UNews - Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience

Canadian Space Agency grant will help further research into the health effects of space travel

caroline.zentner — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 16:35:05 +0000

Dr. Gerlinde Metz, a neuroscientist at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, and a team of researchers have received a $225,000 grant from the Canadian Space Agency to build a better understanding of how the human body adapts to life in space.

The grant was announced recently by the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, as part of $2.8 million in research grants to 14 Canadian post-secondary institutions.

“Canada’s investments in astronomy and planetary science are a powerful catalyst for scientific advancement and innovation,” said Joly. “These strategic commitments will empower Canadian researchers with the tools and opportunities they need to develop world-class expertise, driving cutting-edge discoveries and technological breakthroughs right here at home.”

“We are grateful for this funding, as it will allow us to determine the complex biological responses to long-duration spaceflight over time,” says Metz. “Our previous research has shown that space travel resulted in sex-specific changes in metabolites involved in energy metabolism, which may be linked to bone loss, muscle regulation and immunity dysfunction.”

Space travel imposes stresses on astronauts, including noise, vibration, loss of G forces and radiation exposure. Numerous studies have revealed physical complications from spaceflight, including loss of bone and muscle mass.

The grant enables the research team, including Tony Montina from ULethbridge’s Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and a collaborator from NASA/Pittsburgh, to participate in NASA’s first comprehensive multi-level analysis of the world’s largest existing group of astronauts.

The research project could also help identify protective factors and ways to counteract the negative effects of spaceflight.

Dr. Gerlinde Metz honoured with Chair in Neuroscience

caroline.zentner — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 19:57:34 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge neuroscience professor Dr. Gerlinde Metz has been named the Dr. Bryan Kolb Chair in Neuroscience.

The professorship honours the legacy of Kolb (DSc '15), one of the most influential figures in establishing the study of neuroscience and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience. The chair provides a seven-year, research-focused term with the option for reappointment once to a second seven-year term.

“The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is thrilled to bestow this tremendous honour on Dr. Gerlinde Metz,” says Dr. Dena McMartin, vice-president (research). “Gerlinde’s research is making impacts on both fundamental understandings of the brain, as well as applied analyses and identification of key biomarkers regarding stress impacts and how intergenerational trauma response is transmitted across generations. She is widely viewed as a leader in her field and a highly sought-after expert worldwide.”

“I am deeply honoured to be named the Dr. Bryan Kolb Chair in Neuroscience,” says Metz. “This recognition is especially meaningful to me, given Dr. Kolb’s extraordinary legacy in shaping the field of neuroscience and his role in building the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience. I am humbled to carry forward this legacy through research that advances innovation and translational impact in neuroscience, both in Canada and internationally.”

Metz’s research investigates the influence of experience and environment on behaviour and brain plasticity, and how the effects of stress can be effectively prevented. Her work has shown that stress affects the motor system, and that adverse experiences can become predisposing factors for motor system diseases such as Parkinson’s and stroke.

Many groundbreaking insights have emerged from her research, including a study that found touch therapy helped the brain recover from stroke and that male experimenters make female rats uneasy.

Working with a rat model, Metz and her team have become internationally recognized as pioneers in studying how prenatal stress can affect health over a lifetime. Metz discovered that the effects of prenatal stress can also be transmitted from one generation to the next, influencing the health of future generations. Her research has examined the impact of war trauma on biological health in the next generation, and the long-term health effects of natural disasters like Quebec’s ice storm in 1998 and the Calgary flood in 2013. Recently, she has been studying the effects of space flight on astronauts. This research is leading to the discovery of chemical signatures for risk prediction and early diagnosis of common human diseases.

Metz is also an adjunct professor with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta. In 2023, she was named a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, a first for a ULethbridge professor. In addition to being a neuroscience professor, Metz held a Board of Governors Research Chair in Healthy Futures and is one of the founders of the Southern Alberta Genome Sciences Centre.

