Popular on EntSun
- Female Motorsports Sponsorship & Expansion; Acquisition Agreement of UAE-Based Sports Incubator by Online Lottery & Sports Game Provider: Lottery.com - 237
- WOA Entertainment Group Unveils Independent No.1's: Breakthrough Artists II —A Celebration of Indie Excellence - 219
- Experience Trembling Firsthand with the New AgeMan® Tremor Simulator - 217
- Edtech Startup Young Commanders Launches 'Visionaries Without Sight' Collection Celebrating Blind and Visually Impaired Historical Figures - 210
- IRF Builders Forum Brings Global Leaders to Washington, D.C. to Advance Religious Freedom Through Cooperative Engagement - 193
- Let's Talk Series: At the Crossroads: Immigration Today - 158
- BillBoards Inc. Hits the Road with God Bless America Tour and Reality Series Now Streaming on Tubi TV - 144
- Token-Operated Sake Service Opens at Tobu Nikko Station - 130
- Honoring Black History, Culture, and Community in Fall River - 128
- databahn Launches GenAI Sales Intelligence Platform to Revolutionize Fortune 500 and Global 2000 Account Research - 116
Similar on EntSun
- Melissa B. Releases Digitally Independent: Empowering Music Artists with AI and Brand Strategy
- Deaths Spur Closures, but Troubled Teen Camps Must Be Banned, CCHR Warns
- West Dentistry Welcomes New Oral Surgeon to Enhance Patient Care
- Raidium révolutionne le diagnostic de la Sclérose en Plaques en partenariat avec l'Hôpital Fondation Adolphe de Rothschild
- New Podcast "Spreading the Good BUZZ" Hosted by Josh and Heidi Case Launches July 7th with Explosive Global Reach and a Mission to Transform Lives
- Digital Watchdog Launches New myDW Cloud Services
- Infinite Health Introduces Cutting-Edge Regenerative Medicine for Wound Care with Trip Goolsby, MD
- Top Dentist Concord CA, Smile Makers Dental Care, Celebrates 500 5-Star Reviews
- Valley Sleep Therapy Expands to Prescott with New Location at Crossings Road
- AI-Based Neurotoxin Countermeasure Initiative Launched to Address Emerging National Security Needs: Renovaro, Inc. (N A S D A Q: RENB)
Mensa Foundation Prize Awarded to NIH Neuroscientist
EntSun News/10986533
Dr. R. Douglas Fields is a pioneer on nervous system development, plasticity, memory
HURST, Texas - EntSun -- R. Douglas Fields, Ph.D., a neuroscientist and author of numerous books and magazine articles about the brain, has been awarded the fourth Mensa Foundation Prize for his research in plasticity and active myelination in brains related to learning and intelligence.
The biennial Mensa Foundation Prize honors the best discoveries in intelligence and creativity and is endowed by the estate of Kenneth Douglas Thomson (1934-2013), a longtime Mensa member. The award, which includes a $10,000 award, will be presented at American Mensa's Annual Gathering, July 5-9, in Baltimore, and Dr. Fields will give a presentation on his work.
Dr. Fields' long-standing research interest is in how functional activity influences nervous system development and plasticity along with the cellular mechanisms of memory. He is recognized internationally for his research on glia, which are brain cells that communicate without electricity, and for his pioneering discoveries on a new cellular mechanism of learning involving glial cells that form myelin. Myelin is the electrical insulation on nerve fibers, which speeds transmission of neural impulses. Dr. Fields' research shows that the glial cells forming myelin can sense neural impulse activity and that they contribute to learning and memory by changing the speed of neural impulse transmission to optimize the synchrony of information arriving at relay points in neural networks.
More on EntSun News
"I am especially gratified by my research on how myelin contributes to learning," Dr. Fields said, "because it overturns long-standing dogma about myelin — that it is static electrical insulation — and because it is a complete departure from how neuroscientists have thought about the mechanisms of learning and memory being based only on modifying synapses."
The Mensa Foundation Prize Committee praised the impressive scientific detail of Dr. Fields' work and his creative point of view. "Each small component of the rather complex glial model is backed by numerous rigorous multidisciplinary experiments involving imaging, chemistry, actual measurement of nerve conduction speed, and correlated animal learning experiments," said Dr. Susan Stine, Mensa Foundation Prize Committee member. "I think the sheer body of work and the observations using multiple experimental designs is amazing."
