Community Briefs

Thursday, November 19, 1998

Community Briefs

Neurologist appointed to psychology faculty

The Department of Psychology at UC Berkeley, has appointed a
neurologist to its faculty – believed to be the first brain
physician hired by a psychology faculty anywhere in the
country.

Dr. Robert Thomas Knight, formerly with the medical school at UC
Davis, has gathered a research group of neurological patients that
will greatly expand neuroscience research at UC Berkeley. Among
other things, his appointment will allow UC Berkeley psychologists
to better integrate cognitive theory with studies of the human
brain.

"This is a highly unusual appointment," said Sheldon Zedeck,
former chairman of psychology who helped to hire Knight. "Here is
someone who is working with brain-damaged patients and who will
help us bring together the physical brain and psychological
theories."

The appointment adds emphasis to UC Berkeley’s role as a health
science campus which has, as one aim, the integration of physics,
biology and psychology in breaking open the secrets of the human
brain.

In psychology, cognitive theory has been based mainly on studies
of normal human behavior, in addition to research on animal brains
and behavior.

"What has been lacking is a patient population," said Stephen
Palmer, director of the Institute of Cognitive Studies at UC
Berkeley. "Huge areas of psychology are waiting to be explored with
the inferences we can make based on different kinds of brain
damage."

Study reports media changed cigar’s image

A new study led by University of California San Francisco health
policy researchers has found that the image of the cigar smoker in
the media has been transformed to a favorable one and this image,
say researchers, can be a public health danger.

"Cigar smoking is being legitimized in the popular press," said
Dr. Lynn Wenger, lead author and research associate at the UCSF
Institute for Health Policy Studies. "Positive images of cigar
smoking in the media can influence cigar use which can lead to
detrimental health effects, such as increased risk of several types
of cancer."

Wenger and UCSF research colleagues presented these and other
preliminary findings on Nov. 17 at the annual meeting of the
American Public Health Association in Washington, D.C.

In the past, the predominant image of the cigar smoker has been
somewhat unfavorable – the cigar-chomping politician, a New York
City cab driver, a prizefighter or a mobster.

Despite research studies that link cigar smoking to increased
risk of several types of cancer and that also show that cigars emit
more toxic pollution, a new generation of cigar smokers emerged in
the 1990s. Estimates show that cigar sales have risen 50 percent
between 1993 and 1997.

Dean to moderate international film panel

An international panel of renowned motion picture directors will
convene today during the United Nations World Television Forum in
New York at the invitation of director Martin Scorsese, who serves
as president of The Film Foundation.

The panel discussion, titled "A Dialogue Between Past and
Present in Narrative Filmmaking," will be moderated by UCLA School
of Theater, Film and Television Dean Robert Rosen, who also serves
as the chair of The Film Foundation’s Archive Council.

The two-day international forum at United Nations headquarters
is dedicated to examining the role of television and film in social
and cultural progress.

Rosen will moderate the movie directors’ roundtable beginning at
noon EST on the first day of the forum.

Compiled from Daily Bruin staff reports.

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