THE YALE CLUB OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA

THE ARIZONA INN
Friday, February 3, 2017
NOON
SPEAKER – LUNCHEON
 
DR. LESLIE TOLBERT
UA Regents’ Professor, Neuroscience
 
A MATTER OF GOOD TASTE
The Neurobiology of Taste and Smell
 
Our speaker Dr. Leslie Tolbert began her fascinating career as an undergraduate in applied mathematics at Harvard University, followed by receiving her Ph.D. in anatomy from the Division of Medical Sciences of Harvard University.  After her postdoctoral training in neurobiology at Harvard Medical School, she served on the faculty at Georgetown University’s School of Medicine for five years, before moving to a new neuroscience division at the University of Arizona.  She became a Regents’ Professor in 2002, and in 2005 became the University of Arizona’s Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies, and Economic Development. She recently returned to her first love – neuroscience.
 
Dr. Tolbert will focus on “The Neuroscience of Taste and Smell.”  She will be talking about the brain regulates our senses of taste and smell and how our circuits and receptors transmit and process information from our food and from the world around us to ensure our survival.   For over 25 years, Dr. Tolbert has led a research group that investigates cellular mechanisms in the brain, including those that underlie the critical role of smell inputs in guiding the development of brain circuitry. What is happening in our brain when taste or smell input is “wrong?”
 
“Good taste” is used as a synonym for good judgement.  And, interestingly enough, our biological sense of taste evolved to help us quickly judge the value of foods we put in our mouths. Is this nutritious? Poisonous? Taste helps us make these quick assessments, and this can be the difference between life and death or sickness and health.  But taste doesn’t act alone; smell actually plays a huge role in what we think of as taste.  Working together within the brain, these senses offer us valuable information about the foods we eat.  Dr. Tolbert will explain this process, and will also discuss how senses change as we get older (does nothing escape?)   
 
Dr. Tolbert is a fine and exciting speaker.  We hope that you will come to the Arizona Inn for a wonderful lunch and a taste of neuroscience.
 
THE ARIZONA INN
2200 E Elm Street (between Campbell and Tucson Blvd)
 
Free parking across the street from the main entrance
 
DETAILS:
$30 at the door (cash or check made out to the “Yale Club”)
Registration starts at 11:30 AM at The Arizona Inn (Tucson Room)
Lunch served at Noon

RSVP:  To Marianne Kaestle at yaleclub.ariz@icloud.com  by January 30.
 
Treat your reservation as a commitment and notify us if you are unable to attend.
 
Marianne Kaestle
Yale Club of Southern Arizona
Director of Communications
yaleclub.ariz@icloud.com
520-344-9023