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Neuroscience Seminar: December 1, 2025

A partnership with the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program.
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"Neural Bases of Abnormalities in Gesture-Speech Integration and Impacts on Communication in Autism Spectrum Disorder"

Presented by: 
Laura Morett, PhD
Associate Professor of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
Mizzou College of Health Sciences

Date: December 1, 2025, 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Location: Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Building
Atkins Family Seminar Room

To be added to the monthly calendar event, email Zezong Gu.

 Register Here

*Zoom option available

 

Description

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in verbal and nonverbal communication, including gestures--meaningful hand movements complementing content conveyed via speech. This talk will present evidence that abnormal functional activity in inferior frontal gyrus and posterior superior temporal sulcus, two brain regions subserving multimodal integration and language processing, plays a key role in these impairments in children with ASD.

 

Speaker

Laura Morret

Dr. Morett is a dedicated mentor and advocate for increasing representation of historically marginalized groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Her research is highly interdisciplinary and collaborative, reflecting her belief that the strongest science emerges from diverse perspectives. Dr. Morett has held prestigious postdoctoral fellowships, including the Hilibrand Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Yale Child Study Center (2016–2017) and the T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh (2013–2016). She earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Cruz (2012) and her B.A. from Washington College (2008). Dr. Morett actively encourages trainees and colleagues to connect with her to discuss research ideas and opportunities.

 

 

 

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