Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory | UCI CNLM

Brad Postle, Ph.D.
2024-05-21 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Herklotz Conference Center, 300 Qureshey Research Lab, Irvine, CA, United States
Join the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) for a hybrid event featuring Dr. Brad Postle, professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This event will be held in-person in the Herklotz Conference Center and virtually via Zoom.
Controlling the Contents of Visual Working Memory

Description:
Two hallmarks of working memory are flexibility — ability to mentally juggle multiple pieces of information, prioritizing what’s relevant for the task immediately at hand while also keeping potentially important but currently unprioritized information in an accessible state — and updateability — allowing for the rapid replacement of the no-longer-needed with the newly relevant. This talk will explore these two aspects of the control of working memory at the levels of algorithmic operation and neural implementation. Specifically, although parsimony holds that “deprioritization” and “removal” might be accomplished via the same mechanism, I will draw on neuroimaging (EEG and fMRI), computational (RNN, RL), and behavioral data to argue for two distinct, novel, processes for controlling the contents of WM: the transformation of representational geometries as a function of priority; and the top-down hijacking of mechanisms of adaptation to accomplish active removal. This work may generalize to broader questions, such as of how we control the moment-to-moment contents of conscious awareness, and how we diagnose and treat disorders of thought.

Catherine Hartley, Ph.D.
2024-06-18 11:00 - 12:00 | Herklotz Conference Center, 300 Qureshey Research Lab, Irvine, CA, United States
Join us for a hybrid event featuring Dr. Catherine Hartley, Associate Professor of Psychology at New York University. This event will be held in-person in the Herklotz Conference Center and virtually via Zoom.
Event is jointly sponsored with the Conte Center@UCI.
Interactive development of reinforcement learning and episodic memory

Highlighting the fundamentally interactive nature of learning and memory, recent studies in adults have demonstrated that the same quantitative learning signals that inform value computation during reinforcement learning also modulate how information is prioritized and represented in episodic memory. While both reinforcement learning and episodic memory processes exhibit qualitative shifts from childhood to adulthood, how the interactions between these neurocognitive systems might change over development remains virtually unexplored. In this talk, I will present studies that leverage computational modeling to characterize age-related shifts in how reinforcement learning computations influence the content and granularity of memory, and how memory, in turn, informs value-based choices. I will discuss how these processes may support adaptive behavior at different developmental stages.

Lisa Feldman Barrett, Ph.D.
2024-10-16 19:30 - 20:30 | Irvine Barclay Theatre
The McGaugh-Gerard Lecture on Learning and Memory will host guest speaker Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University.
Three Lessons About the Brain
Ever wonder how your brain really works? Join us for the 3rd Annual McGaugh-Gerard Lecture on Learning and Memory by Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, an author and expert in psychology and neuroscience, as she breaks down three key ideas about the brain’s inner workings. In this talk, you’ll learn:

How your brain’s most important job is keeping your body running smoothly.
How your brain is constantly predicting what will happen next rather than reacting to the world.
How feeling and thinking and even seeing follow from your brain’s plan for action; your brain prepares your behavior first and creates your lived experience in the process.

Dr. Barrett will show how these brain functions affect how you feel, how you think, and what you do.

Marcus Holmes, Ph.D.
2024-10-22 16:00 - 17:00 | Herklotz Conference Center and Virtually via Zoom, 300 Qureshey Research Lab, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, United States
UCI Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, UCI Brain, and UCI Conte Center will host guest speaker Dr. Marcus Holmes, Professor of Government, Chair of the Department of Government, Director of the Political Psychology and International Relations Lab, and Co-Director of the Social Science Research Methods Center from The College of William and Mary.
The Social Neuroscience Behind Face-to-Face Diplomacy?

