Berzelius Symposium 109: The Mind from Cradle to Grave

Welcome to Berzelius Symposium 109: "The Mind from Cradle to Grave" - Consciousness from fetal life to old age. The event will take place the 22nd-23rd May 2024 at the Swedish Society of Medicine in Stockholm, with the option for digital participation.

The nature of human consciousness has long intrigued philosophers and neuroscientists, gaining even more significance in light of recent advancements in artificial intelligence.

It is also an important topic for clinicians, particularly for those working at the beginning and end of patients’ lives. Even anesthetists are often concerned with the state of consciousness. However, while discussions often focus on the existence of consciousness, the content of consciousness remains a less explored territory.

The aim of this hybrid symposium is mainly to discuss the clinical aspects of the emergence of consciousness in the fetus and the neonate and the weakening of consciousness in old age. This is of major importance with regard to setting the limit for legal abortion and determining how to manage extremely preterm infants. Regarding old age, the question of consciousness pertains to intensive care and surgery of patients with conditions such as severe stroke, dementia, and locked-in-syndrome.

This meeting is sponsored by Acta Paediatrica and the Journal of Internal Medicine.

Organising Committee: Hugo Lagercrantz, Claes Frostell, Bo Angelin

Last day to register: May 13^th 2024

Preliminary Program >>