How the Brain Grows Up - Dr. Martin Paulus - Healthy Brains for a Healthy OK

Neuroscience has made tremendous progress in understanding how the brain works to process emotion and make decisions. Up until recently it was thought that the brain, once developed, does not change significantly, however, new research is providing a radically different picture. In this first lecture supported by the Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR) and the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development group at LIBR, Dr. Paulus will present an overview of how the brain develops and changes in the first two decades of life. The key themes that will be addressed are: (a) how the brain forms new neural connections throughout life, (b) links between gut and brain development, (c) how neurons work together to increase the brain’s efficiency, (d) the relationship between brain development and kids’ emotions and reasoning abilities. The information will be presented for a non-scientist audience and should be of interest for parents, teachers, and those interested in the brain.

Dr. Paulus is a Board Certified Psychiatrist and Neuroscientist. He studied Medicine at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz from 1979-1985. Dr. Paulus completed his medical training and internship at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center / Zucker Hillside Hospital on Long Island, NY. Subsequently, he joined the Department of Psychiatry at UCSD and also became a staff psychiatrist at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Health Care System (VASDHS). In May 2014, Dr. Paulus moved to Tulsa OK to take the position as the Scientific Director and President of the Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR).

The Brain: From Alcohol to Zika - Dr. Martin Paulus - Healthy Brains for a Healthy OK

The brain is affected by many factors in our environment. This lecture will select a few topics and discuss the latest findings in the literature. In some cases, e.g. Zika, new information is still emerging, but it is important to separate fact from fiction. Dr. Paulus will discuss what we know and don’t know about how the brain is affected by (1) alcohol, (2) exercise, (3) meditation, (4) sleep, and the (5) Zika virus. The review of the brain findings will be followed by a question and answer session with the audience.

Dr. Paulus is a Board Certified Psychiatrist and Neuroscientist. He studied Medicine at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz from 1979-1985. Dr. Paulus completed his medical training and internship at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center / Zucker Hillside Hospital on Long Island, NY. Subsequently, he joined the Department of Psychiatry at UCSD and also became a staff psychiatrist at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Health Care System (VASDHS). In May 2014, Dr. Paulus moved to Tulsa OK to take the position as the Scientific Director and President of the Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR).

This talk was originally given as part of the Healthy Brains for a Healthy Oklahoma lecture series at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research on September 22, 2016.