McGaugh on Memory
On January 21 the Libraries Speaker Series presented
neurobiologist and UCI founding faculty member
James McGaugh in a program celebrating the publication
of Memory & Emotion: The Making of Lasting
Memories, his study of how emotion and experience influence
long-term memory. McGaugh's pioneering work on the influence of
drug and stress hormones on memory are recognized by scientists internationally,
but this is his first book for a general audience.
University Librarian Gerry Munoff welcomed an
enthusiastic audience of nearly 250 that included Chancellor
Ralph and Professor Carol Cicerone. McGaugh spoke about the experience
of writing Memory & Emotion and explained aspects of his pioneering research.
A book signing and reception followed in Langson Library.
McGaugh enjoyed the opportunity to speak to non-scientists, saying "It gave me the
opportunity to talk about my new book with an interested and intelligent audience. As I
told them, UCI is privileged to have a great library with wonderfully accessible material.
Our library has been essential for my research and teaching during my four
decades at UCI and was especially helpful to me as I was writing this book."
McGaugh is one of UCI's most distinguished faculty
members. He is Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior
and was the founding Director of the Center for
the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. His honors
include election to both the National Academy of
Sciences
and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
He has served UCI as Executive Vice Chancellor and
as Dean of Biological Sciences. He has been awarded
the Distinguished Faculty Award
for Research, the Extraordinarius Award, and the
highest campus honor, the UCI Medal.
In closing the evening, University Librarian Munoff thanked Professor McGaugh for his generous
donation of the proceeds from the evening's book sales to The Library Endowment, a fund that
helps ensure the increasing excellence of the Libraries' collections.
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