After completing a BSc at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Giessen in Germany, she pursued graduate studies, earning a PhD from ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) in Switzerland. She also completed her habilitation in medicine at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Jena in Germany. Habilitation is the top level of higher education in Germany and some other countries; it qualifies individuals to independently teach and conduct research in the context of a university professorship.

Neuroscience pioneer Dr. Robert McDonald earns ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Speaker Research Award

trevor.kenney — Wed, 07 May 2025 17:57:11 +0000

A trailblazer in behavioural neuroscience, Dr. Robert McDonald (BSc '89) is internationally recognized for his pioneering research into memory systems, neuroplasticity and Alzheimer’s disease, and has been named the 2025 winner of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Speaker Research Award.

“The Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience has gained its reputation as a world-leading neuroscience hub because of researchers such as Dr. McDonald,” says Dr. Dena McMartin, ULethbridge vice-president (research). “His work does not build off others’ previous work rather he changed the way the neuroscience world approached the study of learning and memory. An exceptional teacher, Dr. McDonald’s contribution to his field have led to significant advances in the study of Alzhemier’s, aging and psychiatric disorders. His positive influence on public health and some of today’s most pressing health issues make him a very deserving recipient of the Speaker Research Award.”

Dr. Robert McDonald is internationally recognized for his work on memory systems, neuroplasticity and Alzheimer's disease.

The Speaker Research Award recognizes the importance of research, scholarship and performance to the philosophy and goals of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

McDonald will be presented with the Speaker Research Award at Spring 2025 Convocation, Ceremony I, on Thursday, May 29, 2023, at 9 a.m. in the Centre for Sport and Wellness gymnasium.

Dr. Robert McDonald

Professor Dr. Robert McDonald is a world-renowned neuroscientist whose research has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of learning and memory. Since joining the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in 2004, he has developed a program of research that advances scientific theory and contributes directly to clinical applications in neurodegenerative diseases, mental health and cognitive disorders.

McDonald’s early work provided groundbreaking evidence that memory is not a unitary process but consists of multiple interacting systems. His seminal 1993 paper on triple dissociations in memory systems continues to be widely cited and has served as a cornerstone for subsequent research in behavioural neuroscience. By designing experiments that isolated specific memory processes and mapped them to neural circuits, McDonald helped establish a systems-based framework for understanding cognition. This approach, once considered outside the mainstream, has now become a central paradigm in the field.

Through more than three decades of continuous research funding — including prestigious grants from NSERC, CIHR and the Alzheimer Society of Canada — McDonald has led a highly productive lab investigating the biological foundations of memory, the effects of neurodevelopmental stressors, and novel models of Alzheimer’s disease. His recent work includes translational research on the sporadic form of Alzheimer’s, exploring how circadian disruption, the gut microbiome and early cannabinoid exposure affect cognitive health.

McDonald’s program is defined by its significant scientific impact and integrative, collaborative nature. His lab has worked alongside experts in biochemistry, imaging, genetics and computational neuroscience to test innovative hypotheses. He has co-authored more than 150 publications — several in high-impact journals — and has been invited to present at international conferences and contribute to leading academic journals. His influence also extends to clinical and public health circles, where his work has shaped thinking on Alzheimer’s, aging and psychiatric disorders.

Equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of McDonald’s research and mentoring philosophy. Over his career, he has trained nearly 200 students, many from underrepresented groups, and has created an inclusive lab environment with flexible supports tailored to individual needs. Numerous trainees have gone on to successful careers in academia, medicine and industry, including at institutions such as McGill ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary and Washington ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in St. Louis.

McDonald is also an exceptional teacher and campus citizen. He regularly teaches foundational courses in behavioural neuroscience and has served on departmental and national committees, including CIHR and NSERC grant panels. His contributions have brought significant distinction to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and have solidified its reputation as a leader in neuroscience research. His commitment to excellence, mentorship and advancing human knowledge makes him a most deserving recipient of the Speaker Research Medal.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge-led international study finds harriers have evolved hunting technique similar to owls

trevor.kenney — Thu, 01 May 2025 14:58:34 +0000

Owls have long been considered unique in their famous ability to hear exactly where their prey is. However, a new study has shown that another, unrelated group of raptors – the harriers – are able to keep a much better ear out for their next meal than previously thought.

