Oregon Public Broadcasting

President Obama Thursday named a University of Oregon researcher as one of the nine winners of the National Medal of Science.

Michael Posner won the highest award given to American scientists for his work in cognitive science.

Ethan Lindsey reports.

Posner is considered one of the founding fathers of cognitive science – a growing field that blends the concepts of psychology with the biology of the brain.

Psychology professor Mary Rothbart has worked with Posner at the University of Oregon. She says he is, to her, a “quintessential scientist.”

Mary Rothbart: “He asks good questions, he is able to develop the methods that allows him to address those questions. And then we he gets the data, he is open to what it might mean. This is something that Mike does beautifully.”

Posner’s groundbreaking research has provided insight into how the brain processes thought.

For example, Rothbart says he’s explored how humans react differently when looking at a string of random letters, versus looking at an actual word, versus speaking that word aloud.

President Obama himself will present the medals to Posner, and 8 other scientists, at the White House in October.