In her sleep last night, at home, surrounded by her family, at the age of 72, after a very full life. The link to her Brain Development Lab is here:
Helen Neville uses psychophysical, electrophysiological (ERP), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to study the development and plasticity of the human brain. Over the course of this research, her lab has observed that different brain systems and related functions display markedly different degrees or ‘profiles’ of neuroplasticity. Guided by these findings, she is conducting a program of research on the effects of different types of training on brain development and cognition on typically developing children and parents living in poverty. These studies will contribute to a basic understanding of the nature and mechanisms of human brain plasticity, as well as contribute to the design and implementation of educational programs especially those that close the inequality between lower and higher socioeconomic status.
Neville has published in many books and journals including Nature, Nature Neuroscience, Journal of Neuroscience, Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, Cerebral Cortex, and Brain Research. She has received numerous honors including election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Fondation Ipsen Neuronal Plasticity Prize, Transforming Education through Neuroscience Award (IMBES), Hebb Lecturer, Dalhousie University, Honorary Degree, Georgetown University, William James Fellow Award (APS) and the National Academy of Science Award. She is a member of the Board of Governors of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society, the Academic Panel of Birth to Three, and is active in many educational outreach programs. Her DVD on brain development and neuroplasticity for non-brain scientists: changingbrains.org.
Helen was a friend, and a supporter of SAIL from the moment she first heard about it, organizing and funding our second camp in 2008. The psychology department held a retirement celebration for her this May with her students, family, and colleagues from around the world – although she refused to let anyone use the word retirement in her presence.