An international team of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Flinders ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ (Australia) researchers made the discovery when they found unexpectedly owl-like traits in the ear and brain of several harrier species, such as the Australian spotted harrier. Their study, The evolution of an “owl-like” auditory system in harriers: Anatomical evidence, is now available online in Journal of Anatomy.

A northern harrier seeks prey while flying over a field. PHOTO by Bob Bowhay, rdbimages.ca

“Owls have fine-tuned hearing abilities, allowing some species to locate prey in complete darkness. Until recently, it was assumed that all their hearing adaptations were unique to owls. However, our study shows that that harriers have independently evolved several key adaptations for finding prey by sound,” says Sara Citron, a ULethbridge PhD student who led the study.

Citron’s supervisor, Dr. Andrew Iwaniuk, says the team focused on harriers — a group of hawks found in North America, Australia, NZ, Europe, and parts of Africa and Asia — because they show some unusual, owl-like hunting behaviours.

“Hawks tend to hunt primarily by sight. But unlike other hawks, harriers fly low over tall grass with their beak pointed to the ground. During this so-called “quartering flight”, they are not only looking for prey, they are also listening for it,” says Iwaniuk.

Co-author Aubrey Keirnan, a PhD student at Flinders ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ who is co-supervised by Iwaniuk, says that simply by looking at the harrier, you can see similarities with owls.

A northern harrier in flight. PHOTO by Bob Bowhay, rdbimages.ca

“The Australian Spotted Harrier is a great example,” she says. “When you look at this species’ face, you can see a distinctive disc-shaped face, which may improve their prey localization just like owls.”

Citron adds that their find also matches older behavioural studies showing that harriers can locate sounds with similar accuracy to owls, but how they did this has previously remained a mystery.

Using specimens from wildlife rehabilitators and museums in Australia and Canada, the team examined the anatomy of the skull and brain of harriers and other, closely related hawk species such as the wedge-tailed eagle. They found that, like owls, harriers have enlarged ear openings and expanded two brain regions that are essential for calculating where a sound is coming from.

“These auditory nuclei are found in the brainstem and compare the time at which sounds arrive at the left or right ear. If a sound arrives at both ears at the same time, then the sound is coming from directly in front of an animal. If there is a delay, this indicates that the prey is more to the left or right,” says co-author Dr. Vera Weisbecker, an associate professor in evolutionary biology at Flinders ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. “By expanding these two brain regions, harriers can make such computations more accurately than other hawks, allowing them to locate where a potential rat, mouse or other rodent is hiding in the grass.”

“Harriers have therefore evolved an auditory system similar to owls, enabling them to target sounds as accurately as owls in a remarkable example of convergent evolution of both brain and behaviour in animals separated by over 60 million years,” adds Citron.

The team is careful to point out that the auditory system of many owls is far more sophisticated than that of harriers. This explains the ability of some owl species — like the barn owl — to hunt in complete darkness whereas hawks only hunt during the day.

“There are several other features that help owls with their keen hearing which we did not find in harriers,” says Citron. “For example, some owl species have asymmetric ears that allow them to locate sound with greater acuity, and these owls also have several other enlarged brain regions that were not enlarged in harriers.”

The team hopes their study results will encourage further research on bird anatomy to find out how a species perceives its surrounds.

“Anatomical studies like ours are a window into how a bird perceives the world around it, which can be extremely useful for bird conservation,” says Iwaniuk. “For example, harriers’ reliance on sound for prey location means that they are likely more sensitive to traffic and industrial noise. This could be contributing to the large decreases in Northern Harrier populations we have seen in Canada.”

