Brain Mechanisms and Learning [antikvár]

FOREWORD Six years after the Laurentian symposium on 'Brain Mechanisms and Consciousness', the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (C.I.O.M.S.) convened a meeting to explore the neurophysiological basis of learning. The meeting was held in Montevideo, from August 2nd to 8th, 1959, and was jointly sponsored by and organized with the Science Co-operation Office of Unesco for Latin America. Dr A. Fessard was responsible for the scientific planning of the meeting and shared with Dr Ralph Gerard the responsibility of presiding over it. May they both fmd here an expression of the Council's gratitude for the magnificent way in which they discharged their duties. Looking back over the years, it is impossible not to draw a parallel between the meeting held in Canada and the one held in Uruguay. In each case, the meeting was co-ordinated with the International Physiological Congress. Both were 'firsts': the first CIOMS symposium in North America and the first in Latin America. And then, of course, a number of scientists took part in both meetings. But here the parallel must end. In Montevideo, we were able to cast our net wider and we were pleased to welcome a number of distinguished investigators from Australia, Brazil, Chile, Hungary, Mexico, Poland, Uruguay, and the U.S.S.R., who had not attended the meeting in Canada. An organizing committee composed of Drs R. Arana, D. Bennati, C. Estable, and of Drs E. GarcíaAustt and J. P. Segundo, who acted as joint secretaries, took charge of all technical arrangements and provided much appreciated entertainment for all who took part in the meeting. Credit must go to this committee for having created the right conditions for the development of an atmosphere of understanding and friendliness. May this committee fmd here an expression of the Council's gratitude. It is alsó a pleasant task to put on record the Council's indebtedness to the various agencies which supported directly or indirectly the meeting, and in particular to the European Office, A.R.D.C.1 whose grant was used to cover the travelling expenses of a number of participants. I am alsó pleased to thank Miss Henderson and Dr Christie, who transcribed the discussion, and the secretarial staff, who worked very hard to get everything ready in time. 1 Contract No. AF61 (052)-207. ix