Synapses are the computational subunits of the brain. They allow cell-type specific forms of information flow, permit neurons to compartmentalize electrical and biochemical signals, and undergo rapid structural plasticity during […]
Ever since the discovery that the degeneration of midbrain DA neurons (mDANs) projecting to the striatum underlies bradykinesia (i.e., slowness of movement) in Parkinson’s disease (PD), DA has become synonymous […]
Indigenous contemplative practices and teachings have enabled Indigenous Peoples to develop an important paradigm of healing that has important implications for western medicine and health care providers who work with […]
The integration of MRI and transcranial focused ultrasound represents a disruptive technology that has many potential applications. This seminar will provide an overview of a new research program I established in […]
Our lab seeks to gain granular descriptions of synaptic, neuronal and network dynamics in the brain. To this end, we use a combination of in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology, two-photon imaging/uncaging, optogenetics and behavioral approaches, and use computational simulations to coalesce these levels of analysis in tractable interpretations. I will present results from ongoing […]
Combining open-ended interviews (outside the scanner) with structural, trial-by-trial, and resting-state functional MRI neuroimaging, we examined real-time functional neural dynamics underlying diverse urban mid-adolescents’ cognitive and emotional engagement with compelling social stories at two time-points, two years apart. We found that the patterns of longitudinal change in neural network dynamics predicted psychosocial outcomes five years […]
Successful pursuit of reinforcers requires the generation of predictions and evaluation of outcomes. Midbrain dopamine neurons and their projections to the striatum are thought to be critical for these processes. Here, we will consider two narratives: dopamine as a reward signal and dopamine as an error signal. Then we will examine the extent to which […]
The human brain has the remarkable capacity to transport the self into the past and future. While previously thought of as distinct functions, recent research has shown that memory for […]
Understanding how the brain encodes, stores, and uses information is a central goal of neuroscience. Many neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and Alzheimer’s […]
Dr. Mayo will talk about studies involving animal-to-human translational work highlighting how endocannabinoid function regulates stress reactivity and fear learning, leveraging human behavioral pharmacology and neuroimaging. She will also highlight […]
The Neuroscience Research Colloquium (NRC), is a series of lectures featuring local and international neuroscientists.
