Neuropsychology/Cognitive Neuroscience/Neuroimaging

 

Faculty within this area are part of an elite group of academic programs providing articulated hypothesis-driven research training in neuropsychology, cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging at the predoctoral, internship, and post-doctoral levels. A variety of research methodologies are used to address specific questions about the neural bases of cognitive (i.e., executive, memory) and affective behavior in humans. Program investigators study healthy individuals across the lifespan and individuals with specific clinical disorders ( mild cognitive impairment and early dementia, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, sports concussion, stroke, epilepsy, developmental disorders, neuropsychiatric disease, and effects of medical/surgical procedures [e.g. deep brain stimulation, seizure surgery] on neurocognitive status). Currently used “tools” include structural and functional fMRI, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), electrophysiology (ERP), computer methods for analyzing dynamic emotion displays, Psychophysiology (startle, SCR, facial EMG, HR), use of biomarkers, and basic cognitive science & neuropsychological measures. Our research portfolio includes laboratory based experiments, translational and clinical research, as well as hypothesis-driven intervention studies.

This program consists of 10 academic faculty, including experts in neuropsychology, cognitive neuroscience, and cognitive aging with funding from NIH, Department of Defense, Veterans Administration, National Parkinson Foundation, Michael J. Fox Foundation, Mcknight Research Foundation, and private foundations. Faculty are participant scientists of the McKnight Brain Institute, the Institute of Aging, the Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, the Center for Neuropsychological Studies, the VA RR&D Brain Rehabilitation and Research Center, and the Brooks Rehabilitation Center.