In this engaging conversation, Dr. Suzana Herculano-Houzel, a prominent expert in neuroscience and a musician, explores the connection between brain composition and cognitive abilities across species. She discusses her innovative 'Brain Soup' technique for neuron counting, revealing surprising insights into animal intelligence. Suzana also shares her passion for music and its role in effective science communication. Additionally, she addresses the challenges faced by Brazilian scientists and reflects on the enriching impact of travel on research and collaboration.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Musical Journey
Dr. Herculano-Houzel learned piano, flute, and cello, taking up the latter in Cleveland.
Transporting her cello to Germany proved cheaper to buy it a seat than a hard case.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Mentorship and Communication
Story Landis, Dr. Herculano-Houzel's advisor, transitioned from English to science.
José Saramago's "Death with Interruptions" presents a fantastical scenario where death suddenly ceases its function. The novel explores the societal and personal ramifications of immortality, revealing unexpected consequences and human reactions to the absence of mortality. Saramago's distinctive narrative style, characterized by long, flowing sentences and philosophical depth, creates a thought-provoking exploration of life's meaning and the human condition. The novel's imaginative premise leads to humorous and poignant situations, highlighting the absurdity and beauty of existence. Through its unique perspective, "Death with Interruptions" prompts readers to contemplate the significance of death in shaping life's experiences.
Dr. Suzana Herculano-Houzel is a Professor of Psychology and Biological Sciences at Vanderbilt University. In the lab, she compares brains to find out what they are made of and what difference that makes for the organism in terms of its abilities. She is interested in finding out how many neurons and other cell types brains have, determining whether brain size matters, and examining how numbers of cells correspond to cognitive abilities. Suzana is not only a scientist, but also a musician. From an early age, she received formal training in classical music, including the piano and flute. While Suzana was a graduate student in Cleveland, she decided to learn to play the cello. In addition, Suzana also previously self-taught herself to play classical guitar and just recently started taking formal lessons. She received her B.S. in Biology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and completed her M.S. in Neuroscience at Case Western Reserve University. She was awarded her PhD in Neuroscience from Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris, and conducted part of her graduate work at the Max-Planck Institute for Brain Research. Suzana served on the faculty of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro before joining the faculty at Vanderbilt where she is today. She is the recipient of the Scholar Award in Understanding Human Cognition from the James S. McDonnell Foundation, as well as the José Reis Prize of Science Communication. In addition, Suzana has authored seven books for the general public on neuroscience, including her recently published book The Human Advantage: A New Understanding of How Our Brain Became Remarkable. She has written and presented the TV series Neurológica, has contributed over 260 to the Folha de São Paulo newspaper, and has written for the Scientific American Brazil magazine. In our interview, Suzana shares stories from her life and science.
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