It is a matter of weeks before the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) annual meeting, taking place October 19-23, 2019, at McCormick Place, Chicago, US. Here are 10 diverse and interesting talks that you won’t want to miss.
1. Evolution and Dissolution of Memories Over Time
Eleanor A. Maguire, Ph.D. FRS FMedSci FBA (Tuesday, October 22, 2019, 1:30-2:40 pm, Hall B)
Professor Eleanor Maguire is a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London (UCL) and is recipient to many awards including the Ig Nobel Prize for Medicine and the Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award.
In this lecture, Professor Maguire will discuss how autobiographical memories evolve in the brain over time, but also how our understanding of these mechanisms has developed in the last few decades.
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2. The Brain From The Inside Out
Gyorgy Buzsaki, MD, Ph.D. (Sunday, October 20, 2019, 12:00 pm - 1:10 pm, Hall B)
Professor Gyorgy Buzsaki is a Professor of Neuroscience at the New York University School of Medicine and is a recipient of the Brain Prize (2011). In this lecture Professor Buzsaki will discuss whether there is a ‘right’ way to study the brain.
Professor Buzsaki will explain that the brain does not process information, it creates it. As such, the outside-in approach needs to be re-examined if we are to study the brain more effectively.
3. Dialogues Between Neuroscience and Society
Fei-Fei Li, Ph.D.(Saturday, October 19, 2019, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, Hall B)
Professor Fei-Fei Li is a Professor of Computer Science and Co-Director of Stanford University’s Human-Centred AI Institute. Professor Li also served as Vice President of AI and Machine Learning at Google Cloud.
In this lecture, Professor Li will discuss the uses and potential of AI and machine learning in augmenting, but not replacing elements of human experience.
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4. Molecular Basis of the Circadian Clock in Mammals and Its Fundamental Role in Aging and Longevity
Joseph S. Takahashi, Ph.D. (Sunday, October 20, 2019, 3:00 pm - 4:10 pm, Hall B)
Professor Takahashi is a Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. In this lecture, Professor Takahashi will discuss the molecular basis of mammalian circadian rhythms.
In addition, how the timings of nutrient intake (feeding) as well as restrictions to the timing of feeding can have health benefits that increase healthspan and longevity will also be discussed.
5. Leveraging Brain Rhythms as a Therapeutic Intervention for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Li-Huei Tsai, Ph.D. (Tuesday, October 22, 2019, 12:00 pm - 1:10 pm, Hall B)
Dr. Li-Huei Tsai is the Director of the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In this lecture, Dr Tsai will talk about the impairments to gamma rhythms in Alzheimer’s disease.
Non-invasive sensory stimulation at 40Hz in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease can reduce pathology and enhance cognitive function. Understanding the mechanisms behind this is important as well as how this could be used in patients.
6. From Single-Cell Profiling to Human Brain Organoids: Capturing Neural Development and Disease
Sergiu P. Pasca, MD & Hongjun Song, Ph.D. (Monday, October 21, 2019, 1:30 pm - 4 pm, Room S100A)
The chairs for this session will be Dr. Sergiu Pasca who is a physician and scientist at Stanford University and Dr. Hongjun Song who is an Adjunct Professor at the Perelman School of Medicine.
In this session, recent advances in the generation of stem-cell-derived neurons and glia into 3D cellular structures called brain organoids will be examined. There will be a discussion on how single-cell genomic and transcriptomic methods can advance understanding of neural development and disease.
7. New Approaches to Vision Restoration
Joshua R. Sanes, Ph.D. & Steven Becker, Ph.D. (Wednesday, October 23, 2019, 8:30 am – 11:00 am, Room S100A)
The chairs of this session will be Professor Joshua Sanes who is a Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the Center for Brain Science, Harvard University and Dr Steven Becker who is the program coordinator of the National Eye Institute at the National Institutes of Health.
In this session, recent advances in cutting-edge research in gene therapy, cell therapy, retinal prostheses, and optogenetics will be discussed with respect to treating disabilities and diseases of the visual system.
Juergen Faelchle | Shutterstock
8. The Gut-Brain Axis in Health and Brain Disease
Arthur Liesz, MD & Jane A. Foster, Ph.D. (Sunday, October 20, 2019, 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm, Room S406A)
The chairs of this session will be Dr. Arthur Liesz who is a Research Group Leader at the Institute for Stroke and Dementia at the Research University Medical Center Munich and Dr. Jane Foster who is an Associate Professor at McMaster University.
Recent evidence has directly implicated the health of the gut microbiome in the development of many neurodevelopmental and neurological conditions including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. In this session the mechanisms behind the communication between gut microbiota and the brain-gut-immune axis.
9. Sex Differences in Drug Craving and Addiction-Like Behaviors in Rodent Models
Mathieu E. Wimmer, Ph.D. & Jessica A. Loweth, Ph.D. (Saturday, October 19, 2019, 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm, Room S102)
Dr. Mathieu Wimmer is an Assistant Professor at Temple University and Dr. Jessica Loweth is an Assistant Professor at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine.
In this symposium, recent advances in models of addiction that underpin the molecular and hormonal basis for sex differences in addiction as well as relapse will be discussed.
10. Does Adult Neurogenesis Occur in the Human Brain?
Arturo Alvarez-Buylla, Ph.D. & Maria Llorens-Martin, Ph.D. (Monday, October 21, 2019, 1–2 p.m, Room S406B)
Dr. Arturo Alvarez-Buylla is a Developmental Neuroscientist at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Weill Institute for Neurosciences and Dr. Maria Llorens-Martin is a Developmental Neuroscientist from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
Dr. Llorens-Martin will argue the case that new neurons do develop in the adult brain whereas Dr. Alvarez-Buylla will argue against adult neurogenesis.
Further information
Of course, there are many more fascinating talks on offer at Neuroscience 2019 this year. For full details click on the links below:
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