Cherry Award Finalists' Public Lectures

View Cherry Award Finalists' Public Lectures

Kelly Lambert, Ph.D.

MacEldin Trawick Chair and Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Richmond

Monday, Oct. 30, 2023 | 3:30 p.m.
Paul and Jane Meyer Conference Center, Foster 250

Brain Sculpting:  Stranger than fiction tales of neuroplasticity

Considering that brains change from the womb to the tomb, it is important to understand how various experiences guide the life-long modifications of our neural networks, a process known as neuroplasticity.  Drawing from her love of scientific storytelling and ongoing diverse research projects exploring dynamic brains, Kelly Lambert will present a series of “brain-sculpting” vignettes that, at times, may seem more like fiction than evidence-based observations.   Her laboratory and field research exploring the neurobiology of resilient rats (e.g., rats driving cars, trust-fund rats, wild rats), paternal mice, curious raccoons, problem-solving macaques, and somewhat mysterious Madagascar mouse lemurs should provide several plot twists for expanding neuronal experiences in the laboratory, classroom, and beyond.