Dr Lorenzo More
Lorenzo works in the field of behavioural genetics and molecular cognition. His research's final aim is to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory and thus how the brain stores, retrieves and modifies information. He exploits environmental enrichment (EE) models, which are known to provide the mammal brain with a "cognitive reserve" in order to shed light on the complex molecular machinery involved in environment adaptation and enhanced cognition.
Lorenzo More undertook a PhD in Neuroscience at the School of Medicine in Padova (Italy) where he studied the effect of urinary pheromones on ovulation and the role of the olfactory systems.
He then carried out a post-doctoral programme in pharmacology in Germany, followed by postdoctoral positions Italy and the UK where he worked on preclinical models of Alzheimer’s, Schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease.
Since 2011 he has been working on the genetic basis of Intellectual Disabilities and Autism and on the molecular bases of environmental adaptation.
A major development of his recent work on Neuro Developmental Disorders, Environmental Enrichment and nootropics concerns the identification of a CNS signature for antisocial traits.
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (D2), The University of Warwick, 2017
- Doctor of Research (PhD), Neuroscience, The University of Padova (Italy), 2005
- 5-year Laurea (MSc), The University of Padova, 2001
- Healthy ageing and Cognitive Reserve
- Neuro Developmental Disorders
- Neuropharmacology
- Member of BRACE Scientific Advisory Committee
- Guest editor for Neuropharmacology Special Issue on Personality Disorders
Living in an enrichment environment with increased levels of physical activity, novelty and a bigger social group has many benefits, one of which is to provide the brain with an enhanced cognitive reserve which is the brain’s resilience to ageing and loss of function.
Cognitive reserve is believed to reside into brain neuronal cells and to be functionally exerted as the readiness with which neuronal communication structures called synapses change in shape and function.
In our research we describe the key molecular mechanisms by which the brain adapts to environmental enrichment in enhancing learning, memory and synaptic plasticity. This research elucidates the role of a key neuronal protein, MSK1, in response to enrichment and hence paves the way to the identification of molecular targets to pharmacologically induce the beneficial effects of environmental enrichment
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- Molecular Cognition
- Role of Ras-ERK signalling in the CNS adaptation to the environment
- Happy Ageing
- 2023 Happy Ageing UCLan’s Undergraduate Research Internship Programme PI £4,000
- 2024 Happy Ageing UCLan’s Undergraduate Research Internship Programme PI £4,000
- UCLan Research Day co-organiser, March 10th 2023. Plenary lectures Prof Bruno G. Frenguelli (Warwick University) and Prof Noel Buckley (Oxford University).
- Edinburgh University (UK) February 7th 2020. SEALING THE LOOP: Bridging the latest Neuroscience approaches. Keynote speaker: Prof Bruno Frenguelli, Notable Speaker: Prof Richard Morris, Guest: Dr Serena Dudek - Oral presentation: Can the emotional valence of stimuli be encoded at a synaptic level?
- Preston (UK), December 17th 2019 Joint Academy Industry Meeting (JAIM): Pharmacy in an ageing population. Oral presentation: The role of Mitogen and Stress Activated Protein Kinase 1 in response to Environmental Enrichment throughout the lifespan.
- Perugia (Italy), September 2019 Società Italiana Neuro Scienze (SINS) 18th Congress – Symposium: Signalling Pathways in Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Cellular Mechanisms, Diagnostic Tools and Therapeutic Approaches. Oral presentation: CREB serine 133 is necessary for spatial cognitive flexibility and long-term potentiation. Chair: Prof Riccardo Brambilla, co-chair Prof Maurizio Giustetto
- Hiroshima (Japan), June 2017 International Behavioral Neuroscience Society (IBNS) 26th Annual Meeting - symposium co-chair: Environmental and pharmacological strategies to enhance cognition. Chair: Prof Riccardo Brambilla. Oral presentation: The role of Mitogen and Stress activated protein Kinase 1 in response to environmental enrichment, a possible target for nootropics? Other speakers: Dr Julie Lauterborn, Dr Francesco Papaleo
- Salamanca (Spain), September 2009 XXI Congress of the Spanish Society for Comparative Psychology (SPEC) - International Meeting Oral presentation: Responding during fixed and variable duration CSs
- Padova (Italy), September 2004 XXI congress of the Italian Society for Ethology Oral presentation: Major Urinary Proteins trigger Ovulation in the Mouse (Mus musculus)
Telephone:+441772895847
Email: Email:Dr Lorenzo More
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