The Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory was founded in 1995 by James L. McGaugh, Founding Director of the CNLM. The lectures are an integral part of the CNLM's outreach mission and are intended for a lay audience. The series is widely regarded as the most successful public lecture series at UC Irvine and in Orange County.

Dr. McGaugh was the series' inaugural speaker in 1995 and has been the distinguished speaker on numerous occasions. Series speakers are world-renowned scientists who have made significant advances to brain research, particularly in the area of learning and memory. The speakers are chosen not only for the reputation of their research, but also for their ability to convey the importance and implications of that research to a lay audience.

Public lectures have been held each year since 1995, and attract capacity audiences of Irvine and Orange County community members, professionals and high school and college students.

Lectures are held at the Irvine Barclay Theatre (adjacent to the UCI campus) at 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. Parking is provided in an adjacent structure for $10.

Lectures are free of charge but registration is required and early arrival is highly recommended. 

Attendees are provided with ample opportunity to interact with and ask questions of the speakers. Lectures are generally 45-50 minutes long and are followed by about 20-30 minutes of questions from the audience. Each lecture is preceded by a special backstage reception in honor of the speaker, which is attended by Friends of the CNLM, as well as CNLM Fellows and UCI's leadership. To inquire about how to join the Friends and receive VIP tickets to the backstage reception, please click here.

After the lecture, cookies are served in the lobby, where audience members have a chance to meet and interact with the speaker one-on-one.

Barclay Lectures are uploaded to our YouTube channel and available for viewing at any time.

Past Lectures

The 26th Distinguished Lecture on Brain, Learning and Memory

Conscience: The origins of moral intuition with Patricia Churchland, Ph.D.

Conscience: The origins of moral intuition

Patricia Churchland, Ph.D.
Neurophilosopher and professor emerita of philosophy
University of California, San Diego

Monday, January 27, 2020 | 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 25th Distinguished Lecture on Brain, Learning, and Memory

Can we create new senses for humans? with David M. Eagleman, Ph.D.

Can we create new senses for humans? 

David M. Eagleman, Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Stanford University School of Medicine

Monday January 28, 2018 | 7:30 PM
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 24th Distinguished Lecture on Brain, Learning, and Memory

Linking Brains to Machines: From Basic Science to Neurorehabilitation with Miguel Nicolelis, M.D., Ph.D.

Linking Brains to Machines: From Basic Science to Neurorehabilitation

Miguel Nicolelis, M.D., Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience
Co-Director, Center for Neuroengineering
Duke University

Tuesday, February 27, 2018 - 7:30PM
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Watch the lecture here

The 23rd Distinguished Lecture on Brain, Learning, and Memory

 

Ruth Benca Headshot

What can we learn from the sleeping brain?

Ruth Benca, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor and Chair,
Psychiatry and Human Behavior,
UC Irvine School of Medicine

Tuesday, February 7, 2017 - 7:30 PM
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 22nd Distinguished Lecture on Brain, Learning, and Memory

 

Exercise for the Brain: Is it Worth the Sweat? with Laura D. Baker, Ph.D.

Exercise for the Brain: Is it Worth the Sweat?

Laura D. Baker, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
Public Health Wake Forest School of Medicine

Tuesday, April 19, 2016 - 7:30 PM
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 21st Distinguished Lecture on Brain, Learning, and Memory

Aging and Disease in Modern Times with Randy Buckner, Ph.D.

Aging and Disease in Modern Times

Randy Buckner, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience
Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital

Thursday, March 5, 2015 - 7:30 PM
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 20th Distinguished Lecture on Brain, Learning, and Memory

Zooming in on Alzheimer’s Disease and Normal Memory Decline with Scott A. Small, M.D.

Zooming in on Alzheimer’s Disease and Normal Memory Decline

Scott A. Small, M.D.
Director
Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
Columbia University Medical Center, New York

Tuesday, February 25, 2014 - 7:30 PM
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Two CNLM Fellows Honored as AAAS Fellows - image of Marcelo Wood

Understanding the molecular mechanisms of long-term memory processes and drug-seeking behavior

Marcelo Wood, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Neurobiology and Behavior
University of California, Irvine

Tuesday, May 13, 2014 - 7:30 PM
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 19th Distinguished Lecture on Brain, Learning, and Memory

The Distracted Mind with Adam Gazzaley, M.D., Ph.D.

