ANNUAL RETREAT

Brains & Behavior Annual Retreat
The B&B Annual Retreat is a daylong on-campus event of student speakers, a keynote, and culminates in a poster session. This event allows faculty, staff and students from across the university to get together and share their research. It is open to the entire university.
For more information on our current Retreat, including speakers, keynote and poster titles & authors, click on the tabs below. For more information on past Retreats, please see the tabs at the bottom of this page.


11:00 -11:30am Check-In & Registration |
11:45 - 12:00pm Welcome & B&B Yearly Update |
12:00 - 1:00pm Lunch |
1:00 - 2:00pm Brains & Behavior Fellow Talks (3) |
2:00 - 3:15pm Poster Session #1 + Art Exhibit |
3:20 - 4:00pm Brains & Behavior Fellow Talks (2) |
4:00 - 4:10pm Break |
4:10 - 4:30pm The Founders Awards: A Look Back |
4:30 - 5:45pm Keynote: Laura Been, Ph.D. |
5:45 - 7:00pm Poster Session #2 + Art Exhibit |

Laura Been, Ph.D. B&B Alum '11
1:00pm - 1:20pm
Ella Atkinson from Occupational Therapy (Chen Lab)
“The Impact of Home-Based Piano Training on Upper Extremity Function Post-Stroke.”
1:20pm - 140pm
Katrina Farris from Psych (Tully Lab)
“Cognitive and Affective Aspects of Children’s Empathic Happiness and Sadness.”
1:40pm - 2:00pm
Satya Iyer from Neuro (Dotson Lab)
“Peripheral Taste Signaling is Subject to Complex Modulation By Neuropeptide Y Family Peptides.”
3:20pm- 3:40pm
Shannon Stone from Biology (Kumar Lab)
“SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern: Neuropathogenesis and Prevention.”
3:40pm - 4:00pm
Meghan Vogt from Neuro (Murphy Lab)
“Learning and Memory Performance of Male and Female Rats Following Gestational Morphine Exposure.”
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Poster Number | Presenter(s) | Poster Title | Department | Authors |
2a | Gauri Tripathi | Unraveling the impact of plastic nanoparticles on protein’s conformation and dynamics | Chemistry | G. Tripathi, S. Nguyen |
2b | Diyali Sil | GM1-domain mediated regulation of plastic nanoparticle diffusion on phase-separated lipid bilayer | Chemistry | D. Sil, C. Dutta |
3 | Shubham Bansal | Critical factors in reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection: solvents are not bystanders: case of DMSO | Chemistry | S. Bansal, B. Wang |
4 | Muskan Gori | Detection and analysis of reactive oxygen species (ROS): buffer components are not bystanders | Chemistry | S. Bansal, M. Gori, J. A.Quaye, G. Gadda, B. Wang |
5 | Dongning Liu | Investigating carbon monoxide as a therapeutic agent: Dosage and solution stability in preliminary studies | Chemistry | D. Liu, Q. Mao, X. Yang, S. Challa, B. Wang |
6 | Bilkis Mehrin Moni | Effects of a single point mutation on a bacterial D-2-hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase: molecular insight into neurometabolic disorder D-2-HG aciduria in Human | Chemistry | B. M. Moni, G. Gadda |
7 | Qiuyun Yan | Mechanistic studies of calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in cancer progression and therapeutic potential | Chemistry | Q. Yan, M. McMahon, F. Jie, X. Deng, C. Zhang, J. J. Yang |
8 | Tommy Stell & Mohammed A. Y. Mohammed | Ionic mechanisms underlying bistability in spinal motoneurons: insights from a computational model | Math & Statistics | T. Stell, M. A. Y. Mohammed, Y. Molkov, F. Krust, R. Jeter, F. Brocard, I. A. Rybak |
9 | Dilmini Warnakulasooriya | Mathematical modeling of the early afterdepolarizations in mouse ventricular myocytes | Math & Statistics | D. Warnakulasooriya, V.E. Bondarenko |
10 | Kevin Slote | Hidden epileptogenic geometry: A topological and machine learning approach for surgical outcome prediction and seizure onset zone localization | Math & Statistics | K. Slote, K. Smith, M. Shamshad, M. Dhamala, I.Belykh |
11 | Marrium Shamshad | Node degree volatility for seizure onset zone identification | Math & Statistics | I. Belykh, M. Dhamala, C. Epstein, K. Slote, K. Smith |
12 | Russell Jeter | Stroke rehabilitation with machine learning-based residual severity classification | Math & Statistics | R. Jeter, R. Greenfield, S. N. Housley, I. Belykh, |
13 | Samuel Oriola | Robust group PCA for extreme noise: Subject-level PCA done right | Computer Science | S. O. Oriola, C. McCurdy, B. T. Baker, V. D. Calhoun, R. F. Silva |
