A5055540225- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
- Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Child Development and Digital Technology
- Infant Health and Development
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
- Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Treatment of Major Depression
- Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
- Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
- Coffee research and impacts
- Biochemical Acid Research Studies
- ECG Monitoring and Analysis
- Neonatal and fetal brain pathology
- Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Neuroscience and Music Perception
- Biochemical effects in animals
- Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
University of Calgary
2021-2025
The University of Sydney
2017-2024
Sydney Children's Hospital
2024
Alberta Children's Hospital
2021-2024
Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute
2022-2024
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
2021-2024
Ontario Brain Institute
2023
Children's Hospital at Westmead
2019-2022
Allen Institute for Brain Science
2022
Centre for Mental Health
2022
Abstract Early supports to enhance social development in children with autism are widely promoted. While oxytocin has a crucial role mammalian development, its potential as medication humans remains unclear. We investigated the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of intranasal young using double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial, following placebo lead-in phase. A total 87 (aged between 3 12 years) received 16 International Units (IU) ( n = 45) or 42) nasal spray, morning...
Metabolites play important roles in brain development and their levels change rapidly the prenatal period during infancy. Metabolite are thought to stabilize childhood, but of neurochemistry across early-middle childhood remains understudied. We examined developmental changes key metabolites (total N-acetylaspartate, tNAA; total choline, tCho; creatine, tCr; glutamate+glutamine, Glx; myo-inositol, mI) using short echo-time magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)...
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an effective treatment for individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) who have not improved standard therapies. However, only 30-45% of patients respond to rTMS. Predicting response rTMS will benefit both and providers in terms prescribing targeting maximum efficacy directing resources, as lower likelihood could be redirected more suitable alternatives. In this exploratory study, our goal was use proton resonance spectroscopy...
Intensive interdisciplinary pain treatments (IIPT) have been developed to treat youth with unmanaged chronic and functional disability. Dysregulation of metabolites gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) glutamate are thought play a role in the chronification due imbalances inhibition excitation adults. Using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), we investigated effect IIPT on GABA Glx (glutamate + glutamine) 2 pain-related brain regions: left posterior insula (LPI) anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)....
Current treatments for alcohol use disorders (AUD) have limited efficacy. Recently, Cannabidiol (CBD) has been examined in a multitude of clinical settings. Preclinical and results suggest that CBD might be particularly well suited the treatment AUD may reduce cue stress-induced craving seeking. This study aims to investigate this new pharmacotherapy with particular focus on neurobiological physiological indicators craving.
Abstract Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) is considered a common marker of autonomic dysfunction that contributes to poor health outcomes. While some studies have suggested children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show reduced HRV, research yet consider whether this may be associated medication use and symptom severity. This study examined the relationship between resting state severity in diagnosed ASD. Children ASD ( N = 86), aged 3 12 years M 8.09), were compared 44 neurotypical...
Abstract Atypical sensory processing occurs in up to 97% of children on the autism spectrum. Children who are spectrum also commonly demonstrate challenging behaviors, and their caregivers report increased levels strain daily life. The aim this study was explore four features; seeking, avoiding, sensitivity, registration, relationships with maladaptive behaviors autism, as well caregiver strain. Participants comprised 75 aged 7–12 years ( M = 7.81). Caregivers completed three questionnaire...
Transcranial magnetic stimulation is an important treatment option for resistant major depressive disorder. Pairing with adjuncts such as the partial N-Methyl-d-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor agonist, D-Cycloserine, has emerged a strategy to enhance outcomes. However, effects of D-Cycloserine are concentration dependent, and higher concentrations may blunt TMS-induced plasticity. This clinically due potential accumulation repeated dosing individual differences in volume distribution. We recruited...
Background: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been used to identify gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) alterations in mood disorders, particularly the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) where decreased concentrations have associated with anhedonia. In major depressive disorder (MDD), prior work suggests that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) increases mPFC GABA proportional antidepressant response. To our knowledge, this not examined acute bipolar depression. Methods: As...
Abstract GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in brain, and essential to balance of cortical excitation inhibition. Reductions are proposed result an overly excitatory cortex that may cause, or contribute to, symptoms autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study employed a cross‐sectional design explore GABA+ differences ASD impact age, comparing 4–12 year olds with ( N = 24) typically developing children 35). concentration was measured using edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy...
Background Atypical patterns of social engagement and joint attention behaviors are diagnostic criteria for people with autism spectrum disorder. Experimental tasks using eye‐tracking methodologies have, however, shown inconsistent results. The development greater ecological validity relevance developmentally appropriate milestones has been identified as important the field. Methods We developed a novel, dynamic task emulating shared book reading (SBR) scenario. Four SBR videos an adult...
Recent years have seen remarkable progress in our scientific understanding of early childhood social, emotional, and cognitive development, as well capacity to widely disseminate health information by using digital technologies. Together, these technological advances offer exciting opportunities deliver high-quality about development (ECD) parents families globally, which may ultimately lead greater knowledge confidence among better outcomes children (particularly lower- middle-income...
Abstract Single voxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) quantifies metabolites within a specified volume of interest. MRS voxels are constrained to rectangular prism shapes. Therefore, they must define small contained the anatomy interest or include not neighbouring tissue. When studying cortical regions without clearly demarcated boundaries, e.g. dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), it is unclear how representative larger smaller it. To determine if large placed it, this study...
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between obesity and oxidative stress in older adults at risk for dementia. It also explore influence of physical activity on this cohort.Older dementia underwent comprehensive medical, neuropsychological, psychiatric assessment. At was defined as participants with subjective or mild cognitive impairment. Glutathione assessed by magnetic resonance spectroscopy left hippocampus anterior posterior cingulate cortex. Body mass index (BMI)...
Abstract Reduced social attention is characteristic of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It has been suggested to result from an early onset and excessive influence circumscribed interests (CIs) on gaze behaviour, compared typically developing (TYP) individuals. To date, these findings have mixed. The current eye-tracking study utilised a visual preference paradigm investigate the CI versus non-CI objects patterns in children with ASD (aged 3–12 years, n = 37) their age-matched TYP peers (n...
Abstract Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is the leading known cause of birth defects and cognitive disabilities, with impacts on brain development executive functioning. Abnormalities in structural functional features are well-documented children PAE, but effects PAE metabolism have received less attention. Levels metabolites can be measured non-invasively using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Here, we present first study PAE-related metabolite differences early childhood (ages 3-8...
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with cognitive impairments that persist despite successful treatment. Transcranial magnetic stimulation a noninvasive treatment for MDD small procognitive effects on working memory and executive function. We hypothesized pairing N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor agonism would enhance the of its effects.