Posted on May 28: Psychology student wins Brain Star Award

Rick LeGrand, a recent graduate of McMaster Psychology's PhD program, received the prestigious Brain Star Award for his work on the development of face processing.

The research, published in Nature Neuroscience, suggests visual input to the right hemisphere of a baby's brain during the first few weeks of life is critical for the development of normal face processing skills.

“The two halves of the brain are not created equal as only the right hemisphere appears able to develop expertise in processing faces,” said LeGrand's PhD supervisor, McMaster professor Daphne Maurer. “We know from this study that early visual input to the right hemisphere is required for this skill to develop correctly.”

The work received extensive media coverage earlier this year within Canada and internationally.

The Brain Star Award recognizes the contributions of graduate students and other trainees to neuroscience research within Canada. This is McMaster Psychology's third Brain Star Award; the previous awards went to Dave Ellemberg, another former PhD student from professor Maurer's lab, for his work on the effect of early visual deprivation from cataracts on spatial and temporal vision; and to assistant professor David Shore for his work on learning in virtual mazes.

The Brain Star Award is sponsored by the Institute for Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The award signifies the high quality and potential impact of the research, and includes a $1,000 honorarium and a profile of the recipient's research on the CIHR Web site.

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Rick LeGrand, a recent graduate of McMaster Psychology&#039;s PhD program, received the prestigious Brain Star Award for his work on the development of face processing. <p><br />
<br />
The research, published in <a href="http://www.nature.com/neuro/"><i>Nature Neuroscience</i></a>, suggests visual input to the right hemisphere of a baby&#039;s brain during the first few weeks of life is critical for the development of normal face processing skills.<p><br />
<br />
"The two halves of the brain are not created equal as only the right hemisphere appears able to develop expertise in processing faces," said LeGrand&#039;s PhD supervisor, McMaster professor Daphne Maurer. "We know from this study that early visual input to the right hemisphere is required for this skill to develop correctly."<p><br />
<br />
The work received extensive media coverage earlier this year within Canada and internationally.<p><br />
<br />
The Brain Star Award recognizes the contributions of graduate students and other trainees to neuroscience research within Canada. This is McMaster Psychology&#039;s third Brain Star Award; the previous awards went to Dave Ellemberg, another former PhD student from professor Maurer&#039;s lab, for his work on the effect of early visual deprivation from cataracts on spatial and temporal vision; and to assistant professor David Shore for his work on learning in virtual mazes.<p><br />
<br />
The Brain Star Award is sponsored by the <a href="http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/institutes/inmha/9565.shtml">Institute for Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction</a> of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The award signifies the high quality and potential impact of the research, and includes a $1,000 honorarium and a profile of the recipient&#039;s research on the CIHR <a href="http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/index.shtml">Web site</a>.

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