‘EnviroMood’ International Symposium to Take Place at the VU Life Sciences Center on 14 May

On 14 May, the Life Sciences Center of Vilnius University (VU) will host the international symposium ‘EnviroMood’, dedicated to the neurobiological mechanisms and environmental factors shaping human mental health.

At the event, researchers will discuss how environment-dependent brain plasticity can either enhance resilience to stress or, conversely, increase the risk of mental health disorders. The presentations will cover research on the effects of antidepressants and psychedelics, the interaction between biological and environmental factors, stress-related brain mechanisms, and the role of neural networks and synapses.

The symposium will take place on 14 May from 9:00 to 12:00 at the VU Life Sciences Center, Room R401 (Saulėtekio al. 7, Vilnius).

Speakers and presentations

Dr Stefan Vestring (University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany)
‘Ketamine Opens a Neuroplastic Window for Change in Humans with Depression’

Prof. Igor Branchi (Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy)
‘Permissive and Instructive Causality: Integrating Biological and Environmental Factors in Mental Health’

Prof. Eero Castrén (Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Finland)
‘Neuronal Plasticity Promoted by Antidepressants and Psychedelics’

Assist. Prof. Ksenia Meyza (Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Poland)
'Neuroplasticity in the Stressed Amygdala: Mechanisms of Vulnerability and Resilience’

Prof. Shira Knafo (University of the Basque Country, Spain)
‘Functional Network Architecture is the Missing Dimension of the Engram’

Prof. Urtė Neniškytė (Vilnius University Life Sciences Center, Lithuania)
‘Local Synaptic Transcriptome Signatures of the Plasticity State’

Registration is required; please register here.

The event will be held in person in English. Remote participation will not be available.