Page 14 - Abacoa Community News - April '22

Page 14, Abacoa

FAU FeAtUres

FAU Names PHF a member of the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute. McKinley project is to build a foundation for developing a drug-free
Computational Brain Health will develop computational models to provide a theoretical treatment for people with deficits in cognitive flexibility, such
as people with autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit/
foundation for the dynamic responses to neurostimulation.
Graduate Fellows Neurostimulation is a health intervention that disrupts hyperactivity disorder and major depressive disorder. In 2021,
pathological states of neuronal activity, with broad applications the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
By Gisele Galoustian in the treatment of many illnesses including Parkinson’s disease, reported that approximately 1 in 44 children in the United States
A $1 million gift last fall from Palm Health Foundation chronic pain, and major depression. Such a framework will is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
(PHF) has launched the Florida Atlantic University Stiles- help tailor treatment protocols to the unique needs of individual “Palm Health Foundation is honored to support these
Nicholson Brain Institute’s “Computational Brain Science patients, improving efficacy and minimizing side effects. fellows in their contributions to the brain health field,” said
and Health Graduate Fellowships.” The gift, awarded Yosun Yoon: Yoon is a fourth-year graduate student working Patrick McNamara, president and CEO of Palm Health
through PHF’s Brain Health Innovation Fund, supports new under the mentorship of Sang Hong, Ph.D., an associate professor, Foundation. “We know that overall well-being is intimately
technologies, treatments, resources and educational tools to FAU Department of Psychology within the Charles E. Schmidt connected to the good health of the brain. Our partnership
advance brain health in the community. College of Science, and a member of the FAU Stiles-Nicholson with the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute is an example of the
Brain Institute. Yoon’s research is focused on computational foundation’s commitment to fostering partnerships between
models, which indicate that the strength of synchronization brain science, community members, and care settings, with
among brain networks promotes flexible cognitive behavior. the ultimate goal of putting Palm Beach County on the map
Yoon will use a non-invasive brain stimulation technique to as a national leader in brain health.”
examine and model how synchronization of the frontoparietal
network alters cognitive flexibility. The long-term goal of the FAU Features on page 16