Joining Dr. Stine on the Mensa Foundation Prize Committee are:
Dr. Fields is Chief of the Nervous System Development and Plasticity Section at the National Institutes of Health, an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow, and University of Maryland adjunct professor. He received advanced degrees at U.C. Berkeley, San Jose State University, and U.C. San Diego and was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford and Yale universities and at the NIH prior to starting his own NIH lab in 1994.
More on EntSun News
Outside the lab, he writes about science for Scientific American, Quanta, Outside Magazine, Huffington Post, Undark Magazine, Psychology Today, and many others. His neuroscience research has been featured on national television, radio, NPR, the National Geographic, and other media, and he speaks about neuroscience for the general public on NPR, World Science Festival, TEDex, Google Talks, and others.
The first Mensa Foundation Prize was awarded in 2017 to Dr. David Silver, who led Google's efforts to develop the first computer program to defeat the world's best Go players. In 2019 neuroscientist Dr. Aron K. Barbey was recognized for significantly advancing the neuroscience of brain connectivity with his innovative research applying functional magnetic resonance imaging to the mapping of brain lesions and measuring their effects on raw intelligence. And in 2021, statistical geneticist Dr. Danielle Posthuma of the Netherlands was awarded the third Mensa Foundation Prize for her research directly identifying, for the first time, hundreds of human genes highly correlated to variations in intelligence.
"This award is such a great honor," Dr. Fields said, "because it comes from a group of people from all walks of life in an organization that values and supports science and creativity for the simple reason that human beings are deeply curious about the natural world and driven to explore and understand it."
The biennial Mensa Foundation Prize honors the best discoveries in intelligence and creativity and is endowed by the estate of Kenneth Douglas Thomson (1934-2013), a longtime Mensa member. The award, which includes a $10,000 award, will be presented at American Mensa's Annual Gathering, July 5-9, in Baltimore, and Dr. Fields will give a presentation on his work.
Dr. Fields' long-standing research interest is in how functional activity influences nervous system development and plasticity along with the cellular mechanisms of memory. He is recognized internationally for his research on glia, which are brain cells that communicate without electricity, and for his pioneering discoveries on a new cellular mechanism of learning involving glial cells that form myelin. Myelin is the electrical insulation on nerve fibers, which speeds transmission of neural impulses. Dr. Fields' research shows that the glial cells forming myelin can sense neural impulse activity and that they contribute to learning and memory by changing the speed of neural impulse transmission to optimize the synchrony of information arriving at relay points in neural networks.
More on EntSun News
- Service Ninjas Debuts First-of-Its-Kind "Membership" Platform for Home Service Pros
- Bruce In The USA Brings Immersive Bruce Springsteen Celebration to Frederick This October
- BIYA Forecasts 2025 Surge with ¥300M ($41.8 M USD) in Revenue and ¥25M Profit from Cloud Based HR Solutions: Baiya Intl. Group (N A S D A Q: BIYA)
- Paul E. Saperstein Co. Announces Geographic Expansion of Auction Services
- Florida Broker Bent Danholm Featured in the Daily Mail's U.S. Real Estate Coverage
"I am especially gratified by my research on how myelin contributes to learning," Dr. Fields said, "because it overturns long-standing dogma about myelin — that it is static electrical insulation — and because it is a complete departure from how neuroscientists have thought about the mechanisms of learning and memory being based only on modifying synapses."
The Mensa Foundation Prize Committee praised the impressive scientific detail of Dr. Fields' work and his creative point of view. "Each small component of the rather complex glial model is backed by numerous rigorous multidisciplinary experiments involving imaging, chemistry, actual measurement of nerve conduction speed, and correlated animal learning experiments," said Dr. Susan Stine, Mensa Foundation Prize Committee member. "I think the sheer body of work and the observations using multiple experimental designs is amazing."
Joining Dr. Stine on the Mensa Foundation Prize Committee are:
- Dr. Harry Ringermacher, Ph.D., physics, the committee chair and a Mensa member.
- Dr. Ivar Giaever, Ph.D., physics, microbiologist, and winner of the 1973 Nobel Prize in Physics.
