August – September 2022: Webinar Series About the Brain and the Mind

The Luria Neuroscience Institute is pleased to announce live webinars about the brain and the mind.

The webinars are presented by Elkhonon Goldberg, Ph.D., ABPP., a clinical neuropsychologist and cognitive neuroscientist, and Diplomate of The American Board of Professional Psychology in Clinical Neuropsychology. His critically acclaimed and bestselling books have been translated into 24 languages.

Each webinar takes 3 hours and 3 CE Credits will be awarded by CE credit sponsor R. Cassidy Seminars. There is no additional charge for the CE certificate.
R. Cassidy Seminars are CE Sponsors for the American Psychological Association and recognized by the New York State Education Department as an approved provider of continuing education for psychologists, psychoanalysts, social workers, NY-LMHCs, NY-LMFTs and creative arts therapists (see below).
The courses are intended for professionals concerned with mental health and with brain and brain disorders.
The courses content level: Intermediate.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.

Fee:
$165 for a three-hour webinar. There is no additional charge for the CEs certificate.

Format:
online webinar

Date:
1. Executive Functions and the Frontal Lobes, August 16

2. Executive Dysfunction in Brain Disorders, August 17

3. Aging and Dementias, August 23

4. Traumatic Brain Injury, August 24

5. Tourette and ADHD: A new look at an old quandary, August 30

6. COVID-19 and Brain Dysfunction: Evolving Understanding, August 31

7. NEUROCOVID-19: Cognitive, Psychiatric, and Psychological Manifestations, September 6

8. Long NEUROCOVID: What Has Been Learned, September 7

9. Creativity and Cognition, September 13

10. Laterality and Brain Dysfunction, September 14

Time:
1 pm – 4:15 pm Eastern Time (noon – 3:15pm Central Time, 10am – 1:15pm Pacific Time)
 

 

Executive Functions and the Frontal Lobes

August 16, 2022, 1 pm – 4:15 pm EDT

Executive functions represent the highest level of cognitive control and involve goal formation, planning, mental flexibility, impulse control, working memory. Executive functions are mediated by the prefrontal cortex and related structures. In this webinar we will examine their cognitive composition, neural mechanisms, changes throughout the lifespan, and gender differences. We
will also examine the role of executive functions in creativity and their relationship to intelligence.

Topics to be covered:
Executive functions and frontal-lobe functions: are they the same?
Components of executive functions (planning, impulse control, working memory, and others).
Novel approaches to understanding the frontal-lobe functions.
Frontal lobes and large-scale networks (Central Executive, Default Mode, and others).
Executive functions and laterality.
Executive functions and sex differences.
Regulation of emotions: frontal lobes and amygdala.
Executive functions and intelligence.
Executive functions in development and aging.
 

Executive Dysfunction in Brain Disorders

August 17, 2022, 1 pm – 4:15 pm EDT

Executive functions are the most fragile of all cognitive functions. They are affected in a wide range of neurological, psychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and neurogeriatric disorders. In this webinar we will examine how executive functions are affected in various dementias (including Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and Frontotemporal dementia); traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular disease, neuropsychiatric disorders (including schizophrenia and affective disorders), infectious encephalopathies, seizure disorders, and other clinical conditions, including viral encephalopathies, like neuro-COVID.

Topics to be covered:
Executive dysfunction in dementias (Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, Fronto-temporal dementia).
Executive dysfunction in traumatic brain injury (reticulo-frontal disconnection syndrome).
Executive dysfunction in cerebrovascular disorders (CVA, aneurysms).
Executive dysfunction in neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD, Tourette’s Syndrome).
Executive dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, affective disorders).
Executive dysfunction in movement disorders (Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease).
Executive dysfunction in infectious encephalopathies (neuro-COVID and others).
Executive dysfunction and seizure disorders.
Executive dysfunction and laterality.
 

Aging and Dementias

August 23, 2022, 1 pm – 4:15 pm EDT

Dementias are among the most prevalent neurocognitive disorders presenting a unique set of clinical and societal challenges. In this webinar we will review several major types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia and its relationship to Parkinson’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, and others. For each of these disorders we will discuss the underlying neurobiology, epidemiology, natural history, diagnosis, and cognitive characteristics. We will also discuss cognitive aging, as well as both protective and risk factors associated with it.

