Duke Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Elizabeth Marsh speaks October 27

Duke University Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Elizabeth Marsh

Duke University Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Elizabeth Marsh will speak at 4:30 p.m. October 27 at Johns Hall 101 on the topic, “Believing that Humans Swallow Spiders in their Sleep: Understanding the Acquisition of Misconceptions.”

Marsh will share current research on understanding learning and memory and the processes that make memory accurate in some cases and erroneous in others. She will discuss conditions that promote learning and long-term retention of knowledge, the mechanisms through which errors enter the knowledge base, the correction of misconceptions, and the phenomenology of knowledge representations.

Marsh’s visit, part of a colloquium series hosted by the Psychology Department, will also include a talk for faculty, “Cognition in the Classroom: Connecting Cognitive Psychology with Educational Practice,” at 5 p.m. October 28 in Johns Hall 101.

Teaching centers around helping students learn content and skills, remembering what they’ve learned, and applying their knowledge outside of classes, Marsh said. During the faculty talk, she will present simple classroom techniques that promote long-term learning and the research that underlies them.

“In recent years, we have learned a lot about principles of cognitive science that enhance learning and memory and how to implement these principles in educational settings,” said Gil Einstein, William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of Psychology. “These lectures will offer important evidence-based advice for students and teachers on how to maximize learning and retention—and without necessarily working harder. Beth Marsh is one of the country’s top scholars in this exciting field, and we are looking forward to her visit.”

Marsh is the author of numerous publications on cognition and cognitive neuroscience. She earned her B.A. in psychology from Drew University and her A.M. and Ph.D. degrees in cognitive psychology from Stanford University.

The Oct. 27 lecture is part of Furman’s Cultural Life Program. For more information, contact the Psychology Department at (864) 294-2205.