14 | Lawan Wijayasooriya | Unraveling multiple 1:1 entrainment regions in the Arnold onion diagram: A study of the circadian Novak-Tyson model | Math & Statistics | L. A. Wijayasooriya, E. Khan, P. Sanaei |
15 | Diyorahon Rakhimova | Dynamic entrainment of neuronal models | Math & Statistics, Neuroscience | D. Rakhimova, A. Prabakar, L. Wijayasooriya, P. Sanaei |
16 | Akira Sakurai | Role of chloride dynamics in generation of bursting activity by the cold-nociception neurons in Drosophila larva | Neuroscience | A. Sakurai, S. M. Korogod, N. V. Maksymchuk, D. N. Cox, G. S. Cymbalyuk |
17 | Anna Gianella, Yousif Shams, Gennady Cymbalyuk | Mechanism of coexistence of bursting and silence based on unstable periodic orbit | Math & Statistics, Neuroscience | A. M. Gianella, Y. O. Shams, G. S. Cymbalyuk |
18 | Yousif O. Shams | Speeding-up distinct bursting regimes is mediated by separate coregulation pathways | Biology, Emory and Neuroscience, GSU | Y. O. Shams, R. L. Calabrese, G. S. Cymbalyuk |
19 | Shiva Mirzaeian | Ultra-high order independent component analysis for intrinsic connectivity networks in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging Data | Math & Statistics | K.M. Jensen, A.R. Ballem, V.D. Calhoun, A.Iraji |
20 | Kyle Jensen | A multi-scale functional atlas reveals insights into the integrative nature of the brain | Psychology | K. M. Jensen, J. A. Turner, L. Q. Uddin, V. D. Calhoun, A. Iraji |
21 | Usama Zafar | Impact of heart failure on the progression of Alzheimer’s disease-Like pathology | Neuroscience | U. Zafar, H. R. Koyya, R. K. Roy, C. M. Levine, J. E. Stern, M. B. Parent |
22 | Levi Shook | Investigating the mechanism of hypoxia-induced excitation in hypothalamic vasopressin cells in the context of inverse neurovascular coupling | Neuroscience | L. Shook, J. E. Stern |
23 | Dhanya Narendra Pyaram | Neurobehavioral, structural and microglial alterations in a mouse model of Gordon Holmes syndrome | Neuroscience | D. N. Pyaram, A. J. George, Z. D. Allen, W. Wei, M. Gomez, N. Shree, J. Kadirvelu, A. Z. Murphy, D. Wanders, J. L. Bolton, A. M. Mabb |
24 | Devansh Asati | Effect of Tau Configurations on neuronal plasticity | Neuroscience | D. Asati, D. Yakut, W. Wei, Z. Allen, A. Mabb |
25 | Emalee Andrews | Early resource scarcity in female rats contributes to transcriptional and structural changes the neurovascular unit of the prefrontal cortex | Neuroscience | E. Andrews, S. N. Chehimi, A. I. Silva, L. Berhane, L. Hoot, E. Harris, R. C. Crist, M. Wimmer, D. Bangasser; B. C. Reiner |
26 | Nadja Brown | The impact of neonatal adversity on endocannabinoid signaling and adolescent behavior | Neuroscience | N. Brown, M. Gomez, A. Z. Murphy |
27 | Morgan Gomez | Morphine treatment of early life pain rescues the response to an immune challenge | Neuroscience | M. Gomez, R. Lawrence, H. Lail, D. Wanders, A. Z. Murphy |
28 | Rachel Bond | Effect of perinatal opioid exposure on adolescent social behavior | Neuroscience | R. M. Bond, V. Sudharsan, A. Z. Murphy |
29 | Peter Clements | Perinatal morphine alters oral fentanyl consumption in adolescent rats | Neuroscience | P. A. Clements, M. E. Vogt, A. Z. Murphy |
30 | Nneka Otuonye | Verification of the glucocorticoid receptor reduction in paraventricular nucleus microglia | Neuroscience | N.C. Otuonye, M.K. Sequeira, M. Garvin, F. Mroue-Ruiz , J.L. Bolton. |
31 | Sierra Rolle & Imani Rivers | Brain-derived estradiol: modulates social recognition and aggression in Syrian hamsters | Neuroscience | I. Rivers, S. Rolle, A. Dario, H. E. Albers |
32 | Khan Hekmatyar | Characterizing sex differences in the social brain of syrian hamsters using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) | Chemistry, Neuroscience | K, Hekmatyar, , S. D. Lee, H. E. Albers |
33 | Rania Mohamed | Neuronal activation of MC3R-expressing neurons in the ventral tegmental area following fasting | Neuroscience | R. A. Mohamed, A. G. Roseberry |
34 | Hannah Lail | Unveiling the neurobiological role of endogenous fibroblast growth factor 21 as a high-fat diet-stimulated stress-response hormone | Nutrition | H. Lail, R. Lawrence, A. George, Z. Allen, A M. Mabb, M. Gomez, A. Murphy, D. Wanders |
35 | Shyam Sai Shobith Bhonagiri | Does costunolide protect against inflammation-induced insulin resistance in neuronal cells? | Biology | S.S. Bhonagiri, H.L. Lail, D. Wanders, H. Mo |