Topics to be covered:
Epidemiology and demographics of dementias.
Alzheimer’s disease: neurobiology, epidemiology, natural history, neurocognitive characteristics, and diagnosis. Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease: neurobiology, epidemiology, natural history, neurocognitive characteristics, and diagnosis.
Fronto-temporal dementia: neurobiology, epidemiology, natural history, neurocognitive characteristics, and diagnosis. Vascular dementia: neurobiology, epidemiology, natural history, neurocognitive characteristics, and diagnosis.
Korsakoff’s syndrome: neurobiology, epidemiology, natural history, neurocognitive characteristics, and diagnosis. Mixed dementias: neurobiology, epidemiology, natural history, neurocognitive characteristics, and diagnosis.
Mild Cognitive Impairment and its relationship to dementias. Diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and misdiagnosis.
Memory impairment in dementias and the fallacy of old diagnostic criteria. Executive impairment in dementias: still underrecognized.
Arousal impairment in dementias. Changes in the epidemiology of dementias and possible causes behind them. Cognitive aging: its characteristics, protective factors, and risk factors. Cognitive enhancement and surrounding controversies.
 

Traumatic Brain Injury

August 24, 2022, 1 pm – 4:15 pm EDT

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a highly prevalent condition sometimes referred to as a “silent epidemic.” In this webinar we will review various types of TBI (closed, open, blast); various causes and unique characteristics of motor vehicle accidents, workplace-related, military and sports TBI; various mechanisms of TBI (diffuse axonal injury, contre-coup, neurometabolic cascade); cognitive characteristics (particularly executive and memory impairment); recovery from TBI and long-term outcomes; and forensic issues commonly associated with TBI.

Topics to be covered:
Epidemiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Types of traumatic brain injury (TBI): closed, open (penetrating and perforating), blast. Severity and criteria of traumatic brain injury (TBI): mild, moderate, severe.
Causes of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Mechanisms of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Focal vs. diffuse components of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Neuroanatomical structures most vulnerable in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Natural course of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the multiple forms it may take.
Secondary complications in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Cognitive consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Executive deficit in traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Memory impairment in traumatic brain injury (TBI): anterograde and retrograde amnesia. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in sports and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
Military traumatic brain injury (TBI). Forensic issues in traumatic brain injury (TBI).
 

Tourette and ADHD: A new look at an old quandary

August 30, 2022, 1 pm – 4:15 pm EDT

The ADHD diagnosis has acquired the status of a fad and is often given too casually and inclusively. Conflation between two distinct classes of clinical phenomena, hyperactivity and exploratory behavior, is a common source of ADHD overdiagnosis. Inspired by early insights by Oliver Sacks, we examine the relationship between frontal-lobe syndromes, Tourette syndrome, and Parkinson’s disease. This synthesis leads to a new understanding of Tourette syndrome and helps identify its distinct subtypes. These subtypes are caused, respectively, by predominant dysregulation in the left vs right fronto-striatal systems, and result in the preponderance of tics vs excessive exploratory behaviors. We examine the difference between hyperactivity and excessive exploratory behavior, and the potential for diagnostic confusion between ADHD and Tourette if this difference is ignored.

Topics to be covered:
Overdiagnosis of ADHD. A source of overdiagnosis: conflation of hyperactivity and exploratory behavior. What is the difference?
Are the diagnostic criteria for ADHD too broad? Duality of symptoms in Tourette syndrome: tics vs exploratory behavior.
Are the diagnostic criteria for Tourette too narrow? The triple-decker: Frontal lesions, Tourette syndrome, and Parkinson’s disease.
Introducing “hemi-Tourette” subtypes.
Clinical features of “hemi-Tourette” subtypes.
Clearing up the diagnostic confusion between Tourette and ADHD.
 

COVID-19 and Brain Dysfunction: Evolving Understanding

August 31, 2022, 1 pm – 4:15 pm EDT

COVID-19 is a viral illness caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which has become
a global pandemic affecting all of us. While it has been originally characterized as respiratory
illness, a growing body of evidence suggests that the brain may also be affected. In this webinar
we will discuss the concept of “neuro-COVID” and examine the emerging evidence of COVID-19
impact on the human brain and the multiple clinical neurological and neuropsychological
manifestations of this impact. In particular, we will discuss the potential for long-term
neurocognitive sequelae of neuro-COVID and the role of neuropsychology in addressing them.
In addition, we will briefly review the impact of diseases caused by other coronaviruses (SARS,
MERS) on the brain.

