking for consciousness

What is consciousness? Where, if anywhere, is consciousness in the brain? What happens when you sleep? And if you are in coma? What is death and a near-death experience?

For the second episode of Science & Cocktails in Brussels in the cool venue Atelier 210, we have a fantastic lecture on the understanding of consciousness by Steven Laureys – the recent awardee of the Francqui Prize – followed by a solo music performance of rising star cello player Benjamin Glorieux.

Are human beings the only beings that are conscious or are animals also aware of what is happening to them, their existence and their being? What is the difference between sleep, dreams, hypnosis, anesthesia, coma, cerebral death and the a near death experience?

And what makes the impulses from billions of neurons in our brain consciousness? This question has occupied philosophers since ancient times. New brain scanners are now able to reveal parts of this mystery. The study of coma, anesthesia, sleep, dementia, and hypnosis teach us what parts of the brain are important for human consciousness. This knowledge has direct medical and ethical implications, particularly to what concerns the care of patients in brain death, coma, vegetative state, minimally conscious state and ‘locked-in’ syndrome or pseudo coma.

Steven Laureys will describe simply what we know today about the state of consciousness and the functioning of the brain.

Afterwards, cocktails that interfere with your conscious state, while Benjamin Glorieux with his cello and loop station will be taking the stage.

Entrance to the event is free and it is held in English. No registration is necessary. Doors open at 19:30.