Manuella Oliveira Yassa, Ph.D. & Caroline Montojo, Ph.D.
2024-10-30 12:00 | Virtual
The Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory (CNLM) will host guest speakers Dr. Manuella Oliveira Yassa, Director of Outreach and Education at the CNLM, and Dr. Caroline Montojo, President & CEO of the Dana Foundation.
Join us to learn more about the CONNECT series. This session will include an opportunity to network.

Jeffrey Krichmar, Ph.D.
2024-11-05 11:00 - 12:00 | Herklotz Conference Center and Virtually via Zoom, 300 Qureshey Research Lab, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, United States
Join the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) for a hybrid event featuring Dr. Jeffrey Krichmar, Professor of Cognitive Sciences at the University of California, Irvine.
This event will be held in-person in the Herklotz Conference Center and virtually via Zoom.

Biologically inspired robot navigation
We take inspiration from recent neurophysiological findings to create a flexible navigation system for mobile robots. In the first part of my talk, I will present a neuromorphic path planning algorithm inspired by place cell behavior and experience-dependent plasticity. Our navigation system utilizes a spiking neural network wavefront planner and E-prop learning to concurrently map and plan paths in large, complex environments. We incorporate a novel method for mapping which, when combined with the spiking wavefront planner, allows for adaptive planning by selectively considering combining costs. The learning is continuous and does not require retraining due to changes in the environment. The system is tested on a mobile robot platform in an outdoor environment with obstacles and varying terrain. On real and simulated paths, our system outperforms state-of-the-art robot path planners. The spiking wavefront planner is compatible with neuromorphic hardware and could be used for applications requiring low size weight and power. In the second part of my talk, I will discuss how we seamlessly move between global perspectives and first-person perspectives and why this is important for navigation, memory formation, and other cognitive tasks. To understand how a neural system might carry out these computations, we used variational autoencoders (VAEs) to reconstruct first-person perspectives from global map perspectives, and vice versa. Many latent variables in our model had similar responses to those seen in neuron recordings, including place cells, head direction tuning, and encoding distance to objects. These results could advance our understanding of how brain regions support viewpoint linkages and transformations. Currently, we are combining these two modeling approaches into a unified biologically inspired navigation system that can handle dynamic environments.

J. Zoe Klemfuss, Ph.D.
2024-11-12 11:00 - 12:00 | Herklotz Conference Center and Virtually via Zoom, 300 Qureshey Research Lab, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, United States
Join the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) for a hybrid event featuring Dr. J. Zoe Klemfuss, Associate Professor of Psychological Sciences at the University of California, Irvine.
This event will be held in-person in the Herklotz Conference Center and virtually via Zoom.

Children’s memory reports in legal contexts
Millions of US children are centrally involved in legal investigations each year. They may be questioned as suspected victims or witnesses or in other impactful legal proceedings like custody determinations. As one chilling example, over 3 million children are the subjects of child protective services disposition due to suspected maltreatment annually. In some of the most heinous crimes against children such as child sexual abuse, children’s statements may be the only available evidence. These crimes rarely have other witnesses and because disclosure is routinely delayed, physical evidence is rare as well. My colleagues and I have been examining ways we can help children to give accurate and detailed memory reports of their legally-relevant experiences. In this talk, I will focus on how we’ve been considering child, interviewer, and contextual factors as we examine 1) children’s reports of event time and sequence and 2) interviewer-child rapport and support, and their implications for children’s legal statements.

Greg Gage, Ph.D.
2024-11-13 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
The Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory (CNLM) will host guest speaker Dr. Greg Gage, CEO and Co-Founder of Backyard Brains, for their CONNECT Series.
Engaging Curiosity Through Hands-on Neuroscience
This talk will explore how to actively engage individuals in neuroscience before they fully grasp the underlying concepts, focusing on approaches to hands-on learning and community involvement. I will discuss Backyard Brains’ experience creating low-cost, open-source neuroscience tools that make neuroscience education accessible to students and the general public. Through live demonstrations and case studies, we’ll examine how these tools can spark curiosity, broaden participation, and support underrepresented groups in STEM, with a focus on fostering a hands-on approach before conceptual understanding is fully established.