Topics to be covered:
COVID-19 pandemic and the brain.
Brain as the target of COVID-19.
Direct vs indirect mechanisms of brain damage in COVID-19.
Primary mechanisms of brain infection: transsynaptic vs hematogenous.
Mechanisms of infection: the role of ACE2 receptor.
COVID-19 and immune response.
Clinical neurological and neuropsychiatric manifestations of COVID-19.
Introducing “Neuro-COVID”.
Long-term sequelae of Neuro-COVID.
Other coronaviruses and the brain: SARS, MERS.
Other viruses and the brain: HIV, and HSV.
 

NEUROCOVID-19: Cognitive, Psychiatric, and Psychological Manifestations

September 6, 2022, 1 pm – 4:15 pm EDT

COVID-19 can affect the brain of infected individuals, which may result in a wide range of neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms. It can also have a profound psychological and psychiatric impact on the general population. In this webinar we will further discuss the concept of “neuro-COVID” and examine the expanding knowledge of its impact on specific brain systems. We will examine the causal role of neuro-COVID in dementia and delirium; in executive deficit, memory impairment and other specific cognitive impairments; in psychosis and psychiatric and psychological disorders; and its pediatric manifestations. We will also review the emerging therapeutic approaches, global research and clinical initiatives, and how one can participate in them.

Topics to be covered:
COVID-19 pandemic and the brain: a brief recap.
The impact of neuro-COVID on the frontal lobes, temporal lobes, brainstem, and other structures.
Specific types of cognitive impairment caused by neuro-COVID: executive deficit, amnestic syndromes, and others.
Delirium and dementia in neuro-COVID. Psychiatric manifestations of neuro-COVID.
Psychosis in neuro-COVID.
Neuro-COVID in children.
Emerging therapeutic approaches.
Global initiatives.
 

Long NEUROCOVID: What Has Been Learned

September 7, 2022, 1 pm – 4:15 pm EDT

New information will be presented about the evolution of the pandemic, challenges associated
with vaccination, and the variants. As the pandemic evolves, its character changes. Vaccines
are here, but so are the new virus variants. We have a better understanding of the mechanisms
of acute and long NEUROCOVID, and of its impact on various segments of the population.
NEUROVID in children and in the elderly is of particular concern, as well as its being a risk
factor for later-life dementia. The burden of the pandemic on the overall psychological state of
the world is growing, but so are the arsenal of tools to counter its effects. These and other
issues will be discussed in the new webinar.

Topics to be covered:
Evolving pandemic statistics.
Vaccination and its challenges.
Acute NEUROCOVID and the variants.
Long NEUROCOVID.
NEUROCOVID and later-life dementias – growing concerns.
NEUROCOVID in children – recent findings.
Worldwide psychological burden of the pandemic two years later.
Rehabilitation of NEUROCOVID.
Telemedicine and NEUROCOVID.
 

Creativity and Cognition

September 13, 2022, 1 pm – 4:15 pm EDT

Creativity is a complex construct involving multiple components. We will discuss the various components of creativity. Creativity is not a monolithic trait; there are many paths to creativity. Even the most innovative creative individual ahead of his or her society is a product of that society. We will discuss the relationship between individual creativity, cognition, and the host culture. In order to be recognized by society as creative, a scientific or artistic product has to be novel. But novelty alone is not sufficient; the product must also be relevant. We will discuss the relationship between creativity, novelty, and salience. The relationship between creativity and intelligence has intrigued psychologists for decades. We will discuss this relationship, as well as the limitations of current approaches – intelligence defined as IQ and creativity as performance on “divergent thinking” tests. The connection between creativity and psychopathology has intrigued scientists, clinicians, and the general public for years. We will discuss the evidence for and against this relationship, as well as the possible brain mechanisms behind it. Can creativity be enhanced? We will discuss some of the programs designed to enhance creativity, or at least it components and prerequisites. Is creativity is the unique attribute of human cognition? This point of view may flatter our feeling of exceptionalism but rudimentary creativity may be present already in other species. We will review the evidence.

Topics to be covered:
Creativity and society. Innovator vs consumer.
Creativity deconstructed. Building blocks of creativity.
Innovation, salience, and how they interact in the creative process.
Creativity and intelligence. Are they linked and when do they become uncoupled?
Creativity and psychopathology: Affective disorders, FTD, and other conditions.
Enhancing creativity? Creativity as the new focus of educational process.
Evolutionary roots of creativity. Defining and studying creativity in other species. Creativity and artificial intelligence.
 

