Neuroscience Program

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

- 4:00 - 5:00 pm
- Beckman Institute, Room 1005
"New Tools to Image Network Dynamics in Models of Disease" by Peyman Golshani, MD/PhD,John Mazziotta Endowed Chair in Neurology, Associate Professor, Department of Neurology David Geffen School of Medicine
Dr. Golshani has built new open-source miniaturized microscopes for imaging network dynamics in freely behaving mice. He is using these tools to image how hippocampal place cell ensembles become unstable in models of epilepsy.
- Seminar/Symposium

- 4:00 - 5:00 pm
- Beckman Institute, Room 1005
"Making and breaking fear memories" by Steve Maren, University Distinguished Professor and Claude H. Everett, Jr. '47 Chair of Liberal Arts, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University
Learning to fear threats in the environment is critical for survival, but often leads to mental illnesses including PTSD. Once learned, traumatic memories can be suppressed—though this is often short-lived. New work reveals how brain circuits that make and break traumatic memories function to regulate fear and its relapse.
- Seminar/Symposium

- 4:00 - 5:00 pm
- Beckman Institute, Room 1005
"Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Plasticity. A Tale of Two Receptors" by Andres Barria, Ph.D. Physiology & Biophysics, University of Washington
Synaptic plasticity underlies circuit refinement and memory formation. The NMDA-type glutamate receptor plays a central role in this process. I will discuss its function, trafficking, and a novel mechanism of regulation via Wnt signaling.
- Seminar/Symposium

- 4:00 - 5:00 pm
- Beckman Institute, Room 1005
"A New Era in Understanding How Nutrigenetics and Nutrition Shape Cognitive Development" by Carol Cheatham, Associate Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience, Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The brain is fueled by nutrition; individual needs for nutrients are, in part, based on genetics. Dr. Cheatham will present data from an infant electrophysiology study that will illustrate two points: maternal genetics are an important consideration in infant brain development, and nutrients work synergistically to support brain function.
- Seminar/Symposium

- 4:00 - 5:00 pm
- Beckman Institute, Room 1005
"Gut-Brain Signaling and Motivated Behavior" by Linda Rinaman, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Florida State University
Sensory feedback from the body influences the activity of brain circuits that organize motivated behavior and affective state. We use rodent models to study central neural pathways through which gastrointestinal signals shape stress responsiveness and aversively-motivated avoidance behaviors.
- Seminar/Symposium

- 4:00 - 5:00 pm
- Beckman Institute, Room 1005
"Is it Possible to Correct or Mitigate Neurodevelopmental Genetic Disorders using Viral Vector-mediated Gene Therapy Gene Therapy?" by David R. Hampson, Ph.D., University of Toronto
Recombinant viruses such as adeno-associated viruses have become major tools in the development of gene therapy for correcting genetic disorders. This seminar will highlight such work on the neurodevelopmental disorder, Fragile X Syndrome.
- Seminar/Symposium

- 4:00 - 5:00 pm
- Beckman Institute, Room 1005
"Prefrontal Cortical Dysfunction in a Rodent Model of Adolescent Alcohol Exposure" by L. Judson Chandler, Professor, Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina
It is becoming increasing apparent that the abuse of alcohol during adolescence has long lasting effects of brain and behavior in adulthood. Our studies in a rodent model of intermittent adolescent alcohol exposure to investigate have revealed these changes include alterations in the prefrontal cortex.
- Seminar/Symposium