A new follow-up study to previously published work, by Dr. Michael Yassa and collaborators Kazuya Suwabe, Kyeongho Byun and Professor Hideaki Soya at the University of Tsukuba, examined the effects of a ten-minute period of exercise on the connectivity in the brain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They found that a single bout of moderate…
The most recent findings to emerge from the Translational Neurobiology Lab’s collaboration with Dr. Hideaki Soya and colleagues at the University of Tsukuba (Ibaraki, Japan) may bring good news to the “moderately fit” among us. Their paper published in Nature’s Scientific Reports found that higher levels of aerobic fitness are associated with an aspect of memory that allows…
“Going for an early morning run in El Moro Canyon is an unforgettable experience. Despite its familiarity, it somehow feels a tad different every time. The sensory barrage around each turn is a welcome change from the office setting that will occupy the rest of my day. Each point in the breathtaking landscape leaves a…
Congratulations to Dr. Michael Yassa and Dr. Morgan Barense (University of Toronto) for being awarded the Cognitive Neuroscience Society 2018 Young Investigator award! The purpose of the awards is to recognize outstanding contributions by scientists early in their careers. Two awardees, one male and one female, are named by the Awards Committee, and are honored…
Irvine, Calif., Oct. 23, 2017 — With $3.8 million in support from the National Institute on Aging, University of California, Irvine neurobiologists are working to identify the early indicators of dementia in older adults as disease-related brain plaques accumulate but before symptoms can be observed. The researchers are developing sophisticated methods using brain imaging technology…
By Jessie Yaros, Graduate Student in the Translational Neurobiology Laboratory “Those were the good old days”. Chances are you’ve expressed this statement yourself, or heard a parent or grandparent share the sentiment. Nostalgia is almost second nature for us, and seems like a healthy way to reflect on the past. Who wouldn’t want to reminisce…
Brain Health: Strategies for Successful Aging When: Monday August 29, 2016 What: Public Lecture by Dr. Yassa Where: City of Irvine | Lakeview Senior Center | 20 Lake Road Irvine, CA Dr. Michael Yassa will discuss: – the aging brain and changes in memory systems – Alzheimer’s dementia – how to differentiate between the early stages of…
On May 31st of 2016, we lost one of our lab family members. Jared Roberts, one of the most brilliant and selfless individuals we have ever known, passed away suddenly and tragically. His memory will forever be with us, and his contributions both to science and to our lives will never be forgotten. Our thoughts…
Undergraduate 3rd year Matt Tsai was recently awarded the Brian Atwood Scholarship in the Ayala School of Biological Sciences at UCI. This scholarship is awarded to junior-level Biological Sciences majors who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in both scholarship and service to the UCI community. Matt’s interested in mental health have fueled his current research in the…
Stephanie Leal recently defended her dissertation, completing her graduate studies and earning her doctorate degree. Dr. Leal’s dissertation work, Emotional Modulation of Episodic Memory and Translational Application to Aging and Depression-Related Cognitive Impairment focuses on how emotion modulates our memory and how this modulation changes over the course of aging and depression. During her time in the lab, Stephanie has…