A5087099040- Ultrasound and Hyperthermia Applications
- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Photoacoustic and Ultrasonic Imaging
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
- Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
- Neurological disorders and treatments
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research
- Epilepsy research and treatment
- Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
- Ultrasound Imaging and Elastography
- HIV-related health complications and treatments
- Pain Management and Treatment
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy Techniques
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Treatment of Major Depression
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
University of California, Los Angeles
2016-2025
Neurobehavioral Systems
2015-2024
UCLA Health
2023
University of Southern California
2020-2022
City Of Hope National Medical Center
2022
Arizona State University
2022
Digital Research Alliance of Canada
2020
Alliance Data (United States)
2020
Pacific Heart Institute
2020
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
2016-2019
Transcranial Focused Ultrasound (tFUS) is a promising new potential neuromodulation tool. However, the safety of tFUS has not yet been assessed adequately. Patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy electing to undergo an anterior resection present unique opportunity evaluate and efficacy neuromodulation. Histological changes in tissue after can be examined surgical resection, while further concerns using neuropsychological testing.Neuropsychological functions were eight patients before...
Background Low intensity, transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) is a re-emerging brain stimulation technique with the unique capability of reaching deep structures non-invasively. Objective/Hypothesis We sought to demonstrate that tFUS can selectively and accurately target modulate in humans important for emotional functioning as well learning memory. hypothesized would result significant longitudinal changes perfusion targeted region selective modulation BOLD activity BOLD-based functional...
The current study examined the independent and combined effects of HIV marijuana (MJ) use (no use, light moderate-to-heavy use) on neurocognitive functioning among a convenience sample HIV-positive (HIV+) HIV-negative (HIV–) individuals recruited from community care clinics advertisements in Greater Los Angeles area. MJ users consisted who reported regular for at least 12 months, with last within past month. Participants included 89 HIV+ (n = 55) HIV– 34) were grouped into non-users, users,...
Preclinical studies support investigation of focused ultrasound for breakdown cerebral pathologies in neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's (PD).A transcranial Doppler device with probes (2 MHz, 520 mW/cm2) affixed bilaterally was used to target the hippocampus or substantia nigra (PD) functional magnetic resonance imaging navigation enhanced plaque removal. A total 22 patients (n = 11 AD, n PD) underwent 8 consecutive, weekly, 1-hour treatments...
This study intended to evaluate a possible therapeutic effect among patients with treatment-refractory generalized anxiety disorder (trGAD) by using transcranial focused ultrasound (tfUS) modulate amygdalar activity.
HIV infection and aging are both associated with neurodegeneration. However, whether the process alone or other factors advanced age account for progression of neurodegeneration in HIV-positive (HIV+) population remains unclear.HIV+ (n = 70) HIV-negative (HIV-, n 34) participants underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics microstructural properties were extracted from regions interest (ROIs). A support vector regression model was trained on two independent datasets healthy adults...
Understanding the structural connectivity of key brainstem nuclei with limbic cortical regions is essential to development therapeutic neuromodulation for depression, chronic pain, addiction, anxiety and movement disorders. Several have been identified as primary central nervous system (CNS) source important monoaminergic ascending fibers including noradrenergic locus coeruleus, serotonergic dorsal raphe nucleus, dopaminergic ventral tegmental area. However, due practical challenges their...
Objectives Exposure to art, nature, or meditation, all transcending human experiences, has beneficial effects on health and wellbeing. Focusing inward watching art nature videos elicits positive emotions that can help heal stress-related conditions. In a pilot functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) study, we explored the effect of digital compared contemplating universal connectedness (also known as transcendental meditation). The instructions were meditate connection Universal Soul linked...
The MindGym, a novel immersive technology utilizing reflective chamber environment, was developed to create standardized experiential content, including anxiolytic experiences. This study examined whether therapeutic experiences originally created in the MindGym could maintain their efficacy when delivered via 360-degree recordings through virtual reality (VR) headsets. A randomized controlled trial (N=126) compared anxiety reduction, cognitive performance, and physiological responses across...
Introduction Anhedonic depression is a subtype of characterized by deficits in reward processing. This associated with higher suicide risk and longer depressive episodes, underscoring the importance effective treatments. Anhedonia has also been found to correlate alterations activity several subcortical regions, including caudate head nucleus accumbens. Low intensity focused ultrasound pulsation (LIFUP) an emerging technology that enables non-invasive stimulation these which were previously...
<h3>Importance</h3> Despite more widely accessible combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), HIV-1 infection remains a global public health challenge. Even in treated patients with chronic HIV infection, neurocognitive impairment often persists, affecting quality of life. Identifying the neuroanatomical pathways associated vivo may delineate neuropathologic processes underlying these deficits. However, published neuroimaging findings from relatively small, heterogeneous cohorts are...
Standard volumetric neuroimaging studies have demonstrated preferential atrophy of subcortical structures among individuals with HIV. However, to our knowledge, no study has investigated shape alterations secondary HIV and whether advancing age impacts that relationship. This employed 3D morphometry examine the independent interactive effects on differences in nucleus accumbens, amygdala, caudate, hippocampus, pallidum, putamen, thalamus 81 participants ranging from 24 76 including 59 HIV+...
Nonmotor symptoms, including depression, anxiety, apathy, and cognitive dysfunction, are common in Parkinson's disease (PD). Although a link between mood symptoms impairment PD has been theorized vis-à-vis striatal dopamine depletion, studies have inconsistent regarding the relationship function. Inconsistencies may reflect cross-sectional nature of previous studies. The current study examined bidirectional longitudinal cognition.
Essential tremor (ET) can be debilitating. Treatments for ET include beta-blockers and surgical interventions. Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) may offer an office-based non-invasive alternative.
Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive, multifactorial, neurodegenerative disorder affecting >6 million Americans. Chronic, low-grade neuroinflammation, and insulin resistance may drive AD pathogenesis. We explored the neurophysiological neuropsychological effects of NE3107, an oral, anti-inflammatory, insulin-sensitizing molecule, in AD. Methods: In this phase 2, open-label study, 23 patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia received 20-mg oral NE3107 twice daily...