Michael Larson - Sensory Stimulation for the Regulation of Physiological Processes

Dr. Larson will discuss some of the historical uses of sensory stimulation to alter various aspects of human physiology (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, stress levels, and pain perception) to achieve therapeutic outcomes. Recent advancements in understanding human anatomy and physiology, especially the brain and nervous system, along with progress in medical sensing technologies, have created new possibilities in this field. He will introduce a framework for leveraging intelligent sensory stimulation to prompt desirable bodily responses, potentially serving as complementary or alternative therapies to conventional medical treatments. Dr. Larson will discuss an example of applying this approach from his ongoing research into using structured sounds to enhance sleep.
Michael Larson earned his PhD from MIT in 1992. After a stint in the U.S. Air Force, he spent over 30 years as a university professor, holding positions as the El Pomar Endowed Chair of Engineering and Innovation, and as Associate Chancellor for Research at the University of Colorado along the way. With funding totaling more than $8M from a variety of agencies, Michael has tackled a wide range of research projects from assessing the fracture and failure of advanced materials to creating novel surgical devices. Michael has a passion for creativity and innovation. He has co-founded four tech start-up companies. While on the faculty at Tulane University, New Orleans’ City Business magazine named him “Entrepreneur of the Year”. He received the “Inventor of the Year” award from the University of Colorado on two separate occasions. Dr. Larson provides engineering design services for many clients and serves as an expert in legal cases. He has been the plaintiff in a patent infringement suit before the U.S. Supreme Court, piloted a jet aircraft, and steered a nuclear submarine.
Despite their differences, the most common and lethal chronic diseases all have one thing in common-they’re all caused or exacerbated by a metabolic condition known as insulin resistance. The purpose of this talk is to not only define insulin resistance and provide an appreciation for its prevalence, but also establish a clear series of cause and consequence of the disorder.
This lecture is part of the IHMC Evening Lecture series.
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