36 | Yufeng Gan | Investigate the function of synuclein-γ expressed in both ganglion and adipose tissue | Biology | Y. Gan, Z. Liu, J. Jing, H. Shi, B. Xue |
37 | Solomon Ketyebelu | Dbx1 gene marking in the amygdala: correlation with monogamous behavior | Biology | S. Ketyebelu, J. Sylvester |
38 | Chinenyenwa Israel | The role of glutamatergic signaling in the development of monogamous behavior | Biology | C. Israel, J. Sylvester |
39 | Celeste Walton | Physiological and behavioral changes in the Blue-Throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis) at Zoo Atlanta in response to an annual nighttime event | Neuroscience | C. Walton, M. Gartner; A. Allen, L. Carruth, R. Santymire |
40 | Kyle Frantz & Sherri Briggs | Sustaining students through social innovation in higher education | Neuroscience, CASA | S. B. Briggs, K. J. Frantz |
41 | Jay Kennedy | College athlete mental health: Implications for policy and practice | Kinesiology | J. Kennedy |
42 | Ameera Alam | How do icons help the understanding of health risk? | Psychology | A. Alam, R. Aldib, L. Branum-Martin |
43 | Snigdha Kamarsu & Page Anderson | The influence of attentional control and state anxiety on outcome probability bias | Psychology | S. Kamarsu, M. Rech, P. L. Anderson |
44 | Lindsay Smegal | Intact inhibitory control in survivors of pediatric brain tumor | Psychology | L. F. Smegal, T. Z. King |
45 | Alannah Srsich | Processing speed impacts inhibition and cognitive flexibility performance of survivors of pediatric brain tumors | Psychology | A. Srsich, J. Choi, T. MacDonald, & T. King |
46 | Dawn Jensen | Contributions of genetic vulnerability and ACEs to dual developmental trajectories of internalizing and externalizing in adolescence | TReNDS Center | D.M. Jensen, J. Liu, V.D. Calhoun |
47 | Kennedy Ralph, Gianna Spaulding, Rany Tarakji | The relationship between active motor threshold and intelligence quotient | Neuroscience | Ralph, K., Spaulding, G., Tarakji, R., Harrington, R. M, and Arrington, C. N |
48a | Eva van Leer, Lucas Ribas, Madison Won | Effect of intentional voice quality change on mental effort assessed via pupillometry and self-report | Communication Science Disorders | E. van Leer, L. Ribas, M. Won |
48b | Michelle Kryc & Jacqueline Laures-Gore | Using principles of diffusion of innovation in rehabilitation sciences | Communication Sciences and Disorders | M. K, Hart, J. Laures-Gore |
50 | Grayson Pareizs | Analysis and validation of commercially available immersive virtual reality games in typical developing children | Physical Therapy | E. G. Pareizs, Y. Chen |
51 | Hannah Sandstrom | Bridging validation and usability of wearable smart sock sensor system | Physical Therapy | H. Sandstrom, B. Dinsmore, A. Reynolds, J.F. Stowell, S. Galen, T. B. Willingham |
52 | Diane Brown | Factors associated with falls after a standing-slip in people with multiple sclerosis | Kinesiology | D. S. Brown, J. Ahn, S. M. Khalili, F. Yang |
53 | Osa Adenomo | Sacred synapses: The neurobiology of prayer | Biology, Neuroscience | O. Adenomo |
54 | Ongun Kılıç | Practical irrationality mystified | Philosophy | O. Kılıç |
55 | Caleb Simon | Kind properties and the content of visual perception: evidence for the thin view | Philosophy | C. Simon |
56 | Spencer Kinsey | Spatiotemporal dynamics of nonlinear brain networks: unveiling new insights into schizophrenia |
Neuroscience | S. Kinsey, V. Calhoun, A. Iraji |
57 | Maria Claudia Manieri | Neuroanatomical distribution of ventral tegmental area melanocortin-3 receptors neurons | Neuroscience | M.C. Manieri, R. Mohamed, A.G. Roseberry |
If you are viewing on a phone, turn your screen in landscape orientation.
Artist | Title | Scientist |
Aidan O'Hare | Short Circuit | Anna Rader |
Ayodeji Akinyemi | Neural Constellations (Series) | Dominique Johnson |
Basil Vasileva | Maternal | Sydney Ku |
Danielle Lilburd | fMRI Bold Signal | Spencer Kinsey |
Dre'don Lackey | Anhedonia | Hannah Lichtenstein |
Feyza Ciger | The Gustation Factory | Satya Iyer |
Humayra Mahmood | The Interior | Sonipriya Paul |
Olivia Solomon | Cardinal | Yousif Shams |
Rachel Bowens | FREE REIN, SWEET BRAIN | MC Manieri |
Samiyah Butler | Apocalyptic | Cadence Claar-Pressley |
Taylor Lofton | What Could(ve) Be(en) | Madison Garvin |
Erika Nash | Edgar | Meghan Vogt |
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