We are very much looking forward to host Francisca Ferreira and Birte Forstmann on December 14th, 2023, at noon ET / 6PM CET. Francisca Ferreira is a PhD student and Neurosurgery trainee at the University College of London Queen Square Institute of Neurology and a Royal College of Surgeons “Emerging Leaders” program laureate. Her presentation title will be: “Microstructural and connectivity correlates of outcome variability in functional neurosurgery for movement disorders”. Birte Forstmann, PhD, is the Director of the Amsterdam Brain and Cognition Center, a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Amsterdam, and a Professor by Special Appointment of Neuroscientific Testing of Psychological Models at the University of Leiden. Besides her scientific presentation (“Imaging the human subcortex”), she will give us a glimpse at the “Person behind the science”. You can register via talks.stimulatingbrains.org to receive the (free) Zoom link!

In this webinar, Dr Ye Tian and A/Prof Andrew Zalesky will present new research on mapping the functional architecture of the human subcortex. They used 3T and 7T functional MRI from more than 1000 people to map one of the most detailed functional atlases of the human subcortex to date. Comprising four hierarchical scales, the new atlas reveals the complex topographic organisation of the subcortex, which dynamically adapts to changing cognitive demands. The atlas enables whole-brain mapping of connectomes and has been used to optimise targeting of deep brain stimulation. This joint work with Professors Michael Breakspear and Daniel Margulies was recently published in Nature Neuroscience. In the second part of the webinar, Dr Ye Tian will present her current research on the biological ageing of different body systems, including the human brain, in health and degenerative conditions. Conducted in more than 30,000 individuals, this research reveals associations between the biological ageing of different body systems. She will show the impact of lifestyle factors on ageing and how advanced ageing can predict the risk of mortality. Associate Professor Andrew Zalesky is a Principal Researcher with a joint appointment between the Faculties of Engineering and Medicine at The University of Melbourne. He currently holds a NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship and serves as Associate Editor for Brain Topography, Neuroimage Clinical and Network Neuroscience. Dr Zalesky is recognised for the novel tools that he has developed to analyse brain networks and their application to the study of neuropsychiatric disorders. Dr Ye Tian is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne. She received her PhD from the University of Melbourne in 2020, during which she established the Melbourne Subcortex Atlas. Dr Tian is interested in understanding brain organisation and using brain imaging techniques to unveil neuropathology underpinning neuropsychiatric disorders.