Neural Connectivity Lab

Research Directions

  • DTI, HARDI, and Structural Data for 66 Controls Subjects. See cited article for details: Chang YS, Owen JP, Pojman NJ, Thieu T, Bukshpun P, Wakahiro MLJ, Berman JI, Robert TPL, Nagarajan SS, Sherr EH, Mukherjee P (2015) White matter changes of neurite density and fiber orientation dispersion during human brain maturation. PLoS ONE.
  • NIH-funded cross-sectional and longitudinal clinical research studies of traumatic brain injury using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), functional MRI (fMRI), 3D MR spectroscopic imaging, and magnetoencephalography (MEG), with correlation to candidate susceptibility genes and to neurocognitive function (attention, memory, information processing speed, and executive function) .
  • Application of multivariate statistical methods, including principal component analysis (PCA), independent component analysis (ICA), and machine learning techniques, to fMRI and DTI for mapping cortical and white matter networks in the normal human brain and in human brain malformations, such as dysgenesis of the corpus callosum.
  • Development of improved DTI and high angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) methodology for in vivo human brain white matter fiber tractography, with application to graph theoretic analysis of cortical connectivity.

Research Studies

Participants Needed For Research Study

UCSF is one of three study sites currently sponsored by the GE aiming to develop next generation, noninvasive imaging technologies to improve diagnosis and treatment for patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), also known as a concussion.

Who can participate?

  • People ages 15-50 who have had concussion within the past 10 days (Ideally in the past 72 hours)
  • No other brain injuries/concussions in the past year
  • No permanent metal or MRI-incompatible material in body

What is involved?

  • 3 to 4 two-hour visits at UCSF Mission Bay
  • Each visit consists of 1-hr MRI and 1-hr neurological assessment

What are the benefits?

  • Potentially make an important contribution to concussion/mTBI research and future clinical care for others.
  • Participants may be compensated for completing all portions of the study

Interested in hearing more?
Contact our study staff and enroll ASAP. Time after injury is important for this study.