Wild Whales: Lessons from Marine Mammal Research

Dr. Terrie Williams is Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, as well as the Principal Investigator of the Mammalian Physiology Lab, at the University of California, Santa Cruz. ​How diving dolphins and narwhals of the high Arctic avoid cerebral injury is changing our view of brain neuro-protection, and offering unique clues about preserving human cognition following stroke and concussive injuries, and indicating a potential neural basis for mass strandings by whales. Despite remarkable advances in medical technology, we are only beginning to understand how our brain works. By moving from clinical settings and traditional animal models and into the wild, Williams' lab is exploring how the mammalian brain is able to function flawlessly during variable stress and exercise levels, as well as during exposure to extreme environments.  

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