Current Studies
This study is being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Xin Feng at Ohio State University and examines ways in which mothers and their 4-year old children display convergence in how they respond to stimuli and events in the environment and how these are subsequently remembered. The portion of the study being conducted at NCH will involve eyetracking procedures to examine visual exploration of images and functional near infrared spectroscopy (or fNIRS) to assess brain responses to auditory stimuli. FNIRS is a procedure in which small lights and sensors embedded in a nylon mesh cap are placed on the scalp while the child is performing an experiment. FNIRS works in a similar fashion to the pulse oximeter to monitor heart rate by blood flow in the fingertips. In fNIRS the pattern of light absorption in then used to determine brain activity by changes in blood flow that occur underneath the light sensors. In this study both mothers and children will participate in the procedures.
This project aims to understand how intractable focal epilepsy impacts both structural and functional brain development in teenagers. We also want to learn if surgical treatments for epilepsy may result in improvements in brain function in addition to controlling seizures. In this study we are comparing children with epilepsy who undergo surgery to those who do not undergo surgery. We are also comparing both groups to a healthy control population. MRI scans in all groups will take place at two time points approximately one year apart. For participants who undergo surgery, the first time point will occur prior to surgery, and the second one-year post surgery. We will acquire functional MRI data to assess brain activity when participants are decoding emotional expressions in faces and voices. We will also acquire data to help us understand how structural and functional connectivity of the brain are impacted by epilepsy and recover following surgery.
The LEAF imaging study is a brain imaging companion to the Lifestyle and Early Achievement in Families study being conducted by Dr. Keim.
This study uses computer based tasks and MRI to probe a variety of cognitive functions including attention, inhibitory control, and visual working memory (face memory) in 7-8 year old children from diverse backgrounds.
The Gender Dysphoria study is a brain imaging and questionnaire based study being conducted in conjunction with Drs. Nahata and Leibowitz of the THRIVE Clinic. The goal of this study is to gain a better understanding of the impact of hormone manipulations on brain development and mental health among gender dysphoric teens. This research will result in a better understanding of the impacts that gonadal hormone blockers like gonadotropin agonists and gender affirming hormone treatments like testosterone and estrogen have on brain development and psychological well-being.
The SOPA study performed in collaboration with Dr. Gerry Taylor is a study of the effects of premature birth on adolescent development. While children who were born very premature tend to have difficulties with emotional and cognitive functions when they are young, little is known about how this population functions during the adolescent years. The SOPA study is designed to assess emotional and social functioning, and the brain mechanisms that support these processes, in adolescents born very premature compared to those born at term. The study involves both a questionnaire and an MRI session.