Recent Publications

The developing visual system: a building block on the path to autism

This article reviews what is known about the developing visual system in ASD in the first years of life; it also explores the potential canalizing role that atypical visual system maturation may have in the emergence of ASD by placing findings in the context of developmental cascades involving brain development, attention, and social and cognitive … Read more

Individual differences in punished alcohol self-administration are unaltered by alcohol vapor exposure

Alcohol drinking that persists despite negative consequences is a core feature of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Here we investigate whether individual variability in this behavior are due to extended alcohol exposure or pre-existing differences in rats.

Loss of excitatory inputs and decreased tonic and evoked activity of locus coeruleus neurons in aged P301S mice

In this manuscript we used a mouse model of dementia that harbors a human mutation in the tau protein. We found that neurons that are lost in Alzheimer’s Disease (locus coeruleus norepinephrine neurons) have reduced function as compared to their age matched controls.

Explainable artificial intelligence to quantify adenoid hypertrophy-related upper airway obstruction using 3D Shape Analysis

We developed an explainable AI model that analyzes 3D CBCT scans to automatically classify and measure upper airway obstruction caused by adenoid hypertrophy in children. This tool provides clinicians with clear visual explanations and accurate assessments to support diagnosis and treatment planning.

Factors Associated with Leaving Ambulatory Psychiatric Treatment in a Large, Academic Health System During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Factors identified with a higher odds of leaving outpatient psychiatric care during COVID-19 included demographic (male sex, uninsured (self-pay) status), behavioral (inactive patient health portal), and diagnostic (anxiety and trauma stressor disorders, pervasive and specific developmental disorders, and disorders of childhood) factors. These results highlight that the reasons patients left care during the period immediately … Read more

Zuranolone for Postpartum Depression After Highly Lethal Suicide Attempt: Two Case Illustrations and a Narrative Literature Review

Our women’s mood disorders group produced this case series on our experience treating patients with zuranolone for severe postpartum depression with suicidality.

The effects of estradiol on subcortical brain volumes in perimenopausal-onset depression

Estrogen treatment during menopause increased right hippocampal volumes in women without depression.

Neuronal oscillations and functional connectivity of paced nostril breathing: A high-density EEG study

We investigated how different breathing techniques impact electrical activity in the brain.

O-GalNAc glycans are enriched in neuronal tracts and regulate nodes of Ranvier

Research led by Dr. Robert Mealer describes how a unique class of sugar molecules in the brain is enriched a specialized structures called nodes of Ranvier. This work provides new insight to a group of genes that are involved with genetic disorders of the brain, including schizophrenia.

Building a two-state learning healthcare system for persons with first episode psychosis

This paper describes the learning health system model used to create Connection Learning Healthcare System (CLHS): a network of academic institutions, state behavioral health systems, and early psychosis specialty care programs in Pennsylvania and Maryland. It reviews lessons learned and areas of ongoing attention.