The Heights of Human Performance: The Symbiosis of Brain and Body

“The Heights of Human Performance: The Symbiosis of Brain and Body” was held May 2013. A panel of experts discussed how the body and brain communicate when we reach, flip, grasp and play. Olympic gold medalist Rosie MacLennan spoke from an athlete's perspective, explaining how she learned and successfully executed the trampoline flips and twists required to earn top spot the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Professor Luc Tremblay discussed how interpretation of visual information influences the execution all movement. Professor Tim Welsh explored how the overarching principles addressed by his fellow speakers are informing the design of new, more sophisticated human-computer interfaces. Dr. Heather Carnahan, wove the evening’s brain-body themes together in the context of the operating room and the medical field. The evening was moderated by Globe and Mail writer Ivan Semeniuk.