We often think of memory as a mental filing cabinet, our ability to recall the people, places, and events that shaped us. But modern neuroscience tells a far more exciting story. Human memory is not just a record of the past; it is a powerful, constructive system that continuously extracts meaning from our experiences. Our brains identify patterns, connect ideas across time, and build deeper knowledge that we rely on to make sense of the world.
In other words, memory is the engine of wisdom.
Rather than simply replaying what we have seen or done, our brains weave together information from many moments to help us anticipate, plan, and choose well. This ability to generalize—to learn what tends to work, what doesn’t, and why—is what allows people to grow beyond their histories and make future decisions that are more flexible, creative, and aligned with their goals.
In this talk, I will explore the brain mechanisms that allow us to transform experience into wisdom, highlighting discoveries from cognitive neuroscience that illuminate how we learn, adapt, and thrive. I’ll also discuss how these mechanisms shift across the human lifespan, from the exploratory learning of youth to the integrative strengths of adulthood and the reflective capacities that often deepen with age.
Attendees will leave with a richer understanding of how the brain supports insight, how clients can harness constructive learning for better decision-making, and why fostering wisdom is not only possible, but grounded in how the mind is built.
About the speakers:
Alison Preston is a neuroscientist and academic leader whose work focuses on how people learn, remember, and make meaning across their lives. Most recently, she served as the inaugural Vice Provost for Faculty Development at The University of Texas at Austin, where she led campus-wide efforts to support faculty growth, mentorship, and leadership development. In this role, she partnered with teams across the university to strengthen the culture of professional flourishing for faculty at all career stages.
Dr. Preston joined UT Austin in 2007 after completing her graduate and postdoctoral training at Stanford University. She is the Dr. A. Wilson Nolle and Sir Raghunath P. Mahendroo Professor in Neuroscience and holds appointments in Neuroscience, Psychology, and Psychiatry in the Dell Medical School. She is also affiliated with several interdisciplinary research centers focused on learning, memory, and brain science.
As a researcher, Dr. Preston studies how the brain builds knowledge—from childhood through older adulthood—and how these processes shape memory, reasoning, creativity, and decision-making. Her work uses brain imaging and computational approaches to understand how changes in brain systems across the lifespan influence how we learn and apply what we know. Her research bridges neuroscience, psychology, and education, and has been recognized with multiple career awards, including honors from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, and the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.
In addition to her recent role as Vice Provost, Dr. Preston has held several leadership positions at UT Austin, including Director of the Biomedical Imaging Center, Director of an NIH Institutional Training Grant for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and Interim Vice President for Research.
Attendance details:
Our events are open to everyone—come join the fun and learning!
- FREE for ICF Local (Austin) Members, Affiliates, and ICF Texas Chapter Members
- $25 for ICF Global Members and non-local ICF members
- $25 for guests and non-members
