Although men and women are mostly similar, we do have differences in cognitive performance, brain structure, emotional processing, and vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. But where do these differences come from?
The University of Otago is thrilled to be hosting Professor Julie Bakker from the University of Liège, GIGA- Neurosciences Unit, in Belgium who will be sharing her knowledge on sex differences in the brain at this year’s Sir John Eccles lecture.
The annual lecture is the Department of Physiology’s most prestigious event.
Professor Julie Bakker
Professor John Eccles, a neurophysiologist and former Head of Physiology at Otago, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1963 for his work on synaptic communication. As part of his legacy, the Department of Physiology invites a high-profile international speaker each year to give this lecture, recognising research excellence.
Julie is a world leader in understanding sex differences in the brain and behaviour.
As Director at the GIGA Neuroscience Institute at the University of Liège, she has made groundbreaking contributions to understanding how sex hormones influence brain development and lifelong physiology.
Her research has been particularly impactful in understanding hormone sensitive changes in brain structure, and from that the development of psychiatric disorders.
In particular, she’s shown that sex differences in brain activation and structure most likely reflect early-life gonadal hormone exposure and in particularly androgens.
Julie’s talk is on Sex Differences in Brain and Behaviour: Insights from Mice and Humans. It covers the research she has done using animal models, which shows that sex hormones play a crucial role in shaping the brain and behaviour during key hormone-sensitive periods of development.
Emerging evidence indicates that similar processes guide the sexual differentiation of the human brain during foetal life.
Lecture organiser Dr Rebecca Campbell says bringing Professor Bakker to Dunedin will provide opportunities for networking, building collaborations, inspiring our trainees and strengthening our international reputation.
“Julie has an excellent track record of high impact publications, including papers in Nature Neuroscience and Nature Communications, and is very well connected in neuroscience, development, behaviour and endocrinology disciplines,” Rebecca says.
Her work utilises cutting-edge neuroimaging, genetic approaches, and behavioural testing in both transgenic animal models and in humans, which will be of interest to many in the Department of Physiology.”
The lecture is being held on Monday, 9 March at 5pm in the Barnett Lecture Theatre, see further details here.
-Kōrero by Claire Grant, Communications Advisor, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences
Department of Physiology
Physiology is the study of how our bodies work at the molecular, cellular, and organ systems levels.
View