Cognitive Enhancement

Speakers

Cognitive Enhancement in Health and Disease

A Satellite Event of the FENS Forum 2012, Barcelona July 13

Details: Written by Shira Knafo; Category: Conference Content

This FENS satellite event is aimed to answer two fundamental questions in the contemporary neuroscience research: First, is it possible to enhance learning and memory capabilities in rodents? Second, what are the cellular, molecular and synaptic mechanisms underlying enhanced cognition? We gathered experts in animal behavior, synaptic plasticity and cell biology to explain the key synaptic and signaling events that can be manipulated to enhance the acquisition or retention of information. We will explore the ongoing efforts to develop novel pharmacological strategies for disorders involving cognitive impairment. We will also explore transgenic animals showing better learning and memory abilities as these mice represent a fundamental approach in the study of enhanced cognition.

Number of participants is limited to 100.

Organizers:

Dr. Shira Knafo, Severo Ochoa Center for Molecular Biology (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.

Dr. César Venero, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Madrid, Spain.

Dr. Coral Sanfeliu, Instituto De Investigaciones Biomedicas De Barcelona (IIBB-CSIC, IDIBAPS), Spain.

Satellite Schedule

Details: Written by Super User; Category: Conference Content

Session I.

Chairs: Sabine Spijker (VU University) and Jose A. Esteban (CBMSO)

9:05-9:25. Pico Caroni, The Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), Basel (Switzerland) "Hippocampal circuit arrangements that enhance learning and memory."

9:25-09:45. César Venero, UNED (Spain). “A Synthetic Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule Mimetic Peptide That Promotes Memory Consolidation.”

09:45-10:05. Jose A. Esteban, Severo Ochoa Center for Molecular Biology (Spain). “Facilitation of AMPA receptor synaptic delivery as a molecular mechanism for cognitive enhancement.”

10:05-10:25. Sabine Spijker, Center for Neurogenomics & Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University (Vrije Universiteit), Amsterdam, (The Netherlands). “Retrieval-specific endocytosis of GluA2-AMPARs underlies adaptive reconsolidation of contextual fear.”

10:25-10:45. Daniel Alkon, Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute ( USA). "PKCε-Mediated Memory Enhancement, Synaptogenesis and Prevention of Neurodegeneration".

10:45-11:20. Coffee Break

Session II.

Chairs: Rémi Quirion (McGill), Michael T. Heneka (Bonn)

11:20-11:40. Shira Knafo, Severo Ochoa Center for Molecular Biology (Spain). “Targeting Phosphatases Prevents Abeta-Induced Cognitive Decay.”

11:40-12:00. Tsuneya Ikezu, Boston University School of Medicine (USA) “Enhancement of Neurogenesis And Cognitive Function by Adeno-Associated Virus-Mediated Gene Therapy in Animal Models of Alzheimer's”

12:00-12:20. Coral Sanfeliu, IIBB-CSIC, IDIBAPS (Spain), "Healthy lifestyles as inducers of cognitive enhancement in aging and Alzheimer’s disease".

12:20-12:40. Hanting Zhang, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center ( USA) “Disruption of phosphodiesterase (PDE) for treating memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease”.

12:40-13:00. Thomas Walther (UK), “Improved Learning and Memory in Aged Mice Deficient in Amyloid β-Degrading Neutral Endopeptidase.”

13:00-15:00 Lunch Break

Session III.

Chairs: Pico Caroni (FMI), and Shira Knafo (CBMSO)

15:00-15:20. Richard Morris, University of Edinburgh (UK), "Synaptic tagging and capture: implications for cognitive enhancement of memory".

15:20-15:40. Ype Elgersma, Dept. of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC (The Netherlands). "RAS signaling in cognitive disorders: understanding its role and finding treatments".

15:40-16:00. Michael T. Heneka, Bonn University (Germany). “Norepinephrine modulation of memory in health and Alzheimer´s disease”

16:00-16:30. Coffee Break

16:30-16:50. Rémi Quirion, McGill University (Canada), “Quinone reductase-2 (QR-2), a novel role in learning and memory.”

16:50-17:10. Mark Murphy, University of Melbourne (Australia),”Brain changes following environmental enrichment and consequent enhancement of learning and memory ”.