Brain Effects of CBD and THC
We are studying the brain effects of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) using MRI brain scans. How do cannabis products such as CBD and THC affect brain function involved in attention, behavior, emotion, and cognition? Why do CBD and THC have different effects on individuals? Answering these questions may help many patients seeking cannabis related therapies.
Brain Wiring in Autism
In recent years, it has been discovered that abnormal connections between brain regions in autism may be a fundamental abnormality that can explain the symptoms of autism. We are testing theories about which connections are abnormal, how these connection deficiencies can be used for diagnosis and prognosis in autism, how these abnormalities cause dynamical changes in brain networks to cause autistic traits, and what interventions may be possible to help improve the lives of children and adults with autism.
Novel Metrics of Brain Dynamics in Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that adversely affects cognition and daily functioning in older adults. We seek to better understand the association between alterations in dynamic functional brain activity as it relates to biomarkers and decreasing cognition in individuals with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as cognitively intact seniors.