Psychedelics Through the Lens of Science, Treatment, and Policy
2024-11-18 08:00 - 18:00 | Herklotz Conference Center, 300 Qureshey Research Lab, Irvine, CA, United States
Please join UC Irvine’s Center for Addiction Neuroscience (UCI CAN) for an all-day symposium entitled: “Psychedelics Through the Lens of Science, Treatment, and Policy“, to be held on Monday November 18 at Herklotz Auditorium of the UCI Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory.
We will hear perspectives of academic researchers, psychiatrists, and policymakers from across North America, all discussing aspects of the recent resurgence of interest in psychedelic molecules, many of which have been known for millennia by indigenous cultures for their consciousness-altering and medicinal properties.
Join us for a wide-ranging discussion of psychedelic neuroscience, psychiatry, and policy with experts from: University of Calgary; UC Berkeley; UC Irvine; the National Institute on Drug Abuse; and the US Food & Drug Administration.
Pre-registration is required, it is free, and it comes with breakfast, lunch and reception, as well as brand new ICAN swag!
Capacity is limited for this in-person event, so don’t hesitate: REGISTER TODAY!
2024 Psychedelics Symposium Registration

Lunch and Learn: UCI Behavioral Testing Core Facility
2024-11-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Herklotz Conference Center, 300 Qureshey Research Lab, Irvine, CA, United States
Shahrdad Lotfipour, PhD, and Michael A. Yassa, PhD will host a Lunch and Learn session about the new UC Irvine Behavioral Testing Core Facility. This session will introduce researchers to the capabilities of our new state-of-the-art facility with a range of equipment designed for rigorous and reproducible testing of rodent behavior. The facility is supported by the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory and services the entire UCI campus as well as outside investigators.
During this session, you will learn:

Equipment and behavioral testing services available.
Scheduling and rates for use of equipment and consultation services.
$5,000 seed grants opportunities for new facility users.

Lunch will be provided to registered attendees. Register early to secure your spot!

Anna Leshinskaya, Ph.D.
2024-12-10 11:00 - 12:00 | Herklotz Conference Center and Virtually via Zoom, 300 Qureshey Research Lab, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, United States
Join the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) for a hybrid event featuring Dr. Anna Leshinskaya, Assistant Professor of Cognitive Sciences at the University of California, Irvine.
This event will be held in-person in the Herklotz Conference Center and virtually via Zoom.
Processes of learning and integration to build relational memory in the human brain
The human brain naturally uses experience to infer how entities, attributes, and events relate to each other, abilities that are essential for both episodic and semantic memory. Yet, the learning and inference processes that allow the brain to build relational memory, across multiple neural circuits and time, remain poorly specified. In this talk, I will discuss two sets of findings using human fMRI and temporal relation learning. In the first, I use computational theories of learning as precise but competing hypotheses for how the brain uses noisy experiential data to infer the strength of relations among visual events and to build relational memory. Results reveal a surprising computational continuity between memory formation and the mechanisms of reinforcement learning and classical conditioning. Furthermore, neural and behavioral data jointly suggest that the brain supports multiple strategies simultaneously, and raises the further question of how strategies are selected. In the second finding, I shed light on how the brain integrates diverse experiences to build knowledge of shared relational structure, in both classically episodic and semantic brain areas across two time-points. I find that entorhinal cortex, in particular, plays a key role in rapid relational integration that complements the role of semantic areas in slower integrative processes. I will raise a number of open future questions regarding the neural mechanisms of relational memory.

Marguerite Matthews, Ph.D.
2024-12-11 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
The Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory (CNLM) will host guest speaker Dr. Marguerite Matthews, Section Chief of Career Preparation in the Office of Programs to Enhance the Neuroscience Workforce, NINDS, for their CONNECT Series.
NINDS Strategies to Enhance the Diversity of the Neuroscience Workforce
This presentation will provide an overview of NINDS’s commitment to enhancing the diversity of the neuroscience workforce and cover specific funding opportunities aimed at supporting the science education and research training of individuals at the PreK-12, college, postbaccalaureate, and early-stage graduate school levels.

