Aaron Tate, Director of Emerging Technology at Center for BrainHealth.

Frontiers of BrainHealth

Charisma™ began as a research toolset built to deliver structured, game-based coaching and role-play to strengthen social cognition. Over a decade of iteration, from VRSCT (Virtual Reality Social Cognition Training) to Virtual Gemini to the current unified Charisma platform, the program has consistently facilitated measurable gains in emotion recognition, perspective-taking, and self-confidence. Aaron Tate discusses the software’s evolution and shares key learnings about what it takes to move from research to a scalable product, while staying true to the science behind it, highlighting how intellectual property and building for scale can preserve research integrity and extend real-world impact.

Charisma: A Case Study in Measurable BrainHealth Outcomes at Scale

Specializing in neurology, psychiatry and geriatric medicine, Dr. Mustafa Husain's research interests include general psychiatry, aging and geriatric issues, new applications of lead placement in ECT and novel treatments of major depressive disorder including magnetic seizure therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, deep brain stimulation, and vagus nerve stimulation.

Neuromodulation: The New Era for the Treatment of Depression

Despite advancements in generative AI and large language models, the holy grail of AGI (artificial general intelligence) — AI as good as humans — still seems elusive. Dr. Gopal Gupta presents a goal-directed answer set programming system that automates human (commonsense) reasoning in order to discuss how AI systems to match human capabilities can be built by combining learning and reasoning, including several practical applications of this approach, e.g., reliable interactive chatbots and autonomous driving.

Toward AGI: Automating "Slow" Thinking in AI 

Dr. William "Jamie" Tyler and Dr. Cristin Welle.

Non-invasive stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (taVNS) shows promise toward improving brain health and function, and human performance across a multitude of domains. Dr. William Tyler and Dr. Cristin Welle explore implications of new findings for neurorehabilitation in the context of pilot clinical investigations using reinforcement-based taVNS to improve fine motor ability in people with multiple sclerosis and executive function in people suffering from neuroinflammation.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Enhancing Plasticity and Brain Health

“Sidewalk neuroscience” refers to gaining insights into the function of human behavior through simple observation; as a result, this form of scientific discovery is available to all and, if rigorously applied, can provide insights into human emotions and behavioral intent. In this presentation, political scientist Dr. Patrick A. Stewart discusses how observing and coding the behavior of public figures by using the Ethological Coding System for Interviews (ECSI) and eye blink rates can provide insights into power relationships.

Using “Sidewalk Neuroscience” to Study Power Relationships

Ian Robertson, PhD, speaks during BrainHealth Week 2025.

Do you often find yourself thinking about getting older? Do you believe that aging inevitably means losing independence — or do you think it’s possible to maintain a rich, purposeful life as you grow older? Renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Ian Robertson explores the beliefs and behaviors that shape our confidence, and how, within the limits of illness or circumstance, we can age more actively, happily, and with greater purpose.

Confident Aging

Directing a long-term study on the link between psychosocial factors and increasing cancer risks that could be mediated by cellular immune response, Dr. Massimo Bardi works with oncologists, geneticists, psychologists and neuroscientists to test the hypothesis that a more adaptive neuroendocrine physiological profile could be positively associated with a better cancer prognosis. Their main goal is to identify innovative and cost-effective methods to stimulate biopsychosocial enhancements in cancer patients to improve quality of life and reduce tremendous costs.

The Road to Recovery Among Cancer Patients: The Role of Resiliency and Neuroendocrine Profiles

Functional Neuroimaging of Neurovascular Coupling

Nan Li, PhD, Assistant Professor at the Advanced Imaging Research Center, Neuroscience & Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern. 

As director of the Li neuroimaging Lab (LNAB), Dr. Nan Li aims to develop novel whole-brain MRI imaging methods to integrate molecular and system neuroscience while solving brain science problems in health and diseases. She hopes that ultimately her work will broaden our capacity of functional brain imaging to better understand the fundamental mechanisms and develop treatments for better brain health. 

Visualizing Molecular Events in the Brain with Hemogenetic MRI

Neuroimaging Methods and Findings

The Global Brain Care Coalition (GBCC) is an international learning health care system grounded in providing people with the knowledge and tools to take action in caring for their brains — its mission is to make proactive, evidence-based brain care simple and accessible to communities worldwide to promote brain health and prevent disease. Anchored by the patient and family values, research and compassion of leading health centers around the world, the GBCC partners with communities to bring its personalized, compassionate, science-grounded approach to people everywhere. 

Brain Health Starts with Brain Care: A Scalable Solution to the Pandemic of Age-Related Brain Disease

Dr. Staci Warren's talk description is coming soon. 

Clinical Psychology and Executive Function

Brain Performance Institute building at dusk, exterior photo

Dr. Sandi Chapman asks a question during a live Frontiers of BrainHealth talk inside Center for BrainHealth's Brain Performance Institute.

Functional Neuroimaging of Neurovascular Coupling

Speakers

About the Talk

Except where otherwise noted, you can attend in person at Center for BrainHealth in Dallas, Texas with no registration. Lunch begins at 11:30 AM. For more information, visit our visit our FAQs or email brainhealthevents@utdallas.edu.

Fall 2025 Talks

Register

Directions to Center for BrainHealth

About Us

Pioneering Science

Brain Training

Limitless Impact