Prenatal maternal stress has lasting effects on offspring

caroline.zentner — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 16:39:36 +0000

A ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge research study has shown that the effects of prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) can last for generations.

Drs. Gerlinde Metz and Stephanie King and a team of researchers used a rat model to examine the consequences of PNMS across four generations.

Dr. Gerlinde Metz

“Prenatal maternal stress is a major driver of adverse pregnancy outcomes and a risk factor for chronic illness in adulthood,” says Metz. “The present study builds on our earlier finding that transgenerational and multigenerational PNMS causes adverse pregnancy outcomes and impaired development in offspring.”

The first- and second-generation mothers experienced shorter pregnancies and altered behaviours, and their pups had reduced weight and delayed sensorimotor development.

“In our new study, we found that the first generation of offspring revealed a moderate impact of PNMS, but we saw drastic changes in the second and third generations,” says Metz.

The disruption involved genes and biological pathways associated with neurological and psychiatric diseases, which may help explain why some non-genetic diseases carry a risk in some families. The placenta typically prevents fetal exposure to maternal stress hormones, but PNMS may affect the balance. If the stress occurs during a critical time of development, it can affect the eggs and sperm and potentially the health of future generations.

“Our study demonstrates the compounding consequences of PNMS across generations,” says Metz. “It also suggests the placenta could be a source of predictive biomarkers associated with neurodevelopmental health.”

Dr. Stephanie King

Using the placenta to identify markers associated with prenatal stress could lead to therapeutic interventions in early life that could mitigate the impact of some psychological and neurological diseases.

King, the lead author of the study and now an assistant professor and research director at St. Matthews ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ School of Medicine in the Cayman Islands, states that one of the most exciting aspects of this study is the identification of the placenta as a potential noninvasive biomarker for predicting a child’s neurodevelopmental health.

“We saw many of the same shifts in the placenta mirrored in the brain,” says King. “By analyzing placental tissue, we can gain insights into how prenatal stress can predispose individuals to mental or physical health issues later in life.

“Our findings underscore the importance of considering environmental stressors, like maternal stress, as key contributors to the rising rates of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. This research opens new avenues for early intervention and prevention strategies, potentially helping to reduce the transgenerational transmission of these risks.”

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers part of a global team studying the effects of space travel

caroline.zentner — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 20:50:08 +0000

A global group of researchers, including Dr. Gerlinde Metz from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) and Tony Montina from the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, is examining the long-term effects of spaceflight.

Dr. Gerlinde Metz, a neuroscientist, has expertise in metabolomics.

Headed by Dr. Afshin Beheshti, a scientist from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Pittsburgh, Metz and Montina, with their expertise in metabolomics, aging and the effects of stress, are the only Canadian researchers in the group. They and a team of ULethbridge students previously collaborated with NASA on analyzing blood samples from astronauts on International Space Station (ISS) missions.

“This groundbreaking work has the potential to significantly advance the understanding of the biological pathways that determine health outcomes associated with human spaceflight,” says Metz, who co-leads the Metabolomics Platform of the Southern Alberta Genome Sciences Centre (SAGSC) with Montina. “Considering the enormous physical and physiological strain induced on the human body by spaceflight, this research is both timely and necessary as societies prepare for longer periods of space travel.”

The Human Adaptation to Spaceflight study will look at a massive amount of data collected over 12 years on the ISS involving more than 70 astronauts. The researchers will determine the key factors that impact astronauts during spaceflight. The health impacts can include bone loss, cardiovascular disease, renal issues such as kidney stones, disruption of circadian rhythms, potential cancer risks and eye disorders.

“Understanding the integrated human system response to spaceflight will exponentially increase our understanding of the risks and potential countermeasures for space travellers,” says Beheshti, director of the Center of Space Biomedicine, associate director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine and professor of surgery at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Pittsburgh.

Spaceflight affects mitochondria, which generate energy to power the cell, as well as other tasks like cellular differentiation and controlling the cycle, growth and death of a cell. The researchers suspect that spaceflight disrupts mitochondrial activity, which in turn affects many aspects of the health of astronauts.

