Session 1 - 2hrs

Depth of Theoretical Components: Emphasis on extending theoretical aspects and deep diving into the science.

Openness to Questions: Encourages audience interaction and questions throughout the session.

Slide Materials: Over 350 slides provided as reference materials, not all expected to be covered.

Career Overview: Details about Dr. Melillo's journey in the field, including educational background and achievements.

Functional Neurology: Describes his involvement in the development and teaching of functional neurology.

Research Contributions: Discusses personal research, partnerships, and contributions to top-tier journals.

Importance of Peer-Reviewed Research: Stresses the significance of publishing in reputable journals for credible scientific communication.

Teaching as Learning: Emphasises the role of teaching in his own learning process and encourages an open-minded approach to education.

Early Brain Development: Importance of early childhood in brain development and its long-term impacts.

Spectrum of Disorders: Explores developmental disorders like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, their early signs, and the importance of early intervention.

Role of Epigenetics: Discussion on how epigenetics influences brain development and mental health disorders.

Genetic Misconceptions: Addresses common misconceptions about the genetic origins of various disorders.

Holistic Approach: Advocates for considering a patient's entire developmental history, not just current symptoms.

Functional Imbalances: Importance of understanding and addressing imbalances in the nervous system.

Interconnectedness: Explores the relationship between the nervous system, immune system, and brain health.

New Research Directions: Discusses emerging research in neuroimmunology and its potential applications.

Holistic Treatment Approaches: Emphasises the importance of addressing underlying neurological and developmental issues in treatment.

Personalised Therapy: Advocates for tailored treatment plans based on individual developmental histories and symptoms.

Questions and Answers: Audience questions and discussions, providing in-depth answers and explanations.

Session 2 - 1.5hrs

Advanced Concepts in Neurology: The session begins with an emphasis on advanced neurology concepts, aiming to deepen understanding in the field.

Learning and Comfort Zones: Dr. Melillo discusses the importance of pushing beyond comfort zones for learning and growth, particularly in the context of understanding complex neurological concepts.

Brain Asymmetry and Function: There's a detailed exploration of brain asymmetry, its historical research, and its implications in understanding brain function and disorders.

Neurological Cases and Adaptability: Discussion on cases like hydrocephalus to illustrate the brain's adaptability despite abnormal neuroanatomy.

Brain Networks and Disorders: Detailed analysis of various brain networks like the limbic system, basal ganglia, and their connections. Emphasis on how imbalances in these networks contribute to disorders like ADHD, OCD, and movement disorders.

Developmental Neurology: Insights into developmental aspects of neurology, including the impact of early experiences on brain development and disorders.

Neuroanatomy and Behavioral Manifestations: Links between specific neuroanatomical regions and behavioral outcomes, including a focus on conditions like PANDAS/PANS.

Application of Neuroscience in Clinical Practice: Examples of how neuroscience principles are applied in clinical settings to address various neurological and psychological disorders.

Discussion on Functional Neurology: Explains functional neurology and its significance in understanding and treating neurological disorders.

Future Directions in Neuroscience: Reflects on the future of neuroscience research, including the role of functional connectivity and network interactions in understanding the brain.

Miscellaneous Discussions: Various discussions on related topics, including patient case studies, challenges in diagnosing and treating neurological conditions, and the role of environmental factors in brain development.

Session 3 - 2hrs

Brain Physics and Frequencies: Emphasises the importance of brain physics and frequencies in understanding brain function. Discusses how different stimuli (light, sound, smells) alter neuron firing frequencies.

Temporal Windows and Perception: Explores how the brain perceives simultaneous stimuli at different body parts. Highlights the brain's ability to process different frequencies and maintain perception timing.

Graph Theory and Brain Connectivity: Explains graph theory in the context of brain cell connections. Illustrates the efficiency of brain connections and the balance between local and global connectivity.

Neurological Development and Autism: Discusses the development of short-range and long-range connections in the brain and links the ratio of these connections to intellectual capabilities and disorders like autism.

Impact of Connectivity Ratios: Describes how small variations in connectivity ratios can significantly impact brain function and behaviour and explains the skewed ratio of connections in autism, leading to enhanced skills but impaired overall brain function.

Inducing Brain Maturation: Suggests that stimulating the brain in specific ways can alter the balance of neuron connections, aiding maturation. It mentions the ability to change the neuron ratio through appropriate brain stimulation.

Gender Identity and Brain Development: Discusses gender identity as a developmental process  and inks neurological aspects to gender identity formation.

Environmental Influences and Brain Function: Explores how external factors like technology and social interactions influence brain development and emphasises the shift towards a left-brain dominated society due to technology and lifestyle changes.

Balancing Brain Function: Addresses the challenge of maintaining a balance between different brain areas and highlights the complexity of adjusting therapeutic approaches to achieve optimal brain function.

Visual and Attention Networks: Details the different visual networks in the brain and their functions and explores how attention networks vary between the brain's hemispheres.

Executive Function and Motor Activity: Describes the brain's executive function network and its lateralisation. It also discusses the brain's motor areas and their role in coordinating movement.

Salience Network and Interoception: Covers the salience network's role in prioritising sensory information and discusses interoception and its significance in recognising bodily needs.

Session 4 - 1.5hrs

Brainstem and Facial Asymmetry: Emphasis on observing facial and postural asymmetries as indicators of brainstem function. Discussion of the nucleus ambiguous and its role in facial tone and parasympathetic nervous system output is there as well.

Vagal Stimulation and Its Implications: Exploring the use of GammaCore for vagal stimulation and its effects on heart and immune function. Also draw insights into left vs. right-sided stimulation and its potential impacts.

Inflammatory and Anti-inflammatory Responses: Understanding the brain's role in controlling systemic immune responses and detailed explanation of the baroreceptor reflex and its impact on the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems is given as well.

Neurological Basis of Sickness Behaviour: Exploration of how the brain regulates responses to infection and injury and includes discussion on the role of the vagus nerve in inflammation and anti-inflammatory processes.

Integration of Neurological and Immunological Systems: Analysis of how the central nervous system integrates with immune responses. Examination of specific brain regions like the insula and hypothalamus in immune regulation is also there.

Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Research: Insights into facial asymmetry in autism and its correlation with parental traits. It discusses the role of the right brain in emotional processing and recognition in autism.

Primitive Reflexes and Their Significance: Examination of retained primitive reflexes and their impact on sympathetic tone and brainstem maturity and discussion on how reflexes relate to various conditions, including autism.

Right and Left Brain Imbalances: Exploration of the effects of right vs. left brain imbalances on overall health and behaviour.The impact of these imbalances on immune response and disease susceptibility is discussed as well.

Role of Hemispheres in Immune Regulation: Analysis of how the right and left hemispheres regulate different aspects of the immune system.  and discussion on Th1 and Th2 responses and their implications in health.

Clinical Applications and Case Studies: Various case studies and clinical applications of the discussed concepts. Examples of how understanding neurological and immunological integration can aid in treatment strategies are also discussed.