Lawrence C. Katz, Ph.D., Neurobiology researcher at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and at Duke University Medical Center (Durham, NC), died of melanoma on November 26, 2005 at the age of 48.

Dr. Katz research on the development and function of the mammalian cortex was recognized internationally and received numerous professional awards. The early part his career focused on the cellular events taking place at the developing brain to form and maintain neuronal circuits in the primary visual cortex. In recent years, Katz investigated the organization of the visual system, but he also studied with his group the olfactory system. In particular, how olfactory signals important for basic behaviors are encoded by the main olfactory system, detecting airborne odors, and the vomeronasal system, detecting species-specific pheromones.

One of his latest interests was the knowledge of how neural circuits activated by the olfactory and vomeronasal systems elicit species-specific behaviors.

His research contributed to the understanding of how animals interpret the world. While humans rely primarily in well-developed visual and auditory senses, most other mammals use their acute sense of smell to detect predators, defend territory, find food and mates, etc. To do so, mammals are equipped with two distinct chemosensory organs: the main olfactory system and the vomeronasal system.

Dr. Katz will also be recalled for having coined the term «neurobics», consisting in keeping the brain stronger for longer time with special mental exercise. He published in 1999 the book Keep your brain alive, where he proposed 83 neurobic exercises. Brain cells learn by making new connections with one another during a person’s lifespan. Even quite late in life the brain has quite a lot of residual capacity to reorganize itself. Since a huge area of our brain is devoted to processing sensory inputs, neurobics uses the full range of senses to help forge new connections. An activity must involve one or more senses in a novel way, engage your attention, and add an unexpected element to a routine activity. For example, waking with new aromas may activate new neural pathways. Or doing a routine activity, as showering, with the eyes closed, just relying on touch.

More information:
http://www.hhmi.org/research/investigators/katz_bio.html
http://inside.duke.edu/article.php?IssueID=45&ParentID=2224