Brain Awareness Symposium - Spring 2022
Brain Awareness Week is an international campaign to foster enthusiasm and support for brain science. Hosted annually in March, it brings institutions, scholars, and individuals together as they host activities that celebrate the wonders of the mind and the impact that brain science has on our lives.
SUNY Empire State University joined this global campaign by hosting a virtual academic symposium with daily sessions between March 14-18, 2022. The university community, partners, and public at large were invited to join this free, public symposium. Throughout our symposium sessions, our faculty and guest experts facilitated sessions focused on different topics concerning neuroscience and the impact it has on our lives.
Recordings and resources from each of the sessions hosted in our symposium are available below.
Recordings and Resources from 2022 Symposium
Perceptions of Reality: Seeing the World - Session Recording
Description: Our brain processes a huge amount of visual information to give us sight. Is what we see real? What can we learn about the brain from optical illusions? Why are babies so surprised during peekaboo? Drs. Julie Parato and Matthew Eckard answer these questions and more.
The Aging Brain: Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease - Session Recording
Description: Neurodegenerative disease affects about 50 million Americans each year. One of the largest risk factors for many of these disorders is age. As we get older, changes occur throughout all parts of our body, including our brains. In this presentation, the presenters cover two important neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Dr. Parato reviews the changes that occur in the brain in AD, touches upon hot topics in the field, and presents a brief review of her own research on the cytoskeleton in AD. Dr. Eckard outlines how toxins in our environment can contribute to PD. Understanding these diseases not only helps develop treatment and prevention strategies, but also deepens our awareness of how these diseases affect our loved ones and community members.
Brain and Mental Health in Everyday Life - Session Recording
Drs. Matthew Eckard and Julie Parato host a panel discussion on a variety of topics in neuroscience and mental health.
Panelists:
Lynn Schaefer, PhD, ABPP-CN: Dr. Lynn Schaefer completed her undergraduate degree at Binghamton University, before earning her Ph.D. from the Neuropsychology subprogram at the City University of New York. Dr. Schaefer is board-certified in Clinical Neuropsychology and is Director of Neuropsychology at Nassau University Medical Center on Long Island. She holds academic appointments as Adjunct Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and as Clinical Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Stony Brook Medicine. She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the National Academy of Neuropsychology. Her clinical and research interests are in the assessment and remediation of neurobehavioral disorders, such as brain injury and dementia, educational outreach, and in the determination of decision-making capacity. She has authored peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters and held multiple leadership roles in state and national professional organizations for neuropsychology. She recently co-edited the Casebook of Mental Capacity in US Legislation: Assessment and Legal Commentary, which is due out later this year.
Ryan Dosumu, MD, PhD Dr. Ryan Dosumu-Johnson completed his undergraduate degree at University of California Los Angeles in neuroscience, before earning his M.D. from Harvard Medical School and his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences which was funded by a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Fellowship. Dr. Dosumu-Johnson completed his internship and started his general psychiatry residency at New York Presbyterian - Columbia University. He is currently a Leon Levy Research Fellow and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow at the combined Weill Cornell/Columbia New York Presbyterian program. His research interests are in the role modification in cytoskeletal architecture play in the altered synaptic plasticity observed after early life stressors and developmental disorders. He has authored peer-reviewed journal articles and held national leadership positions at the Student National Medical Association.
Autistic and Neurodiverse individuals are attending college in increasing numbers. However, research continues to highlight the need for increased understanding of the Autistic or Neurodiverse college experience to inform effective services and supports. Background related to models of disability, the neurodiversity movement, and identity will be provided. Student outcomes, differences between K-12 services and higher education, and student perceptions of barriers and supports will be discussed. Drs. Noor Syed and Lauren Allen share recommendations for faculty and staff centered on a Universal Design approach in addition to strategies for Autistic and Neurodiverse focusing on self-advocacy.
In this panel, Melissa Zgliczynski and Rebecca Bonanno, PhD discuss how ADHD, Dyslexia, Depression, and Anxiety can hinder academic success. They pay special attention to strategies, tools, and services to overcome those challenges.
How Drugs Abuse Affects the Brain and What Can We Do About It? - Session Recording
Over the past several decades, drug abuse has consistently been in the national spotlight. Increased usage and overdose from opioids and stimulants have initiated renewed calls for drug abuse treatment and prevention efforts. Many drugs of abuse target a very specific circuit in our brain that processes reward and motivates us to seek rewards. Drugs shift those circuits from seeking out natural rewards, like food or social contact, to pursuing the drug itself leading to behavior patterns characteristic of drug addiction. This idea has prompted scientists and clinicians to approach drug addiction as a brain disease rather than a flaw in the individual. In this forum, Dr. Eckard discusses how the brain changes in response to drug abuse generally. Then, Dr. MacMillan presents efforts that SUNY Empire is pursuing in training individuals to address drug addiction through the Addiction Studies program at SUNY ESC. Understanding drug addiction as a biological process and reducing stigma associated with addiction ultimately leads to more successful avenues for treatment.
We have compiled resources from different institutions available to the public free of charge. Continue learning about the Brain by visiting the links below.
For questions about the Brain Awareness Week at SUNY Empire, email brainawareness@esc.edu.