From Bacteria to Neurons: How our brain makes decisions and develops

How do we decide what to drink, what to eat, what to wear, where to live, etc.? I'll discuss how our decisions are impacted by our limited attention and memory, and how our brains gather and compare information over time to reach decisions. While we may not always be rational, our behavior is the result of computations that have predictable outcomes. I'll draw on research from neuroscience, psychology, economics, biology, and marketing, to shed light on this critical aspect of our lives.

Did you know that your tummy is full of little friends that talk to your brain? These friends are tiny bacteria, called the gut microbiome, and they can help kids’ brains grow up healthy. This is especially important for kids who’ve gone through tough stuff, like losing a parent, which can lead to higher risk of mental health problems. My lab is working on getting a better picture of how bacteria talk to the brain in kids with a wide variety of backgrounds, with the hope that we can find ways to use the microbiome to help all kids grow up healthy, no matter what they’ve been through?