Brain Mappers of Tomorrow: English 2024 - Making Connections: How does brain wiring change as kids learn and grow?
The English edition of our Brain Mappers of Tomorrow
Making Connections: How does brain wiring change as kids learn and grow?
In this session, we will explore early brain development, focusing on the fundamental roles and composition of the brain, and how it develops as children grow! Through interactive activities, we will examine how the brain processes information, makes decisions, and controls emotions, illustrating how changes in brain wiring are crucial for cognitive development. Students will also explore various factors that impact brain development and discover practical strategies to help protect and maintain their brain health!
Presenters and organizers
Aliza Jaffer BHSc, is an MSc student in the Developmental Neuroimaging Lab at the University of Calgary and Alberta Children’s Hospital. She studies brain function in infants whose mothers experienced anxiety and/or depression during pregnancy, examining how changes in the brain translate to behaviours later on.
Meaghan Perdue PhD, is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Developmental Neuroimaging Lab at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. She studies the development of brain structure and metabolism in children and investigates how brain features relate to cognitive skills such as reading.
Chloe Scholten BSc, is an incoming master’s student supervised by Dr. Catherine Lebel in the Developmental Neuroimaging Lab at the University of Calgary. She uses diffusion MRI to study white matter microstructure and connectivity, and how it relates to language abilities in young children with prenatal alcohol exposure.
Martina Min BSc, is an incoming Master’s student in Neuroscience at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. Her research focuses on maternal psychological distress during pregnancy and children’s brain white matter and language development.s