Mbc

Scialog

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Molecular Basis of Cognition

2022-2024

Better characterization of the molecular basis of memory, thought, perception and cognition could transform our understanding of the functional architecture of the brain, the complex chemical signaling pathways among neurons, and the regulation of neuroplasticity, leading to new developments in how we recover from brain injury, how we prevent or moderate the effects of neurodegenerative disease, and even how we learn and teach. These advances might also enhance how we design, use and interface with electronic devices, and improve neuromorphic computing. This Scialog initiative will bring together early career scientists from multiple disciplines to devise new ways to probe the chemistry, biology, physics, and computational science that underlie short-term and long-term memory and other cognitive processes, in both biological and abiological contexts.

Fellows & Facilitators

Fellows
Facilitators

Team Awards

Goal: to advance fundamental understanding of the molecular processes that underlie memory and cognition.

2024 Team Awards

A Presence of Departed Acts: Understanding Multisensory Interference and Working Memory Capacity with Focus on Olfactory Interactions

  • Ann-Sophie Barwich
    History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine / Cognitive Science
    Indiana University Bloomington

    Wilma Bainbridge
    Psychology
    University of Chicago

The (Im)Mutability of Emotional-Motivational Modularity: Neurofeedback for the Reorganization of Valence

  • Kurt Fraser
    Psychology
    University of Minnesota Twin Cities

    Nicole Ferrara
    Physiology and Biophysics
    Rosalind Franklin University

    Jonathan Fadok
    Psychology
    Tulane University

Rewiring Genome in 3D to Enhance Cognition after Sleep Deprivation across Species

  • Farzaneh Najafi
    Biological Sciences
    Georgia Institute of Technology

    Longzhi Tan
    Neurobiology
    Stanford University

    Masashi Tabuchi
    Neurosciences
    Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Understanding the Neural Basis of Natural Behavior with Individualized RNNs

  • Marcelo Mattar
    Psychology
    New York University

    Matthew Lovett-Barron
    Neurobiology
    University of California, San Diego

    Antonio Fernandez-Ruiz
    Neurobiology & Behavior
    Cornell University

From Spikes to Neuromodulation: Uncertainty Coding in Rodents and Primates

  • Farzaneh Najafi
    Biological Sciences
    Georgia Institute of Technology

    Ritchie Chen
    Neurological Surgery
    University of California, San Francisco

    Anita Disney
    Neurobiology
    Duke University

Unraveling Epigenomic & Epitranscriptomic Mechanisms of Prenatal Stress: Sex Differences in Social Deficits across Generations

  • Monsheel Sodhi
    Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience
    Loyola University

    Longzhi Tan
    Neurobiology
    Stanford University
2023 Team Awards

Illuminating the Molecular Mechanisms of Memory Formation During Behavior

  • Yao Chen
    Neuroscience
    Washington University in Saint Louis

    Michael Economo
    Biomedical Engineering
    Boston University

Investigating the Conscious Accessibility of Neural Replay

  • Anna Schapiro
    Psychology
    University of Pennsylvania

    Megan Peters
    Cognitive Sciences
    University of California, Irvine

    Marcelo Mattar
    Psychology
    New York University

FLEX: Fluorescent Light Examination of eXtensors (and Other Muscles)

  • Timothy Machado
    Neuroscience
    University of Pennsylvania

    Kate Hong
    Biological Sciences
    Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University

    Michael Economo
    Biomedical Engineering
    Boston University

Understanding the Multiple Timescales of Neuromodulation Using Three Photon Instant FLIM

  • Lucas Pinto
    Neuroscience
    Northwestern University

    Benjamin Scott
    Psychological and Brain Sciences
    Boston University

    Yao Chen
    Neuroscience
    Washington University in Saint Louis

Mapping Inner Worlds: Representational Spaces and Mental Life

  • Daniel Burnston
    Philosophy / Brain Institute
    Tulane University

    Wilma Bainbridge
    Psychology
    University of Chicago

    Bob Wilson
    Psychology
    University of Arizona

The Mystery of Heavy Drinking: Exploring the Roots of Alcohol Dependency

  • Phillip Rivera
    Biology
    Macalester College

    Alison Weiss
    Neuroscience
    Oregon Health & Science University

    Elizabeth McNeill
    Food Science and Human Nutrition
    Iowa State University

Leveraging Development to Reveal Molecular Mechanisms of Neural Circuit Divergence

  • Maithe Arruda-Carvalho
    Psychology
    University of Toronto

    Rosemary Bagot
    Psychology
    McGill University
2022 Team Awards

Network Topology Underlying Circuit Dynamics During Flexible Cognitive Behavior

  • Lucas Pinto
    Neuroscience
    Northwestern University *

    Evelyn Tang
    Physics and Astronomy
    Rice University ^

    Daniel Burnston
    Philosophy / Brain Institute
    Tulane University †

Understanding Cortical Control Over Subcortical Structures Using an Evolutionary Inspired Engineering Approach

  • Kate Hong
    Biological Sciences, Neuroscience Institute
    Carnegie Mellon University †

    Benjamin Scott
    Psychological and Brain Sciences
    Boston University †

    Matthew Lovett-Barron
    Neurobiology
    University of California, San Diego †

Bridging Mechanism of Memory Across Levels

  • Christina Kim
    Center for Neuroscience & Department of Neurology

    University of California, Davis ^

    Antonio Fernandez-Ruiz
    Neurobiology & Behavior
    Cornell University †

Beyond Computational Behaviorism: The Structure of Thought in Naturalistic Behaviors

  • Travis Baker
    Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience
    Rutgers University †

    Megan Peters
    Cognitive Sciences
    University of California, Irvine ‡

    Robert Wilson
    Psychology, University of Arizona †

FlyRanch: A Platform for Uncovering the Molecular Bases of Hidden Behavioral State Dynamics

  • Becket Ebitz
    Neuroscience
    Université de Montréal †

    Elizabeth Hong
    Biology & Biological Engineering
    California Institute of Technology †

    Gordon Berman
    Biology
    Emory University †

From Cradle to Grave: Measuring the Lifetime Impact of Early-Life Stress

  • Patrese Robinson-Drummer
    Psychology
    Haverford College †

    Allyson Mackey
    Psychology
    University of Pennsylvania ‡

    Sydney Trask
    Psychological Sciences
    Purdue University †

* Funded by Walder
^ Funded by The Kavli Foundation
† Funded by RCSA and the Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation
‡ CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar funded by CIFAR

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