Helen J. Neville (May 20, 1946 – October 12, 2018) was a Canadian psychologist and neuroscientist known internationally for her research in the field of human brain development. Neville was the Robert and Beverly Lewis Endowed Chair and Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Director of the Brain Development Lab, and Director of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Oregon. She was Director of the Laboratory for Neuropsychology at the Salk Institute and a professor in the Department of Cognitive Science at UCSD before joining the faculty at the University of Oregon in 1995.
Personal life and education Neville received a B.A. from the University of British Columbia, an M.A. from Simon Fraser University, and a Ph.D. from Cornell University, and she also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neuroscience at the University of California, San Diego.
Research and publications Neville studied in cerebral specialization, neuroplasticity of the brain in childhood and adulthood, the roles of biological constraints and experience, and neurolinguistics. In order to investigate these topics, Neville used a variety of methods, including behavioral measures, event-related potentials (ERPs), and structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Neville's research has helped to distinguish between the brain systems and functions that are largely fixed from those which are modifiable by experience, and with all her work she aimed to make a positive, tangible difference in society. She was involved in a number of outreach programs and charities in addition to scientific research.
Her research topics included the neural mechanisms of grammar acquisition in adults, attentional control mechanisms as they relate to working memory, as well as various types of attention and learning mechanisms in young children.Stevens, C., Harn, B., Chard, D.J., Currin, J., Parisi, D., and Neville, H. (in press). Examining the role of attention and instruction in at-risk kindergarteners: Electrophysiological measures of selective auditory attention before and after an early literacy intervention. Journal of Learning Disabilities.Neville, H., Stevens, C., and Pakulak, E. (in press). Interacting experiential and genetic effects on human neurocognitive development. In Battro, Dehaene and Singer, eds. Neuroscience and Education, Pontifical Academy of SciencesNeville, H. and Sur, M. (2009). Neuroplasticity. In M. Gazzaniga (ed), The Cognitive Neurosciences IV, MIT Press, Cambridge, pp. 89-90.
Neville and the Brain Development Lab were also responsible for creating "Changing Brains", a program of video segments aimed at non-scientists to describe what research has revealed the effects of experience on human brain development. The series aimed to inform parents, teachers and policymakers on how to help children develop to their full potential. Neurologist Oliver Sacks said the program was "...fascinating and very original in form and presentation — and exactly the way to present (brain) science to non-scientists."
She was the author of the book Temperament tools: working with your child's inborn traits (1998)
Honors and awards Neville was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a fellow of the American Psychological Society and Society of Experimental Psychologists. In 2013, she received the William James Fellow Award from the Association for Psychological Science. Other awards that she received for her work in psychology are listed below: 2014National Academy of Sciences2013Distinguished Cognitive Scientist Award, UC Merced2013RHSU Edu-Scholar Presence Rankings for 20122012William James Fellow Award, Assoc. for Psychological Science2012Honorary Degree, Georgetown University2012Hebb Lecturer, Georgetown University2011Keynote Address, International Mind, Brain, and Education Society2011Recipient, Fondation Ipsen Neuronal Plasticity Prize2008Distinguished Lecturer, University of Toronto2007Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences2007Invited Address, Society for Research in Child Development2007Landsdowne Lecturer, University of Victoria2005Keynote Addresses: Cognitive Development Society Biennial Meeting and Emory Cognition Project Conference on Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience2004Participant, Mind & Life Institute XII meeting with the Dalai Lama, Dharamsala, India2003Keynote Speaker, Symposium for Queen’s 60th Birthday, "The Children in Her Majesty’s Crown", Stockholm2002–presentRecipient, Robert and Beverly Lewis Endowed Chair2001–presentMember, Society of Experimental Psychologists2001Fellow, The American Psychological Society2000Recipient, Justine and Yves Sergent Award, Montreal, Canada1999-2003Distinguished Lecturer: Florida State University, Duke University, University of Maryland, University of Washington, and University of Texas, Health Science Center, Houston1998–presentPanel Chair, Sackler Institute for Human Brain Development1998–presentAssoc. Editor, Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience1998Invited address, Society for Neuroscience1998Member, National Science Foundation Workshop on Cognitive Neuroscience1998Sprague Lecturer, University of Pennsylvania1996–presentMember, Board of Governors, Cognitive Neuroscience Society1993-1997Claude Pepper Award
References
External links Faculty Bio: University of Oregon Department of Neuroscience Brain Development Lab Training Young Brains to Behave - NYTimes