The project will use the largest available amount of astronaut data in one analysis and produce new insight into the human response to spaceflight. Various disciplines will collaborate in an unprecedented collaborative effort to make groundbreaking discoveries about the impacts of long-term spaceflight on the human body. In addition, the researchers will use a new machine-learning technique to predict possible drugs that could target the key factors affected by spaceflight and diminish the metabolic changes that occur.

“We are excited to conduct research as part of this international group,” says Metz. “The work we are doing will help us understand how spaceflight affects our bodies and, in addition, how stress can affect those of us who never leave the bounds of Earth.”

Brain Canada grant will help ULethbridge researcher study how memories are made

caroline.zentner — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 16:41:11 +0000

Dr. Chelsea Ekstrand, a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge assistant professor at the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, has been awarded a 2023 Future Leader in Canadian Brain Research grant. Worth $100,000, the grant is through Brain Canada in partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment in Aging Research Initiative.

Announced today, the grant is one of 21 Brain Canada awards to early career researchers across the country.

“Empowering the next generation of scientists is critical to improving health outcomes for people living with brain conditions and their families. We are confident that supporting these bold ideas will advance research and accelerate progress in ways that will benefit all of us,” said Dr. Viviane Poupon, President and CEO of Brain Canada, in a news release. “With this funding, we are building a strong pipeline of neuroscience leaders and laying the groundwork for future research excellence.”

“I’m extremely grateful to receive this grant,” says Ekstrand. “It allows me and my team to conduct novel research into real-world memory formation. This is an urgent necessity as we look to develop treatments for dementia.”

Ekstrand and her team are studying how memories are formed. Memory is fundamental to human cognition, allowing people to recall past experiences that shape future actions. The team plans to have study participants navigate a building, interact with others and wear a camera. The events captured on camera will then be compared to participants’ recollections while their brains are being imaged.

“By comparing healthy participants and those with mild cognitive impairment, we will be able to identify early markers of memory dysfunction,” says Ekstrand. “This, in turn, has implications for diagnosis and intervention.”

Studying the effects of maternal social isolation on the health of offspring

caroline.zentner — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 19:20:53 +0000

Dr. Gerlinde Metz, a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge neuroscientist, Dr. Gerald Giesbrecht from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary and Dr. David Olson from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta have received a One Child Every Child Strategic Catalyst Award worth $50,000 to look at maternal social isolation as a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes and developmental trajectories in their offspring.

“We are extremely pleased to have received this award,” says Metz. “The more we know about the negative effects of prenatal stress on mothers and their children the better we can develop targeted strategies to mitigate those effects.”

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted an urgent need to improve mental health during an extremely stressful time. Recent studies have shown that pregnant mothers are at higher risk of experiencing social isolation as a stressor, with potential effects on their offspring.

“Our work in rat models has confirmed these findings,” says Metz. “Pregnant female rats are especially vulnerable to social isolation, with lasting impacts on their mental and physical health and that of their offspring.”

Metz and her collaborators will use a rat model to identify the physiological and behavioural consequences of social isolation in rat mothers and their male and female offspring. They plan to study the effects of oxytocin, the bonding hormone, in interaction with sex hormones and how it changes during pregnancy. They’ll also look at the development and behaviours of their offspring. A second goal of the study is to determine if social enrichment in offspring can help build resilience against prenatal stress.

Women in rural and remote areas may face more social isolation, especially in northern communities. If they have to travel long distances to access prenatal care and deliver their babies, they experience significant social distancing from their families and communities.

“While we are not working with human populations, our study can help identify new ways to build resilience to stress through social supports,” says Metz. “Like rats, humans are a social species and the biomarkers we find using a rat model can be translated to human populations at risk.”