Laterality and Brain Dysfunction

September 14, 2022, 1 pm – 4:15 pm EDT

A number of neurocognitive disorders impact the two cerebral hemispheres to unequal degrees. In this webinar we will review several such disorders from the standpoint of hemispheric specialization. They will include neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. dyslexias, non-verbal learning disabilities); dementias (e.g. frontotemporal dementia); striatal disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s disease and Tourette’s syndrome); neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g. schizophrenia); and certain cerebrovascular disorders. We will also discuss why certain forms of diffuse brain dysfunction may masquerade as lateralized brain disease.

Topics to be covered:
Laterality and learning disabilities (dyslexias vs NVLD).
Laterality and dementias: Is fronto-temporal dementia lateralized?
Laterality and striatal disorders (Parkinson’s disease and Tourette’s syndrome).
Major cerebrovascular disorders and cerebral hemispheres.
Laterality and neuropsychiatric disorders: Schizophrenia and the left hemisphere.
Laterality and differential functional breakdown threshold.
 
 

Continuing Education

Cosponsored by R. Cassidy Seminars, P.O. Box 14473, Santa Rosa, CA 95405

Instructor and His/Her Credentials
See under contributors.

Satisfactory Completion
Participants must have paid tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire webinar, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate. Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates will be available following course completion at www.ceuregistration.com

Psychologists
R. Cassidy Seminars is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. R. Cassidy Seminars maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 3 CE hours
NY: R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0018. 3 clock hours. Live online.

School Psychologists
While individual state NASP requirements may vary by state, NCSP (Nationally Credentialed School Psychologists) will accept APA for the CPD requirement. R. Cassidy Seminars is an approved provider of APA. Check with your state licensing board to obtain a final ruling. State boards have final course approval.

Psychoanalysts
NY: R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychoanalysts. #P-0005. (3) clock hours. Live online.

Social Workers
CA and Other States: Most states accept continuing education courses offered by either CE Sponsors for APA, (which R. Cassidy Seminars is) or will accept the approval of other state licensing boards of the same license type. Some states, either do not require pre-approval of courses, or will allow licensees to retroactively file for course approval themselves. Check with your board to obtain a final ruling.

IL-SWs: Illinois Dept of Professional Regulation, Approved Continuing Education Sponsor, #159.000785. (3) hours.
NY: R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider (#0006) of continuing education for licensed social workers. This program is approved for 3 contact hours Live online.
OH: Provider approved by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board for (3) clock hours, #RCST110701

Counselors/Marriage and Family Therapists
CA and Other States: Most states accept continuing education courses offered by approved providers with national providerships or will accept the approvals of other state licensing boards of the same license type. Others, either do not require pre-approval of courses, or will allow licensees to retroactively file for course approval themselves. R. Cassidy Seminars is an approved provider with two national providerships, as well as holding many individual state license type approvals. Check with your board to obtain a final ruling.
IL-MFTs: Illinois Dept of Professional Regulation, Approved Continuing Education Sponsor, #168-000141. (3) hours.
NY-LMHCs: R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board of Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0015. (3) contact hours. Live online.
NY-LMFTs: R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board of Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists. #MFT-0011. (3) contact hours. Live online.
OH: Provider approved by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board for (3) clock hours, #RCST110701
TX: Approved CE Sponsor through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists. Provider #151 3 CE hours.

Creative Arts Therapists
NY: R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board of Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists, #CAT-0005. (3) contact hours. Live online.

Chemical Dependency Counselors
CA: Provider approved by CCAPP, Provider #4N-00-434-0555 for (3) CEHs. CCAPP is an ICRC member which has reciprocity with most ICRC member states
TX: Provider approved by the TCBAP Standards Committee, Provider No. 1749-06, (3) hours general. Expires 3/31/2022. Complaints about provider or workshop content may be directed to the TCBAP Standards Committee, 1005 Congress Avenue, Ste. 460, Austin, Texas 78701, Fax Number (515) 476-7297.

Educators
TX: R. Cassidy Seminars is an approved provider with the Texas Education Agency CPE# 501456. This course is (3) CE Hours.

Nurses – Some Nursing Boards are reciprocal with other states – check your board to confirm
CA: Provider approved by the CA Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CeP15554, for (3) contact hours.

Dentists
CA: R. Cassidy Seminars is a provider approved by the Dental Board of California as a registered provider of continuing education. RP# 4874 3 CE Hours.

Disability Access – If you require ADA accommodations please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification.

Grievances
If a participant is not satisfied with the program and explains why, a full refund will be issued upon request made within 15 days of registration. Please contact us at 800-906-5866 or info@lninstitute.org.

Disclosure
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program

Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling.