Tuesday, August 11, 2026, 2:00 pm EDT
Caregiver hand gestures can support communication in people with autism, ADHD, and language impairments. Dr. Modyanova will explain ongoing research on how such individuals understand hand gestures on a brain level. The objective is to tailor supports to abilities.
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Presented by
Assistant Research Professor, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Adjunct Instructor, INTERLINK International Institutes
2025 Young Investigator Grant
Dr. Nadya Modyanova is an Assistant Research Professor at Montana State University. With a background in linguistics and cognitive science (BA from University College London), and neuroscience (PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Dr. Modyanova is a transdisciplinary scientist, with a passion for supporting those with communication difficulties.
Moderated by
Brain & Behavior Research Foundation
Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D., serves as the President & CEO of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, the largest private funder of mental health research grants. Dr. Borenstein developed the Emmy-nominated public television program “Healthy Minds,” and serves as host and executive producer of the series. The program, broadcast nationwide, is available online, and focuses on topics in psychiatry in order to educate the public, reduce stigma and offer a message of hope. Dr. Borenstein served as Editor-in-Chief of Psychiatric News, the newspaper of the American Psychiatric Association from 2012 - 2023.
Dr. Borenstein is a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine and serves as the Chair of the Section of Psychiatry at the Academy. He also has served as the President of the New York State Psychiatric Association. Dr. Borenstein earned his undergraduate degree at Harvard and his medical degree at New York University.
