Center for Integrated Research in Cognitive & Neural Sciences
(CIR-CNS)

Our faculty affiliates, located on both the Carbondale and Springfield campuses, work to advance and disseminate knowledge in areas of Neuroscience and Cognitive Behavior.  This diverse group conducts a wide variety of nationally recognized research activities on topics ranging from basic neural connectivity, to ion channel physiology, to studies of human behavior.

Here you will find information about our members and their research activities, upcoming events, as well as information for students.

Upcoming Events

Click HERE to view a calendar page

February 13, 2012. 3:00pm. Morris Library Guyon Auditorium
Jog Your Memory: How Physical and Mental Activity Modulate Subsequent Cognition
Dr. Donna Korol, Dept of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Regular physical activity can improve brain and cognitive health, particularly with advancing age. Like physical activity, it is thought that regular mental activity can also preserve neural function with age, leading to the well known “Use it or Lose it” theory of brain health. We have recent evidence suggesting that both physical and cognitive activity improve subsequent learning and memory. In some cases, prior activity has different effects on different tasks, likely reflecting the brain structures engaged during learning.  Moreover, both physical and mental activity may modulate cognition through a common cellular pathway, namely signaling through brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its cognate tyrosine kinase B receptor. Our results have implications for understanding the neural mechanisms of memory modulation and developing healthy interventions for brain and cognitive aging.

This lecture will be videoconferenced to the Dirksen Conference Room on our Springfield School of Medicine campus. See HERE for a flier (pdf file).

February 24, 2012. 9:30am. Morris Library Guyon Auditorium
How to Understand Basic Biology Research in Autism
Dr. Sophia Colamarino, Stanford Medical
Well-known for her ability to communicate science to lay audiences, we encourage you to join us for this informative and interactive lecture.

See HERE for a flier (pdf file).

May 9-12, 2012. City Conference Center (Folkets Hus), Stockholm Sweden
12th International Stockhom/Springfield Symposium on Advances in Alzheimer Therapy
The major focus of the 2012 Stockholm meeting will be on new targets and drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The World's leaders in the field will discuss new trial designs, animal models, neuroimaging including PET and diagnostic recommendations as well as CSF and blood markers. Emerging Novel Therapeutic Targets will be presented.

Please see their website for further information (http://www.siumed.edu/cme/alzheimer/) or email  Barbara Shelow. Registration for Southern Illinois University faculty and students is free.

 

July 14-19, 2012. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Alzheimer's Association International Conference
The AAIC presents innovative ideas about the current and future state of dementia research. Imaging and Physician and clinician preconference events are also scheduled.

Please see their website for further information (http://alz.org/aaic) for futher information. Abstracts can be submitted November 1, 2011-January 30, 2012.

News & Highlights

Dr. Greg Rose will again be leading a seminar for graduate students Foundations of Memory. The seminar is offered as Physio 590 section 724. This course meets once weekly and will consist of lectures and discussion of papers.

Please send any questions or comments to our webmaster (circnswebmaster@siumed.edu) so that we can continue to make improvements.