Evaluation of pathological changes in brain connectivity using neuroimaging

Our lab is interested in using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to study the brain networks involving in human cognition and how these networks are affected by diseases. The MRI techniques we employ include anatomical studies, diffuse tensor imaging (DTI), functional MRI (fMRI), and resting state functional MRI (rsfMRI). These imaging studies can also be combined with electrophysiological studies such as EEG and neuropsychological testing results to understand the brain networks in both physiological states and pathological states.

One of the ongoing projects in the lab is to recruit subjects with moderate and severe traumatic brain injuries and follow them over time with imaging, EEG, and neuropsychological testing results. These results will be compared to studies obtained from healthy controls. The goal is to identify biomarkers that can predict the development of post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) among these individuals. This study is the US Dept. of Defense, Congressional Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP): W81XWH-18-1-0655. URL: https://app.dimensions.ai/details/grant/grant.7749737

We also plan to apply these techniques to patients affected by diseases such as movement disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, and epilepsy. 

Recent publications: 

Biomarkers of Seizure Activity in Patients with Intracranial Metastases and Glioma: a Wide Range Study of Correlated Region of Interest, P. Kalakoti, A. Edwards, C. Ferrier, K. Sharma, T. Huynh, C. Ledbetter, E. Gozalez-Toledo, A. Nanda, and H. Sun, Frontiers in Neurology, 2020.

Focal epilepsy caused by single cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) is associated with regional and global resting state functional connectivity (FC) disruption. J. D'Cruz, M. Hefner, C. Ledbetter, C. Frilot, B. Howard, P. Zhu, R. Riel-Romero, C. Notarianni, E. Gonzalez-Toledo, A. Nanda, and H. Sun. Neuroimage Clin. 2019.

Differentiation of High-Grade Glioma and Intracranial Metastasis Using Volumetric Diffusion Tensor Imaging Tractography. Holly, J. Fitz-Gerald, B. Barker, D. Murcia, R. Daggett, C. Ledbetter, E. Gonzalez-Toledo, and H. Sun. World Neurosurgery. 2018.

High-grade Gliomas Exhibit Higher Peritumoral Fractional Anisotropy and Lower Mean Diffusivity than Intracranial Metastases. K. Holly, B. Barker, D. Murcia, R. Bennett, P. Kalakoti, C. Ledbetter, E. Gonzalez-Toledo, A. Nanda, and, H. Sun. Frontiers Surgery. 2017.