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featuring
 
Laura K. Fonken, PhD
University of Texas at Austin, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Join us on Tuesday December 9th at 11:00am ET
Registration for the live event is FREE and you do not need to be a member!
Microglial rhythms contribute to sex-specific changes in behavior across the lifespan
Life on Earth has evolved under predictable daily cycles of light and darkness, leading to the development of an endogenous 24-hour timekeeping system called the circadian system. The circadian system coordinates temporal energetic activities that control many aspects of physiology and behavior. Indeed, the immune system is tightly regulated by the circadian system, including the activity of microglia—the primary innate immune cells of the central nervous system. In this talk, we will explore rhythms in neuroimmune activity across the lifespan and discuss how disruption of the circadian system can alter the neuroimmune environment, leading to behavioral changes. Our work demonstrates that during early life, microglia display rhythms in fundamental activities such as synaptic pruning. Both environmental and targeted genetic disruption of the circadian clock in early life can lead to sex-specific disruptions in microglial activities – culminating in altered synaptic activity and social behaviors. Conversely, during aging, microglial rhythms degrade, which potentiates neuroinflammatory responses and age-associated impairments in learning and memory. This work has important implications for understanding how circadian system disruption causes changes in brain and behavior.
About the Speaker
Laura Fonken is an Associate Professor in the Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Texas at Austin. She completed her PhD in Neuroscience with Dr. Randy Nelson at The Ohio State University, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Colorado Boulder with Dr. Steven Maier. Research in the Fonken lab focuses on: (1) understanding how neuroimmune function changes with aging and affects behavior; and (2) examining the role of environmental factors (e.g., circadian disruption) in regulating neuroimmune processes across development.
Presentations will be recorded for member access after the sessions.
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