UVic BRAIN Lab

For this week’s team member spotlight, we’d like to introduce Guntaj, another one of our terrific undergraduate RA’s.

Guntaj is a third-year student, majoring in psychology. She hopes to pursue a master’s degree in either forensic or criminal psychology. She is interested in how some brain areas involved in decision-making, such as the prefrontal cortex, are hindered in criminals or how they differ in some people, and why recidivism rates are high. In her free time, she enjoys watching murder mysteries, going to cafes to try good food, and exploring nature.

Thanks for all your hard work, Guntaj!

Join Baycrest for their next event: The Heart of a Healthy Brain 💖🧠

This virtual session will include a live conversation where you can ask experts your questions about how caring for your heart can also help keep your brain healthy across the lifespan.

Date & Time: Thursday, February 26, 2026. 10:30-12:00 PM EST

Where: Zoom (Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Aj64ootuTF-0qn0tfc0JaQ)

Before the event:
We invite you to listen to the featured podcast episode ahead of time:

Episode 21: Defy Dementia – The Heart of a Healthy Brain

What to expect:
An engaging, interactive discussion combining lived experience, expert insight, and audience Q&A.

They’ll examine how cardiovascular health affects brain health and dementia risk, and how everyday choices—such as physical activity, nutrition, sleep, stress management, and social connection—can support both heart and brain health. The session will link current science to real-world practice and share practical, accessible strategies across the lifespan.

Guest Bios:

Emil Boychuk led an active lifestyle and was shocked to learn in 2009, at age 62, that he had blockages in his heart arteries. Over time, he received two stents and a single bypass. After completing two cardiac rehabilitation programs, he returned to full activity, including a half marathon. His rehabilitation program prescribed three miles of walking or jogging, weight-resistance exercise, dietary changes, and stress reduction. When a physician noted that many patients stop following rehab plans after several years, he and other participants formed a peer support group that has met monthly for over 14 years.

Dr. Paul Oh is Medical Director and GoodLife Fitness Chair of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation at UHN–Toronto Rehab and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto, and Senior Scientist at the KITE Research Institute. He is also Medical Director of the Toronto Rehab Clinical Research Unit. Trained at the University of Toronto, he has authored 325+ peer-reviewed publications and leads research on exercise, technology, and behavioural interventions for preventing and managing cardiovascular and other chronic diseases in diverse populations.