A5066439941- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Mental Health Research Topics
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Face Recognition and Perception
- Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
- Treatment of Major Depression
- Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
- Adolescent and Pediatric Healthcare
- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Nuclear Receptors and Signaling
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
- Mental Health and Psychiatry
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Technology and Human Factors in Education and Health
University of Pittsburgh
2010-2025
University of Alabama at Birmingham
2015-2024
Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience
2020-2023
Carl Zeiss (Germany)
2023
Civitan International
2015-2018
Janelia Research Campus
2017
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
2017
Cardiff University
2009-2013
Western State Hospital
2012
University of Maryland, College Park
2010
The processing of changing nonverbal social signals such as facial expressions is poorly understood, and it unknown if different pathways are activated during effortful (explicit), compared to implicit, expressions. Thus we used fMRI determine which brain areas subserve high-valence distinct when processed explicitly or implicitly. Nine healthy volunteers were scanned (1.5T GE Signa with ANMR, TE/TR 40/3,000 ms) two similar experiments in blocks mixed happy angry ("on" condition) alternated...
Long-term potentiation of excitatory synapses on pyramidal neurons in the stratum radiatum rarely occurs hippocampal area CA2. Here, we present evidence that perineuronal nets (PNNs), a specialized extracellular matrix typically localized around inhibitory neurons, also surround mouse CA2 and envelop their synapses. express mRNA transcripts for major PNN component aggrecan, identifying these as novel source PNNs hippocampus. We found disruption allows synaptic normally plasticity-resistant...
Inputs from the ventral hippocampus (vHIP) to medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) are implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we show that vHIP-mPFC projection is hyperactive Mecp2 knockout mouse model of autism spectrum disorder Rett syndrome, which has deficits social memory. Long-term excitation mPFC-projecting vHIP neurons wild-type mice impaired memory, whereas their long-term inhibition rescued memory deficits. The extent improvement was negatively correlated with...
Background. Patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) have symptoms that pre-dominantly concern washing (washers) or checking (checkers), both. Functional neuroimaging has been used to identify the neural correlates of urge ritualize but not distinguished between and in OCD. We functional magnetic resonance imaging compare response emotive pictures washers checkers. Methods. In one two 5-minute experiments, ( N = 7), checkers 7) age-matched normal controls 14) were scanned while...
ABSTRACT Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in methyl-CpG-binding protein-2 (MECP2), transcriptional regulator of many genes, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF levels are reduced RTT autopsy brains and multiple brain areas Mecp2-deficient mice. Furthermore, experimental interventions that increase improve RTT-like phenotypes Mecp2 mutant Here, we characterized the actions small-molecule ligand receptor TrkB hippocampal function...
<h3>Abstract</h3> Rett syndrome (RTT) is caused in most cases by loss-of-function mutations the X-linked gene encoding methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (<i>MECP2</i>). Understanding pathological processes impacting sensory-motor control represents a major challenge for clinical management of individuals affected RTT, but underlying molecular and neuronal modifications remain unclear. We find that symptomatic male <i>Mecp2</i> knockout (KO) mice show atypically elevated parvalbumin (PV)...
ABSTRACT Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by temporal instability of mood and energy, but the neural correlates this are poorly understood. In previous cross-sectional studies, state in BD has been associated with differential functional connectivity (FC) amongst several subcortical regions ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Here, we assess whether longitudinal within mood-related network interest (NOI). Young people BD-I/II were scanned 4-6 times healthy controls (HC) 4 over 9 months....
Natural selection leads to behavioural choices that increase the animal's fitness. The neuronal mechanisms underlying choice are still elusive and empirical evidence connecting neural circuit activation adaptive output is sparse. We exposed foraging juvenile crayfish approaching shadows of different velocities found slow-moving predominantly activated a pair giant interneurons, which mediate tail-flips thrust animals backwards away from threat. Tail-flips also moved farther an expected food...
ABSTRACT Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in MECP2, which encodes methyl-CpG-binding protein 2, transcriptional regulator of many genes, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF levels are lower multiple brain regions Mecp2-deficient mice, and experimentally increasing improve atypical phenotypes Mecp2 mutant mice. Due to the low blood-brain barrier permeability itself, we tested effects LM22A-4, brain-penetrant, small-molecule ligand...
We report findings which suggest perception of ‘higher order’ attributes such as gender and social dominance are perceived from a schematic face. To investigate large population, the first two experiments were carried out in both traditional manner on Internet. Results obtained not significantly different so data sets combined. Lowered eyebrow position was strong indicator male gender. A face with sad mouth resulted face's being viewed less dominant male. Eyegaze direction also investigated...
The ability to identify emotionally salient cues in the environment (including signals of reward and danger) respond appropriately is a core component human social cognition (Darwin, 1872; Ekman, 2003; Phillips, Drevets, Rauch, & Lane, 2003a). Developmental deficits are risk factors for maladjustment psychiatric disorders across life span (Izard, 1977; Green, Kern, Robertson, Sergi, Kee, 2000; reviews, see Blair, 2003b). In this chapter we focus on developmental deficit emotion processing...
Three main approaches are used to explore the neural correlates of mood disorder: neuropsychological studies, neuroimaging studies and post-mortem investigations. Lesion implicate disturbances in frontal lobe, basal ganglia, striatum anterior temporal cortex. Early neurocognitive neuropathological investigations led a ‘hypofrontality’ hypothesis unipolar bipolar depression, but functional has revealed more complex picture. Thus, increased metabolism may occur subgenual cingulate gyrus...
Objective. Hypotheses to explain delusion formation include distorted perceptual processing of meaningful stimuli (eg faces), abnormal reasoning, or a combination both. The study investigated these hypotheses using standardized neuropsychological tests. Design. A three-patient case-study, compared with small group (n = 8) age-matched normal control subjects. Setting. Hospital in- and outpatients. Age-matched controls were from local residential homes. Patients. Three subjects late-onset...