The Distracted Mind

Adam Gazzaley, M.D., Ph.D.
Founder & Executive Director - Neuroscape
Professor - Neurology, Physiology and Psychiatry
University of California, San Francisco

Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The treatment of human brain diseases: Insights from the study of Huntington's disease with Dr. Leslie M. Thompson

The treatment of human brain diseases: Insights from the study of Huntington's disease

Dr. Leslie M. Thompson
University of California, Irvine

Wednesday, May 1, 2013 - 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 18th Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory

CNLM Logo

Protecting the Brain from Impending Stroke: A Stimulating Account

Dr. Ron D. Frostig
University of California, Irvine

Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Frank Laferla Headshot

Researching Ways to Make Memories Last a Lifetime


Dr. Frank M. LaFerla
Dean
School of Biological Sciences
Chancellor’s Professor
Department of Neurobiology and Behavior
University of California, Irvine

Wednesday, April 11, 2012 - 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 17th Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory

Ending Alzheimer's Together with Eric M. Reiman, M.D.

Ending Alzheimer's Together


Eric M. Reiman, M.D.
Executive Director, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute (BAI)
Chief Executive Officer, Banner Research, Clinical Director of the Neurogenomics
Division at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen)
Professor of Psychiatry, University of Arizona
Director, Arizona Alzheimer’s ConsortiumBanner Alzheimer's Institute and Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium

Tuesday, January 18, 2011 - 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Craig Stark Headshot

Where Did I Put My Keys? Tales from the Hippocampus for Anyone Over 30


Dr. Craig E. L. Stark
Professor, Neurobiology and Behavior
School of Biological Sciences
University of California, Irvine

Wednesday, March 16, 2011 - 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Rewiring Our Adult Brains: Taking a Birds-Eye View with Dr. Gregory F. Ball

Rewiring Our Adult Brains: Taking a Birds-Eye View


Dr. Gregory F. Ball
Dean
Behavioral and Social Sciences
University of Maryland

Wednesday, May 11, 2011 - 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 16th Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory

The Scaffolded Mind: How Your Brain Adapts to Aging with Dr. Denise C. Park

The Scaffolded Mind: How Your Brain Adapts to Aging

Dr. Denise C. Park
Distinguished Professor
Center for Brain Health
University of Texas

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 - 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Helping the Brain to Repair Itself After Injury with Steven C. Cramer, M.D.

Helping the Brain to Repair Itself After Injury


Steven C. Cramer, M.D.
Professor
Department of Neurology
University of California, Irvine


Tuesday, March 16, 2010 - 7:30 p.m.

Irvine Barclay Theatre

Music, Evolution, and the Human Mind with Aniruddh Patel, Ph.D.

Music, Evolution, and the Human Mind


Aniruddh Patel, Ph.D.
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Fellow
Psychology
Tufts University

Tuesday, May 18, 2010 - 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 15th Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory

Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory speaker, Dr. Michael Davis

Overcoming Fear and Anxiety: Using Drugs to Improve Psychotherapy


Dr. Michael Davis
Robert W. Woodruff Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience
Emory School of Medicine 


Tuesday, January 20, 2009 - 7:30 p.m.

Irvine Barclay Theatre

The Power of Testing Memory: From the Laboratory to the Classroom with Dr. Henry L. Roediger III

The Power of Testing Memory: From the Laboratory to the Classroom


Dr. Henry L. Roediger III
Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences
Washington University, St. Louis


Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 7:30 p.m.

Irvine Barclay Theatre

Genetic Jeopardy: Lessons Learned from Huntington's Disease with Dr. Nancy S. Wexler

Genetic Jeopardy: Lessons Learned from Huntington's Disease


Dr. Nancy S. Wexler
Higgins Professor of Neuropsychology 
Columbia University

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 14th Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory

Back to the Future: Is Mental Time Travel Unique to Humans? with Nicola S. Clayton, Ph.D.

Back to the Future: Is Mental Time Travel Unique to Humans?


Nicola S. Clayton, Ph.D.
Professor
University of Cambridge

Wednesday, January 16, 2008 – 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Generating New Brain Cells in the Adult Brain with Dr. Fred H. Gage

Generating New Brain Cells in the Adult Brain

Dr. Fred H. Gage
Professor
Laboratory of Genetics
The Salk Institute

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 – 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Claudia Kawas Headshot

How to Get Old:  Lessons from 90-year-olds

Claudia Kawas, M.D.
Professor
Neurobiology and Behavior
University of California, Irvine

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 – 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

 

The 13th Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory

Frank Laferla Headshot

Winning the Battle Against Alzheimer Disease: New Discoveries Offer New Hope

Frank M. LaFerla, Ph.D.
Dean
Biological Sciences
UC Irvine

Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Little Brains with Bright Minds: Communication, Navigation and Learning in the Honeybee with Dr. Randolf Menzel

Little Brains with Bright Minds: Communication, Navigation and Learning in the Honeybee

Dr. Randolf Menzel
Freie University of Berlin

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Schizophrenia: Losing Control over Thoughts, Memories and Emotions with Dr. Deanna Barch

Schizophrenia: Losing Control over Thoughts, Memories and Emotions

Dr. Deanna Barch
Chair and Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences
Washington University, St. Louis

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 12th Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory

Autism: Cognitive style not deficit? With Dr. Francesca Happé

Autism: Cognitive style not deficit?

