Anna Leshinskaya, Ph.D.
2024-12-10 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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.
