Biomedical Research Imaging Center - UNC School of Medicine
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BRIC Funded Pilot Projects
Debbie Gipson, M.D.
Karen M. Grewen, Ph.D.
Bonita L. Marks, Ph.D.
Somatosensory cortical maps in autism, PI: Grace Baranek, Ph.D. - Department of Allied Health Sciences
Behavioral and clinical data suggest that sensory processing, including somatosensory processing, is altered in autism[90-92]. Recently, we have experimentally investigated this phenomenon from a psychophysical perspective, finding body site-dependent differences in detecting vibrotactile stimuli, and intensity-dependent differences in reporting the occurrence of thermal sensations[124, 125]. We propose to investigate the neural basis of these differences in autistic and control subjects by comparing the somatotopic and intensive representation of stimulation in primary and secondary somatosensory cortex, using fMRI.
Aim 1: To compare activation in somatosensory cortex of people with autism and controls in response to vibratory stimulation of the skin at two somatic sites.
Aim 2: To compare activation in somatosensory cortex of people with autism and controls in response to two modalities of thermal stimulation at the same somatic site.
Progress updates: Thus far, 9 high functioning adults with autism have completed the protocol. The preliminary psychophysical results (without scan) indicate that the autism group is significantly better able to detect vibration at the forearm site, and is more sensitive to painful heat at both the forearm and palm sites than controls. Imaging analyses are in process and results will be forthcoming once control subjects are fully recruited and matched to the experimental group.
Functional MRI and Working Memory in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease, PI: Debbie Gipson, MD, MSPH - UNC Kidney Center
In a recent NIDDK sponsored taskforce meeting on chronic renal insufficiency in children, Dr. Gipson led a discussion regarding information known and areas to be explored pertaining to the neurocognitive effects of chronic kidney disease in children. One of the suggested directions from this taskforce was to employ the techniques of functional neuroimaging to improve the understanding of the cognitive deficits of children with kidney disease. To this end, the specific aim of this study is to examine the impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on working memory in children through acquisition of fMRI and interdisciplinary collaboration for image analysis and interpretation.
Progress updates: We have recruited 26 of the 30 planned participants. Analysis of the data so far is very encouraging in quality. We are finding abnormalities in our children with chronic kidney disease as would be predicted based upon the neuropsychiatry data on memory tasks that we have on this disease population.
A Proposal to Use fMRI to Investigate the Effects of Gestational Cocaine on the Neural Correlates of Maternal Attachment, PI: Karen M. Grewen, Ph.D. - Department of Psychiatry
The goal of this research is to use fMRI to examine the neural circuitry involved in maternal attachment formation in the early postpartum period, and to investigate possible differences in human mothers who have used cocaine during pregnancy compared with cocaine-free controls. Formation of a strong mother-infant bond during the early postnatal period is necessary for optimal infant development and survival. However, despite drug treatment and abstinence, mothers who have used cocaine during pregnancy are more likely to display greater rates of maternal neglect, infant-directed hostility, abuse, and postnatal depression, suggesting difficulty in establishing normal infant attachment[126, 127].
Aim 1: To determine, using an fMRI protocol, whether prenatal cocaine use is related to differential activation of brain circuitry involved in maternal attachment and the encoding of reward in response to infant-related visual cues in human mothers tested during the critical early postpartum period when mother-infant bonds are being formed.
Aim 2: To determine whether maternal neural circuit activations observed in response to infant-related cues in the fMRI protocol are related to maternal biobehavioral responses to a structured mother-infant interaction during a separate experimental laboratory protocol.
Progress updates: We are currently presenting pilot-tested video stimuli to mothers of infants using Presentation software, and obtaining anatomical and functional images in the 3T MRI scanner. We have successfully tested 9 subjects (2 cocaine-exposed, 7 drug-naive) using this protocol of infant videos. Five more subjects are scheduled for fMRI. All mothers concurrently complete an experimental session in which cardiovascular, neuroendocrine and behavioral data are obtained for correlation with imaging results.
Role of recreational sport participation on cerebral white matter integrity in older adults, PI: Bonita L. Marks, Ph.D. – Department of Exercise and Sport Science
There is an emerging body of epidemiological evidence suggesting that physical activity/exercise may be an important contributor to healthier brain function[128, 129]. However, there are only a few human neuroimaging studies examining the impact of exercise on the aging brain[130-132]. The majority of the research is limited to self-report recalls focusing on walking activity versus sedentary behavior. A considerable number of older adults are participating in aerobic sport-related activities (rather than walking), yet there is a gap in the literature regarding the impact sport activities have on the aged brain. Utilization of DTI will provide a unique approach to quantifying the effect of aerobic sport-related activities on the brain’s cerebral white matter integrity.
Aim 1: To determine the effect of aerobic sports participation on cerebral white matter integrity in older adults.
Aim 2: To determine the effect of aerobic sports participation on cognitive (executive) function in older adults.
Progress updates: Imaging of 16 subjects have finished; Data analysis is currently undergoing.