Dreams, Games, and Fragile Minds

Why do we dream? One possibility is that dreams are involved in processing our memories. In this talk, I'll share findings from my recent research exploring how sleep and dreaming may be related to how our memories change over time.

Video games have enormous potential for neuroscientific research. They are engaging, long-duration tasks that people can perform with little prior training. In my talk I will be divulging more about how video games can be used for research into the brain and sharing about how I am using Tetris to research attention.

Why do neurons fail in diseases like Alzheimer’s? I explore how fruit flies help us figure out what goes wrong in neurons, focusing on a rogue protein called GSK3β and why it’s a promising drug target - brought to life through stories and live science parody songs.

What is happening inside our brains when we experience depression?
This talk explores the neurocircuitry of depression, revealing how connectivity breaks down between key brain regions and why that causes us to experience symptoms of depression. It will discuss research into connectivity issues in brain circuits affected by depression to identify biomarkers that could help to move us towards more specific, individual treatments for depression.