In addition, the research will provide transdisciplinary training in the field of developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD), including virtual-reality and online tools for community engagement and the design and implementation of social support programs.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge receives grant to train students in data science

caroline.zentner — Thu, 16 May 2024 16:12:44 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will help meet the demand for well-trained professionals in data science thanks to a $1.65-million grant over six years from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council’s (NSERC) Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program.

The funding by NSERC is part of a $26 million investment to create 16 innovative training programs across the country that will facilitate the transition of new researchers from trainees to productive employees in the Canadian workforce.

The purpose of the CREATE program is to improve the training and mentoring environment for upcoming Canadian researchers. At ULethbridge, Dr. Artur Luczak, a neuroscientist at the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN), will lead the Training Biology Students for Jobs in Data Science (TrainBioData) program.

“We are very grateful to receive this grant,” says Luczak. “Data science is essential in many research domains and industries today and the demand for well-trained professionals is strong. Our TrainBioData program will establish a world-class training environment for graduate and post-doctoral trainees.”

Data scientists analyze large amounts of data using mathematics, statistics, artificial intelligence and computer engineering. Data science has broad applications in many fields, including health care, finance, marketing and technology.

This program will provide trainees with broad learning opportunities that include computer programming, data science foundations and internships with academic and industry partners in Canada and internationally.

“Our trainees will have access to an outstanding group of leaders in data science in Alberta,” Luczak says. “TrainBioData will also provide new pathways to introduce undergraduate students in the life sciences to data science.”

The program will receive support from various ULethbridge departments, including the School of Graduate Studies and the Centre for Neuroengineering Solutions.

“The TrainBioData initiative builds on ULethbridge’s reputation as an internationally recognized leader in applying data science to training life science researchers,” says Dr. Dena McMartin, vice-president of research at ULethbridge. “We look forward to bolstering our strengths in this area through this grant.”

The TrainBioData team includes Drs. Luczak, Robert Sutherland, Bruce McNaughton, Gerlinde Metz, Cheryl Currie, Olga Kovalchuk, Claudia Gonzalez, Nehal Thakor, Chelsea Ekstrand and Majid Mohajerani.

The Research Support Fund supports a portion of the costs associated with managing the research funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, such as salaries for staff who provide administration support, training costs for workplace health and safety, maintenance of libraries and laboratories, and administrative costs associated with obtaining patents for inventions.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge celebrates Brain Awareness Week with three public events

caroline.zentner — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 15:55:23 +0000

Each year, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience celebrates Brain Awareness Week (March 11 – 17) by providing opportunities for the public to learn about advances in brain research from our neuroscientists.

Dr. Chelsea Ekstrand

The first of three events is a free community lecture by Dr. Chelsea Ekstrand. Her talk — “The Neuroscience of “Normal”: How do our brains shape who we are?” — will delve into the extraordinary ways our brains shape our perception of the world and make us who we are. She’ll discuss how external factors can change our brains, the ways our personality traits influence how we see the world and the impact of major life events in reshaping our realities.

Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m.
Galt Museum Viewing Gallery

Dr. Robbin Gibb

The second event is a free public talk by Dr. Robbin Gibb titled “The Social Synapse: Using play and relationships to build executive function.” During the lifespan, one of the most important ways to promote healthy brain function is through supportive and positive relationships. In her talk, Gibb will highlight the success in the community using play-based programs that exercise working memory, cognitive flexibility and behavioural inhibition. These programs are offered through the Building Brains Together organization, funded by the City of Lethbridge and currently running in preschools, middle schools and seniors’ centres. Gibb and her team are also involved in providing cognitive testing for participants in the Chess for Life program for justice-involved youth. Their goal is to demonstrate that youth who learn to play chess with a one-on-one mentor during their 25-hour sentence show improvement in executive function skills.

Wednesday, March 13 at 5:30 p.m.
��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Science Commons, BMO Auditorium

The final event is an open house at the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience. Everyone is welcome to attend and explore what the centre has to offer.
Saturday, March 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Science Commons

UNews - Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience

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��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge celebrates Brain Awareness Week with three public events