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"Medial temporal dynamics underlying spatial navigation in freely moving humans immersed in real and virtual environments" (Nanthia Suthana - UCLA)

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Friday, December 03, 2021
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Dr. Nanthia Suthana
CCN Colloquium

"Medial temporal dynamics underlying spatial navigation in freely moving humans immersed in real and virtual environments"

Abstract:
Little is known of the underlying mechanisms in the human brain that allow one to keep track of their location while freely moving or that of others in a shared environment. I will present on recent findings from our research platform that allows for wireless recording of deep brain activity in human participants that are able to freely maneuver while immersed in real, augmented or virtual spatial environments. We find that specific patterns of human medial temporal lobe oscillatory activity are modulated by eye movements, context, one's position, and the position of another person in a spatial environment, all of which are further dependent on momentary task goal. Lastly, I will present updates on our ongoing aim to use mobile deep brain recording in multiple interacting participants navigating augmented or real-world environments.

Bio:
Nanthia Suthana, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Neurosurgery, Psychology and Bioengineering at UCLA. She completed a B.S. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience and postdoctoral training at UCLA before joining faculty. She uses wearable technologies in patients with deep brain electrodes to understand cognitive functions such as learning and memory, and to develop therapies for patients with brain disorders. She has been awarded several NIH grants, a McKnight Technological Innovations in Neuroscience Award, and a Keck Junior Faculty Award for her work. She is currently the Ruth and Raymond Stotter Chair in Neurosurgery, serves as the Associate Director of the Neuromodulation Division at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience, and co-directs the UCLA Training program in Translational Neurotechnology. She has also been awarded a UCLA postdoctoral mentoring award and contributes to efforts aimed at increasing diversity, educational and career opportunities for women and underrepresented minorities in her role as the Associate Director of Neuroscience outreach for the Brain Research Institute at UCLA.

Contact: Dana Ripperton