Research - Current Projects

ADHD
"Characterizing Two Distinct ADHD Neurobiologies with fMRI"
A study that examines brain activity, performance on tests of attention or similar mental abilities, and genetic markers to determine whether symptoms of ADHD are related to different biological causes.  Please visit this website for more information: www.harthosp.org/adhd

Depression
"How Do SSRI Medications Work to Change Brain Function in Depressed Adolescents?" and "Neurobiological Correlates of Treatment-Resistance in Depressed Adolescents"
These studies use fMRI to investigate differences between brain function in adolescents, ages 12-18, who are currently diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder who respond to SSRI antidepressant treatment, and those who do not.

Typical Development
"Adolescent Maturation of Brain Network Integration for Executive Control Abilities"
This study examines executive functioning as it relates to brain development in healthy adolescents and young adults, ages 12-24. Cognition and behavioral control are studied using paper and pencil tasks, computer tasks, and an fMRI scan, during which participants will be engaged in computer tasks.
For more information, please call Bryan at (860)545-7895.

Neurocognitive Development
There is a strong focus in the lab on projects that will ultimately help us better understand neural differences between younger and older groups, particularly neural development that occurs after puberty into early adult years. Numerous studies of brain structure, brain function, and cognitive test performance show developmental changes throughout this critical period of transition between childhood and adulthood. However, there is insufficient understanding of how changes in cognition and behavioral control relate to these neurobiological factors.

Multimodal Data Fusion is the process of combining data obtained from different modalities (e.g., fMRI and EEG) and integrating them in the same analytic framework. Such analyses are extremely powerful ways to maximize the usefulness of obtained datsets, as each research methodology carries its own set of strengths and limitations. By capitalizing on the qualitatively different types of information provided by each modality, it is possible to approach old questions in new ways.