Dr. Francesca Happé
Professor
Cognitive Neuroscience
King's College London

Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Watching the brain at work: Imaging the formation and retrieval of memories with Dr. Michael D. Rugg

Watching the brain at work: Imaging the formation and retrieval of memories

Dr. Michael D. Rugg
Professor
Director, Center for Vital Longevity
Distinguished Chair in Behavioral and Brain Sciences
The University of Texas at Dallas

Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The Monogamous Brain: What Can Science Tell Us About Love? with Dr. Larry Young

The Monogamous Brain: What Can Science Tell Us About Love? 

Dr. Larry Young
Psychiatry
Emory University

Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 11th Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory

How Children Shape Languages: Language Acquisition and Emergence with Dr. Elissa L. Newport

How Children Shape Languages: Language Acquisition and Emergence

Dr. Elissa L. Newport
Professor, Department of Neurology
Director, Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery
Director, Learning and Development Lab 
Georgetown University

Tuesday, February 1, 2005
Irvine Barclay Theatre

How Could Brain Science Transform our Lives in the 21st Century with Dr. Richard Morris

How Could Brain Science Transform our Lives in the 21st Century

Dr. Richard Morris
The University of Edinburgh

Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Remembering Trauma with Dr. Richard J. McNally

Remembering Trauma 

Dr. Richard J. McNally
Harvard University

Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 10th Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory

What Makes Humans Smart? Lessons from Children with Dr. Elizabeth S. Spelke

What Makes Humans Smart? Lessons from Children

Dr. Elizabeth S. Spelke
Harvard University

Tuesday, February 3, 2004
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Sleep, Memory and Dreams: What are they good for? with Dr. Robert Stickgold

Sleep, Memory and Dreams: What are they good for?

Dr. Robert Stickgold
Harvard Medical School

Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Irvine Barclay Theatre

CNLM Logo

Remembering Memory and the Brain:
Open Forum Discussion with Faculty Fellows of the CNLM

Dr. James L. McGaugh and Colleagues
University of California, Irvine

Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 9th Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory

Opiates, Brownies, Sex and Cocaine: Seeking the Brain Signature for Desire with Dr. Anna Rose Childress

Opiates, Brownies, Sex and Cocaine: Seeking the Brain Signature for Desire

Dr. Anna Rose Childress
University of Pennsylvania

Wednesday, January 29, 2003
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Ah yes, I remember it well...: Remembering, Forgetting and the Movie "Memento" with Dr. Stuart Zola

Ah yes, I remember it well...: Remembering, Forgetting and the Movie "Memento"

Dr. Stuart Zola
Emory University

Wednesday, March 19, 2003
Irvine Barclay Theatre

How Time Flies: The Molecular Architecture of Memory with Dr. Thomas J. Carew

How Time Flies: The Molecular Architecture of Memory

Dr. Thomas J. Carew
University of California, Irvine

Tuesday, May 20, 2003
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 8th Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory

Drug Addiction: Why the Brain Loses Control with Dr. Nora Volkow

Drug Addiction: Why the Brain Loses Control


Dr. Nora Volkow
Director
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Wednesday, January 30, 2002
Irvine Barclay Theatre

 

CNLM Logo

Educating the Brain: Lessons from Brain Imaging

Dr. John Gabrieli
Stanford University

Tuesday, March 19, 2002 
Irvine Barclay Theatre

James McGaugh Headshot

The Magic of Memory: Peeking Behind the Brain's Curtain

Dr. James L. McGaugh

Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Neurobiology & Behavior
University of California, Irvine

Wednesday, May 22, 2002
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 7th Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory

Why Did Episodic Memory Evolve? With Dr. Endel Tulving

Why Did Episodic Memory Evolve?

Dr. Endel Tulving
Rotman Research Institute
University of Toronto

January 31, 2001
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Wild Minds: What Animals Really Think with Dr. Marc D. Hauser

Wild Minds: What Animals Really Think

Dr. Marc D. Hauser
Department of Psychology
Harvard University

March 27, 2001
Irvine Barclay Theatre

 

Making Connections: Memory in the Brain and Spinal Cord with Dr. Oswald Steward

Making Connections: Memory in the Brain  and Spinal Cord

Dr. Oswald Steward
Reeve-Irvine Research Center
UC Irvine

May 23, 2001
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 6th Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory

Is Alzheimer's Our Reward for Living Longer? With Dr. Dennis Selkoe

Is Alzheimer's Our Reward for Living Longer?

