When: June 18th, 2020 – 3:00 pm

Where: Zoom meeting

Abstract: Over the past decade we have demonstrated that the fusion of subject-specific structural information of the human brain with mathematical dynamic models allows building biologically realistic brain network models, which have a predictive value, beyond the explanatory power of each approach independently. Here we illustrate the workflow along the example of epilepsy: we reconstruct personalized connectivity matrices of human epileptic patients using Diffusion Tensor weighted Imaging (DTI).

When: June 4th, 2020 – 3:00 pm

Where: Zoom meeting

Abstract: Mutations of connexin 32 (Cx32) protein cause the X-linked form of Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMT1X), a demyelinating peripheral neuropathy for which there is no cure. A growing body of evidence indicates that ATP release through Cx32 hemichannels in Schwann cells could be critical for nerve myelination, but it is unknown if CMT1X mutations alter the physiological mechanism that controls Cx32 hemichannel opening and ATP release.

Our study uncovered a link between CMT1X and Cx32 hemichannel dysfunction, suggesting a candidate peptide for treating the disease caused by the R220X mutation of Cx32.

When: May 28th, 2020 – 3:00 pm

Where: Zoom meeting

Abstract: Navigation plays a key role in organisms adaptive behavior. An adequate response to environmental stimuli, is fundamental for supporting food search, social interactions and mating, all of them step physiological mechanisms from the evolutionary point of view.

The lecture will talk about visuomotor responses and place learning studies in flies made in our and other laboratories combining sophisticated quantitative behavioral techniques, fly genetic tools and optogenetics.

When: May 21th, 2020 – 2:30 pm

Where: Zoom meeting

Abstract: Stroke is the most common cause of neurological disability in the world. In the UK alone, there are more people living with the consequences of stroke than with dementia (1.2M vs 0.85M) with an estimated annual cost of £26B. Stroke is still considered a single incident disease with most resources targeted to the first few hours, days or weeks after onset.

When: May 14th, 2020 – 3:00 pm

Where: Zoom meeting

Abstract: In everyday life contexts sometimes we manage to attend multiple sources of information without particular effort. Sometimes, however, performing two or more tasks together becomes very difficult, like for instance if we have to drive a car in a foggy day while paying attention to a debate on the radio. In these conditions our attention is loaded and we perform what is called “multitasking”.

When: May 7th, 2020 – 3:00 pm

Where: Zoom meeting

Abstract: New approaches to real-time assessment and closed-loop feedback based on behavioral features or brain activity will be discussed in the lecture that are designed to optimize stroke recovery interventions in mice for insight into better approaches for human recovery.