- Dr. Steven Maranz, Ph.D., plant science, microbiologist, and a Mensa member.
- Judith A. Keating, CPA, TCE-IRS, and a Mensa member.
Dr. Fields is Chief of the Nervous System Development and Plasticity Section at the National Institutes of Health, an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow, and University of Maryland adjunct professor. He received advanced degrees at U.C. Berkeley, San Jose State University, and U.C. San Diego and was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford and Yale universities and at the NIH prior to starting his own NIH lab in 1994.
More on EntSun News
- Robin Launches Legal Intelligence Platform to solve intelligence gap in Fortune 500 legal teams
- Melissa B. Releases Digitally Independent: Empowering Music Artists with AI and Brand Strategy
- Mental: Elderly Abuse a Documentary
- Consumer Accountability Alliance Issues Formal Notice Alleging Proximate Liability for Medical Harm
- Rising to New Heights in the Mile High City with Destination: Scientology, Denver
Outside the lab, he writes about science for Scientific American, Quanta, Outside Magazine, Huffington Post, Undark Magazine, Psychology Today, and many others. His neuroscience research has been featured on national television, radio, NPR, the National Geographic, and other media, and he speaks about neuroscience for the general public on NPR, World Science Festival, TEDex, Google Talks, and others.
The first Mensa Foundation Prize was awarded in 2017 to Dr. David Silver, who led Google's efforts to develop the first computer program to defeat the world's best Go players. In 2019 neuroscientist Dr. Aron K. Barbey was recognized for significantly advancing the neuroscience of brain connectivity with his innovative research applying functional magnetic resonance imaging to the mapping of brain lesions and measuring their effects on raw intelligence. And in 2021, statistical geneticist Dr. Danielle Posthuma of the Netherlands was awarded the third Mensa Foundation Prize for her research directly identifying, for the first time, hundreds of human genes highly correlated to variations in intelligence.
"This award is such a great honor," Dr. Fields said, "because it comes from a group of people from all walks of life in an organization that values and supports science and creativity for the simple reason that human beings are deeply curious about the natural world and driven to explore and understand it."
Source: Mensa Foundation
0 Comments
Latest on EntSun News
- New Release: 'The Invisible Alternative' Unveiled by Atrisk Corporation, Resilient
- Couture By Elesia Reclaims The Runway Of Everyday Life With Bold Return And New Hiya Sunshine Line
- BillBoards Inc. Hits the Road with God Bless America Tour and Reality Series Now Streaming on Tubi TV
- Cynthia Pinot Among Artists Selected for Renowned London Art Biennale 2025
- Real Estate Experts Highlight Jersey Shore as a Smart Buy in 2025
- Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina announces opening weekend July 4-6
- 16-Year-Old Entrepreneur Discovers All-Natural Skincare Breakthrough That Works in Just 48 Hours
- Collision Course Concert Series Returns to Atlanta
- $18 Price Target Issued in New Research Report After $34 Million Revenue Forecast from Acquisition; $101.5 Million Net Revenue in 2025; NAS DAQ: IQST
- West Dentistry Welcomes New Oral Surgeon to Enhance Patient Care
- BayView Entertainment, Inc. Releases Multi Award-Winning Horror Film 'The Forest Through the Trees'
- Germantown Fashion & Arts Festival 2025 Draws Thousands, Celebrates Creativity in Historic Philly
- The AML Shop Launches New Financial Investigations Unit, Appoints Director to Lead the Initiative
- Raidium révolutionne le diagnostic de la Sclérose en Plaques en partenariat avec l'Hôpital Fondation Adolphe de Rothschild
- New Media Film Festival Announces Winners
- New Podcast "Spreading the Good BUZZ" Hosted by Josh and Heidi Case Launches July 7th with Explosive Global Reach and a Mission to Transform Lives
- The Herbal Care, Led by Markel Bababekov, Becomes a Top Dispensary in NYC's Upper East Side
- Digital Watchdog Launches New myDW Cloud Services
- Rock Artist Scott Pryor Reimagines Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" in Explosive New Single Releasing July 11th
- Stan Fitzgerald Appointed Acting Press Secretary for Veterans for America First VFAF Georgia State Chapter