Dr. Dennis Selkoe 
Center for Neurologic Diseases
Harvard Medical School

Tuesday, February 22, 2000
Irvine Barclay Theatre

James McGaugh Headshot

Critical Issues in Brain and Memory 

Dr. James L. McGaugh 
Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
University of California, Irvine

Tuesday, April 4, 2000
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Memory without Remembering and Vision without Seeing with Dr. Larry Weiskrantz

Memory without Remembering and Vision without Seeing

Dr. Larry Weiskrantz
Department of Experimental Psychology
Oxford University

Wednesday, May 24, 2000
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 5th Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory 

The Myth of Repressed Memory: False Memories and Allegations of Sexual Abuse with Dr. Elizabeth Loftus

The Myth of Repressed Memory: False Memories and Allegations of Sexual Abuse

Dr. Elizabeth Loftus 
Department of Psychology
University of Washington

February 2, 1999
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Norman Weinberger Headshot

Learning Re-tunes the Brain: Discovering the Brain's Code for Experience

Dr. Norman M. Weinberger
Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory and Department of
Neurobiology and Behavior
University of California, Irvine

April 6, 1999
Irvine Barclay Theatre

How the Mind Works with Dr. Steven Pinker

How the Mind Works

Dr. Steven Pinker
Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Director, McDonnell-Pew Center
for Cognitive Neuroscience
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

May 11, 1999
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 4th Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory

Can Estrogen Keep You Smart? with Dr. Barbara B. Sherwin

Can Estrogen Keep You Smart?

Dr. Barbara B. Sherwin
Department of Psychology
McGill University, Montreal

January 28, 1998
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Language, Brain and Mind: Early Experience Alters the Perception of Speech with Dr. Patricia K. Kuhl

Language, Brain and Mind: Early Experience Alters the Perception of Speech

Dr. Patricia K. Kuhl
Child Development Center
University of Washington

April 1, 1998
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The Aging Brain: Distinguishing Normal and Pathological Memory Loss with Dr. Jelle Jolles

The Aging Brain: Distinguishing Normal and Pathological Memory Loss

Dr. Jelle Jolles
Maastricht Brain and Behavior Institute, Netherlands

May 13, 1998
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 3rd Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory

Use It or Lose It: Brain Plasticity across the Lifespan with Dr. William T. Greenough

Use It or Lose It: Brain Plasticity across the Lifespan

Dr. William T. Greenough
Beckman Institute
University of Illinois

February 3, 1997
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The Secret Life of an Aging Neuron: Successful Brain Aging vs. Alzheimer's Disease with Dr. Carl W. Cotman

The Secret Life of an Aging Neuron: Successful Brain Aging vs. Alzheimer's Disease

Dr. Carl W. Cotman
Institute for Brain Aging and Dementia
University of California, Irvine

April 9, 1997
Irvine Barclay Theatre

New Insights into Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with Dr. Roger K. Pitman

New Insights into Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Dr. Roger K. Pitman
VA Research Service
Harvard University

May 21, 1997
Irvine Barclay Theatre

The 2nd Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory

Unlocking the Secrets of Memory with Dr. Larry R. Squire

Unlocking the Secrets of Memory

Dr. Larry R. Squire
Departments of Psychiatry and Neurosciences
University of California, San Diego

January 31, 1996
Irvine Barclay Theatre

Childhood Memories: Here Today, Where Tomorrow? With Dr. Patricia J. Bauer

Childhood Memories: Here Today, Where Tomorrow?

Dr. Patricia J. Bauer
Institute of Child Development
University of Minnesota

March 13, 1996

Stress and the Brain: Good News and Bad News with Dr. Robert M. Sapolsky

Stress and the Brain: Good News and Bad News

Dr. Robert M. Sapolsky
Department of Biological Sciences
Stanford University

June 11, 1996

The Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory

The Fragile Power of Human Memory with Dr. Daniel Schacter

The Fragile Power of Human Memory

Dr. Daniel Schacter
Harvard University

January 24, 1995
Irvine Barclay Theatre

CNLM Logo

Learning, Drug Anticipation and Drug Addiction

Dr. Shepard Siegal
McMaster University

March 28, 1995
Irvine Barclay Theatre

James McGaugh Headshot

Making and Preserving Memories

Dr. James L. McGaugh
University of California, Irvine

May 10, 1995
Irvine Barclay Theatre