La Posada Encourages Lifelong Learning

Through Intergenerational Celebrations

During National Reading Month
FAU has selected four Ph.D. students whose work
embraces computational neuroscience to receive the
inaugural fellowships. They will be collaborating with FAU “The more that you an open mind and
faculty on advanced research targeted at understanding the read, the more things trying new things.
underpinnings and treatment of various brain disorders. you will know. The more For the residents
“With generous support from Palm Health Foundation, that you learn, the more who participated,
we are training talented young scientists who will contribute places you’ll go” is a sharing stories
important knowledge and discoveries that will help to address quote from I Can Read w ith the
some of our most pervasive and debilitating brain disorders,” with My Eyes Shut! - an kindergartners
said Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D., executive director, FAU Stiles- iconic book by infamous children’s author Dr. Seuss. Since brought back
Nicholson Brain Institute and a professor in biomedical science 1921, the words of Dr. Seuss have inspired minds young m eani ngful
of FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine. “These outstanding and old, and encouraged anyone and everyone to pick up memories of their own childhood, where reading Dr. Seuss
Ph.D. students selected to receive our first fellowships a book and read. books was a big part of learning, growing and discovering
excel in their fields of research, which target data-intensive Despite his passing in 1991, Dr. Seuss’ legacy has a love for reading.
investigations underlying Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s continued to live on, inspiring National Reading Month, “I can’t think of a better way to have spent my morning,”
disease, autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, depression, among created by the National Education Association. Recognized says Barbara Schaffer, resident of La Posada. “It was a
others, that benefit from computational approaches.” annually in March, National Reading Month is designated wonderful experience and brought back all the memories
The recipients of the inaugural PHF Computational Brain to celebrate and encourage a love of reading for all ages, of when I was a teacher and got to read books to young
Health Graduate Fellowships are: discovering new books and cherishing old classics. At La children.”
Jasmine Chan: Chan is a fourth-year graduate student Posada, a Kisco senior living community, residents are La Posada also provided each child in the kindergarten
working under the mentorship of Teresa Wilcox, Ph.D., encouraged to engage in lifelong learning through various class with a copy of Oh the Places You’ll Go to encourage
interim dean and chair, FAU Department of Psychology, events and programs at the community all year long. the students to “Spring Forward with Books” as well as to
within the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, and a Recently, residents were given the opportunity to honor prompt them to explore their self-confidence and identity,
member of the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute; Terrence National Reading Month in true “Seussical” fashion by keep an open mind and stay positive in the face of future
Barnhardt, Ph.D., an associate scientist, FAU Department observing Read Across America Day. adversity.
of Psychology; and Behnaz Ghoraani, Ph.D., associate Read Across America Day was launched in 1998 by “Reading regularly is vital for children’s development,”
professor, FAU Department of Electrical Engineering and the NEA as a way to encourage children to read. Since says Brad Cadiere, executive director of La Posada. “Not
Computer Science, within the College of Engineering and its conception, the annual reading holiday has been held only do we want to encourage them to read, but we also
Computer Science, a fellow of the FAU Institute for Sensing on March 2, which is Dr. Seuss’s birthday. This year, the want to instill motivation on an impressionable generation
and Embedded Networks Systems Engineering (I-SENSE), La Posada wellness team organized an intergenerational to continue to read, learn and grow through all the places
and a member of the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute. celebration between residents and kindergarten students they’ll go.”
Chan will use a powerful signal processing approach and from Marsh Pointe Elementary. Beyond Read Across America Day, residents of La Posada
machine learning to dissect the patterns of brain activity that “Because Read Across are provided with a multitude of opportunities to learn within
occur when individuals form ad hoc categories in novel situations. America Day promotes the community throughout the year. Each month, residents
When people are presented with new situations, they often have and encouraging reading are given a wellness calendar that is stacked full of events
to search their knowledge to form a new category of items that for all ages, we wanted and programs that target various dimensions of wellness. In
are appropriate to use for the given scenario. Interestingly, these to celebrate it in a way March alone, residents were given the opportunity to attend
ad hoc categories are not generated as effectively among older that allowed multiple six different lectures that discuss a range of topics in current
adults and patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Findings from generations to interact,” events and politics.
this project could be used as a diagnostic tool to identify cognitive says Rick Minichino, wellness director at La Posada. “It “Our wellness team works to provide an environment
changes in patients at risk for, or suffering from, AD and other was great to see our residents so enthusiastic and eager to that encourages our residents to develop and continue
cognitive disorders as biomarkers for objectively selecting and read to the young class.” to learn,” says Minichino. “We want our residents to be
developing treatment options. On March 2, residents and associates of La Posada were intrinsically motivated, so we make sure to provide extensive
Hadi Esfandi: Esfandi is a third-year graduate student who up bright and early and dressed in Cat In the Hat-like attire opportunities for them to read, have discussions and engage
is working under the mentorship of Ramin Pashaie, Ph.D., an to get into the true Dr. Seuss spirit. Conducted via Zoom, in activities that encourage them to continue to grow.”
associate professor, FAU Department of Electrical Engineering residents of La Posada took turns reading an array of Dr. In addition to activities provided by the wellness team,
and Computer Science, within the College of Engineering and Seuss classics to the kindergarten class. Among the iconic residents of La Posada have access to a full computer
Computer Science, a fellow of FAU’s I-SENSE, and a member titles read was one of Dr. Seuss’s most notorious books, Oh center and an extensive library that equips residents with
of the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute. Esfandi will design the Places You’ll Go, known for its meaningful message all the resources they need to learn and discover on their
a computational model to understand how altered neurovascular about the importance of seizing new opportunities, keeping own time.
coupling supports AD risk. Neurovascular coupling is a process “We hope to inspire our residents to commit to lifelong
by which brain cells control the flow of blood to support neural learning,” says Cadiere. “It has proven extensive benefits
function and health. Esfandi’s research will help to better for overall health and wellbeing and allows our residents
understand the pathophysiology of the disease, develop new to be more engaged with the world around them.”
treatments and therapies for AD, and identify neurovascular
signals for early detection of AD. Approximately 580,000 people If you are interested in learning more about life at
are now living with AD in Florida and this number is projected La Posada, join us for a special event in partnership
to increase to more than 720,000 by 2025. with Keller Williams on April 19 at 2:00pm. During
Joseph McKinley: McKinley is a fourth-year graduate the event, attendees will experience the award-winning
student working under the mentorship of Christopher Beetle, amenities and service that make La Posada special.
Ph.D., associate professor, FAU Department of Physics, within For more information, please visit mylaposada.com
the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science; and Emmanuelle or call (561) 277.0660.
Tognoli, Ph.D., a research professor, FAU Department of
Psychology and Center for Complex Systems and Brain Paid Advertisement
Sciences, within the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, and