Emily Jacobs

Synopsis : A rapidly growing body of evidence from rodent and nonhuman primate studies has established 17β-estradiol’s influence on synaptic organization within the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Despite significant implications for human health, few laboratories are examining these relationships at the human cognitive neuroscience level. In this talk, I will describe ongoing efforts to use brain imaging to establish basic principles of how sex steroid hormones shape the neural circuitry underlying higher order cognitive functions. This includes defining the role of sex steroids in the healthy adult brain and, in turn, exploring how the depletion of ovarian hormones during reproductive aging influences memory circuitry. I use a multi- tier approach that includes fMRI, molecular PET imaging, neuroendocrinology and imaging genetics. This research program leverages the conceptual and technical strengths of cognitive neuroscience to fill a gap in basic science, while addressing practical applications to women’s health.