Research Projects

PROJECT SUMMARY The goal of this research project is to determine if it is possible to develop a PET radiotracer capable of imaging GPCR heterodimers and not their corresponding homodimeric complexes. GPCR heterodimers represent the functional state of these receptors, yet there is currently no method for imaging these receptors in vivo with PET. Our initial strategy will focus on the development of probes for imaging the dopamine D2- adenosine A2A (i.e, D2/A2A) heterodimer.

Project Summary Molecular imaging provides the means to quantitatively study many types of processes in the human brain in a minimally invasive manner. However, the complexity of the brain results in many instances in which it is desirable to be able to study more than one property simultaneously, such as measuring neuroreceptor binding at the same time as transporters or cerebral perfusion together with receptor occupancy. While one option for doing so in some cases may be to use multiple modalities (e.g.

Project Summary We seek support to develop and build the positron emission tomography (PET) detector module for the next generation 7-Tesla magnetic resonance (MR)-compatible PET brain scanner with dramatically improved spatio-temporal resolution. PET and MRI are two of the most powerful imaging modalities currently in use for studying the human brain. Recently, scanners capable of simultaneous PET and MR whole-body data acquisition in human subjects have become commercially available.

Project Summary/Abstract A more thorough understanding of human brain function has profound implications for advancing neuroscience research and combatting neurological disease. Despite tremendous progress towards this goal through contemporary neuroimaging techniques, a number of challenges remain unaddressed, such as a lack of safe and non-invasive imaging modalities for continuous brain function assessments, limited spatiotemporal resolution in in vivo imaging of human brain dynamics, and suboptimal accuracy due to improper consideration of complex 3D brain anatomy.

Project Summary: The broad, long-term goal of this project is to develop a wearable high performance MEG system that can operate without external shielding that will lead to Advances in Human Neuroscience and transformative advances in our understanding of the Human Brain ‘in Action and in Context’, which are currently unachievable via imaging technologies in live persons.

ABSTRACT Short-term working memory is critical for all cognition. It is important to fluid intelligence by definition and is disordered in many psychiatric conditions. It is also an ideal model system for studying the link between the dynamics and functions of neural circuits. Short-term storage requires dynamics that are flexible enough to allow continuous incorporation of new information, yet stable enough to retain information for tens of seconds. Much is known about the neuronal substrate of short-term memory.

Project Summary Throughout life, humans and other animals learn statistical regularities in the natural acoustic environment. They adapt their hearing to emphasize the features of sound that are important for making behavioral decisions. Normal-hearing humans are able to perceive important sounds in crowded noisy scenes and to understand the speech of individuals the first time they meet. However, patients with peripheral hearing loss or central processing disorders often have problems hearing in these challenging settings, even when sound is amplified above perceptual threshold.

Project Summary/Abstract: There is significant current interest in understanding how neurons relate to whole-brain networks and how these networks coordinate to give rise to behavior.

PROJECT SUMMARY Understanding how individual neurons contribute to network functions is fundamental to neuroscience. Recent years have seen exciting progresses in the reconstructions of single-neuron morphologies and wiring diagrams at the level of individual synapses. Although these progresses offer promises of understanding neuronal networks, such understandings would not be reached if we do not understand how the structural details of single neurons contribute to the network connectivity.

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT This project focuses on developing new analysis tools to investigate the mechanisms of information routing in primate fronto-striatal circuits during goal-directed behavior. These tools are part of a seamless analysis pipeline that will enable neuroscience researchers to rigorously test hypotheses fast and with a minimum of translation between incompatible strategies and tools. The rationale for developing these tools is that evidence from recent studies suggests that information routing and changes in routing happen during transient bursts of activity.