Carla Romney, Sc.D., MBA
2025-01-08 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
The Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory (CNLM) will host guest speaker Carla Romney, Sc.D., MBA, Director of Research at Boston University, CityLab, and Associate Editor-Journal of STEM Outreach, for their CONNECT Series.
Sharing STEM educational outreach through publications and presentations
STEM educational outreach programs offer innovative programming for a wide variety of audiences, yet too often the best (and worst) practices are not shared with others. In addition, the evaluation of programs and assessment of their impacts on learners are often not distributed via public channels. This session will explore publishing and presenting findings from STEM educational outreach in order to enhance their dissemination and have them contribute to understanding what works, for whom, and under what circumstances.

Gyorgy Lur, Ph.D.
2025-01-21 11:00 - 12:00 | Herklotz Conference Center and Virtually via Zoom, 300 Qureshey Research Lab, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, United States
Join the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) for a hybrid event featuring Dr. Gyorgy Lur, Associate Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior at the University of California, Irvine.
How stress reorganizes cognitive circuits in the parietal cortex
This event will be held in-person in the Herklotz Conference Center and virtually via Zoom.

Michael A. Yassa, Ph.D
2025-02-04 19:30 - 20:30 | Irvine Barclay Theatre
Alzheimer’s disease impacts more than 6 million people in the United States alone. Join the UC Irvine Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory on February 4, 2025, for the 27th Distinguished Lecture on Brain, Learning, and Memory, presented by Dr. Michael Yassa. His lecture, titled “The Beginning of the End for Alzheimer’s Disease,” will delve into groundbreaking research and future directions in the fight against this devastating condition.
In this program, you will discover:

The latest advances in Alzheimer’s disease research
Strategies to protect and maintain a healthy brain as we age
Emerging treatments offering hope for those affected by Alzheimer’s

Dr. Michael Yassa is a Neuroscience Professor and the James L. McGaugh Endowed Chair in the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory at the University of California, Irvine. Since 2016, he has served as the director of UCI’s world-renowned Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory.

Shahrdad Lotfipour, Ph.D.
2025-02-11 11:00 - 12:00 | Herklotz Conference Center and Virtually via Zoom, 300 Qureshey Research Lab, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, United States
Join the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) for a hybrid event featuring Dr. Shahrdad Lotfipour, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of California, Irvine.
Molecular neurobiology of adolescent nicotine use
Adolescence is a critical period for brain development, particularly in systems underlying reward and addiction. My lab’s research focuses on understanding how genetic and environmental factors interact to influence adolescent nicotine use, co-morbid substance abuse, and relapse. Using innovative CRISPR-Cas9-generated rodent models mimicking human genetic variants, we investigate the molecular, neurochemical, and behavioral mechanisms driving nicotine’s effects on reward and relapse. This talk will highlight key findings on the sex- and genotype-dependent influences of the CHRNA6 3′-UTR SNP on dopamine and norepinephrine systems, behavioral outcomes in nicotine and methamphetamine co-use, and nicotine-seeking behavior. These insights provide a framework for exploring targeted therapeutic strategies for adolescent substance use.
This event will be held in-person in the Herklotz Conference Center and virtually via Zoom.

Kristin Bass, Ph.D.
2025-02-19 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
The Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory (CNLM) will host guest speaker Dr. Kristin Bass, Director of Research Development at Rockman et. al Cooperative, SciEd Organizer, and Co-Editor-Journal of STEM Outreach, for their CONNECT Series.
Evaluating Outreach Programs with Meaningful Data
How do you know your outreach programs are making a difference? How can you make your programs better? In this seminar we’ll discuss how to design, collect, and use evaluation data to develop impactful outreach programs and share that impact with others in your community. I’ll present a general, step-by-step evaluation process along with some tips and tricks. Questions will be welcomed and encouraged!

