Brain Awareness Week is an international campaign to foster enthusiasm and support for brain science. This webinar was a part of Brain Awareness Week at SUNY Empire State University. For more information visit https://www.esc.edu/brain-awareness-week/

About the Webinar:

Synapses, the connections between neurons, underlie cognition and neurological function. Dr. Julie Parato will review the changes that occur in the brain in during adolescence, focusing on the importance of synaptic pruning and streamlining the connections in the brain. These changes are driven by the emergence of the α4βδ GABAA receptor, an inhibitory neurotransmitter receptor that increases at puberty.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Julie Parato is an assistant professor of Natural Sciences at SUNY Empire State College. She completed her undergraduate degree at Drew University in Biology and Economics and earned her MS in Biology (Molecular track) from Long Island University. She went on to receive her PhD from SUNY Downstate in Neural and Behavioral Studies, where she studied synaptic pruning during puberty. Her research at Columbia University focuses on the role of the microtubule cytoskeleton as a driver of synapse loss in Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Parato’s research interests continue to focus on synaptic pruning and exploring the role that cytoskeleton performs in maintaining synapses. She has received fellowships from the Alzheimer’s Association and the Italian Academy, as well as awards for teaching and mentoring.