Ulises Ricoy, Ph.D.
2025-03-12 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
The Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory (CNLM) will host guest speaker Dr. Ulises Ricoy, Director of Outreach Initiatives and Grass Foundation Associate Research Scientist from the University of Arizona, for their CONNECT Series.

Momoko Watanabe, Ph.D.
2025-03-25 11:00 - 12:00 | Herklotz Conference Center and Virtually via Zoom, 300 Qureshey Research Lab, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, United States
Join the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) for a hybrid event featuring Dr. Momoko Watanabe, Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the University of California, Irvine.
This event will be held in-person in the Herklotz Conference Center and virtually via Zoom.
Self-organization of polarized cortical organoids upon the formation of anterior and posterior organizers for disease modeling

Cortical organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have emerged as an accessible and invaluable tool to study human neurodevelopment and disease. Cortical organoids consistently self-organize into the laminar architecture of the human cortex dorsoventrally. However, they currently still lack a controlled induction in the anteroposterior axis. Here, we demonstrate the polarization of cortical organoids. Many neurodevelopmental disorders have specific dysregulation in different regions within the cortex. Thus, the demonstration of the anteroposterior polarization would serve as a powerful platform to study various neurological disorders that have differential effects on cortical regions.

Lulu Y. Chen, Ph.D.
2025-04-08 11:00 - 12:00 | Herklotz Conference Center and Virtually via Zoom, 300 Qureshey Research Lab, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, United States
Join the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) for a hybrid event featuring Dr. Lulu Y. Chen, Associate Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the University of California, Irvine.
This event will be held in-person in the Herklotz Conference Center and virtually via Zoom.

Katharine Simon, Ph.D.
2025-04-22 11:00 - 12:00 | Herklotz Conference Center and Virtually via Zoom, 300 Qureshey Research Lab, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, United States
Join the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) for a hybrid event featuring Dr. Katharine Simon, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine.
This event will be held in-person in the Herklotz Conference Center and virtually via Zoom.

Christian Bravo Rivera, Ph.D.
2025-04-23 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
The Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory (CNLM) will host guest speaker Dr. Christian Bravo Rivera, Assistant Professor in Psychiatry and Anatomy & Neurobiology at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine and Co-Founder of NeuroBoricuas (NeuroBridges), for their CONNECT Series.

Lauren N. Ross, Ph.D., M.D.
2025-04-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Herklotz Conference Center and Virtually via Zoom, 300 Qureshey Research Lab, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, United States
Join the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) for a hybrid event featuring Dr. Lauren N. Ross, Associate Professor and Logic and Philosophy of Science
at the University of California, Irvine.
This event will be held in-person in the Herklotz Conference Center and virtually via Zoom.

Brinley Kantorski, Ph.D.
2025-05-15 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
The Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory (CNLM) will host guest speaker Dr. Brinley Kantorski, Director of Education and Multimedia Development at Duquesne University’s Partnership in Education, for their CONNECT Series.
Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy through a Game: A N.O.V.E.L. approach
Join Dr. Brinley Kantorski, a seasoned game designer and educator, as she shares her hands-on experience in creating, designing, and testing an innovative educational game. This presentation will take you behind the scenes of the educational game development process, highlighting key stages from initial concept to final testing. Whether you’re an educator, game designer, or simply curious about the intersection of gaming and education, this talk will equip you with valuable knowledge and inspiration to explore

David Reinkensmeyer, Ph.D.
2025-05-20 11:00 - 12:00 | Herklotz Conference Center and Virtually via Zoom, 300 Qureshey Research Lab, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, United States
Join the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) for a hybrid event featuring Dr. David Reinkensmeyer, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Irvine.
This event will be held in-person in the Herklotz Conference Center and virtually via Zoom.
