Center for Brain, Biology, & Behavior
Interdisciplinary Research Center
Dennis L. Molfese, Ph.D.
Mildred Francis Thompson Professor
Director: Center for Brain, Biology & Behavior
Director: Big Ten/CIC Traumatic Brain Injury Research Consortium
Editor-In-Chief: Developmental Neuropsychology
Director: Developmental Neuroscience Lab
University of Nebraska -Lincoln
Acknowledgements
–Cathryn Cortesa, BA
–Nicole Earnest
–Caitlin Hudac, MA
–Kathleen Kelsey, MA
–Srinivas Kota, Ph.D.
–Christopher Rudasill, MFA
–Nathan Petro, B.A.
–Victoria Molfese, Ph.D.
Philosophy of The Center
Foster Interdisciplinary Collaborations.
Provide Assess to BOTH Equipment & Training.
Lead Paradigm Shift Within The Neurosciences:
–- Move from “neural phrenology” to Understanding
Brain’s Neural Spatial & Temporal Interconnectivty.
–- Address Characteristics of Processing In and
Between Brain Regions.
New Stadium Additions
Center for Brain, Biology,
& Behavior
Health & Performance
Research Lab
Athletics/Academics Collaboration:
An Unprecedented Initiative
• Informs:
–Medical & Behavioral Science
–Athletic & Academic Training & Competition
–Safety
–Innovations
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BIG 10 - Ivy League Concussion
Research Collaboration
Consortium of 13 University Research &
Sport Programs with BIG 10 CIC + 8 Ivy
League Schools
Coaches
Trainers
Behavior & Brain Imaging Researchers
Shared data base for images, behavior data,
test procedures & programs
Increasing external grant funding.
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Unprecedented New Information
Screen Athletes Before Season (baseline)
Track Performance, Neurocognition & Brain
Measures
•Head Injured & Matched Controls
•Assess Impact of Multiple Concussion
•Shared Database Across Conferences
• Design Interventions
• Improve Equipment Design
• Develop Concussion Awareness Programs
Facilities
1st Floor
2nd Floor
Reception
2nd Floor
Internal Stairway Connecting 2nd and 3rd Floors
3rd Floor
Science Work Group Areas for 2nd and 3rd Floors
Training Plan
Model for Training in Brain Imaging
Techniques
1. Workshop Introduction to Theory, Methods,
Literature, Analyses (2-days)
2. Consult on research design
3. Hands-on training with equipment for setup, data
collection, data processing & analysis.
4. Assistance with:
a. Data analyses
b. Conference presentations
c. Journal article drafts
5. Grant submissions
GOAL: Establish Dominance in Mainstream
Research
CB3 Training To Date
October 1, 2010 - August, 2012
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8 Two-Day Workshop:
Students
227 Faculty &
Advanced Imaging Training: 69 Faculty &
Students
Current Research Studies:
12 Projects
Department Presentations: 38
Current 08-22-2012
Trainees = 26
Available Technologies
fMRI
High Density Infant & Adult NIRS
High-Density EEG/ERP
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation -TMS
Behavior Science Labs
Balance Labs
Computer Labs
Developmental Labs
Endocrine Lab
Eye Tracking Labs
Genetics Lab
fMRI - functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Siemens 3 Tesla
Structure
70 cm bore
DTI
Function
fMRI - functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
fMRI Imaging
Attachment
Dyslexia
Balance Lab
Videonystagmography (VNG)
Gait Testing
Rotational Chair
Balance Function Testing
Subjective Visual Vertical
Functional Evaluation of Vestibulo-Ocu
Reflex (VOR)
NIRS - Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
TMS - Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Machine
High-Density ERP/EEG
Event-Related Potentials (ERP)
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Newborn Infant
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Adult
NEWBORN
Left Side
Front of Head
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Back of Head
Right Side
Adult
Front of Head
Left Side
Right Side
+
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Back of Head
Learning alters brain organization for acquisition
of new information
Same
Shape Matching Task
Different
Low GRTR
High GRTR
[GRTR less than 11]
[GRTR more than 11]
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Molfese et al, 2008
Eye Tracker
Eye Tracker + ERP net
Eye Tracking Information
Intervention
ERPs in 2 to 4-Year-Old Preschool SLI Children Predict Subsequent
Language Gains Following 4 Month Intervention
Ability to discriminate /da/ from /ga/
Yoder, Molfese & Camarata, In Press
Concussion Intervention
Training Task
Additional Benefits
Results
Concussion
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Issues in Assessing Sports Concussion
1. Little information on brain & behavior prior to
concussion.
2. Little long-term follow-up following concussion using
standardized testing.
3. Tests not comprehensive (e.g., ImPACT not effective
in measuring attention, working memory).
4. Little information available regarding prior head
injuries.
5. Falsification of pre-season tests by athletes.
6. Pressure to resume play following possible head
injury.
7. No research-based information regarding when
players can be safely returned to play.
Brain Deformation Following Side
“Hit”
Top View
Side View
Pellman et al., 2006
Direction
of
Force
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<
Direction
of
Force
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Brain Deformation Following Side
“Hit”
Top View
Side View
Pellman et al., 2006
Direction
of
Force
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<
Direction
of
Force
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Force can
produce
shearing
Vestibular Tests May Help to Identify and
Manage Concussion
Julie Honaker, Ph.D.
Sports Concussion
Working Memory: 2-back
N2
N400
Match
Nonmatch
Match
Nonmatch
Self-reported symptoms & N2
Nonmatch
N2
Match
No history of persistent
headache (n=16)
History of persistent
headache (n=19)
2.5 nA
.01 nA
20-40% with TBI experience vision-disorders
Normal Visual
World
World at an Angle
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Post-Trauma Vision Syndrome
Visual Midline Shift Syndrome
Hudac et al, 2011
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Future Possibilities
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Use brain imaging procedures to identify
distortions produced by brain injury.
Identify intervention that can produce more
normal neural processing.
Use the successful intervention to enable
individual to perceive and interact with the world
in more normal fashion.
Questions ???
©2012 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska. All rights reserved.
fMRI - functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
High-Density ERP/EEG:
Newborn Infant
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Event-Related Potentials (ERP)
High-Density ERP/EEG: Adult
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Function
fMRI
Tracks
Blood
Flow in
Brain
DTI
Q u ic k T im e ™ a n d a
Ph o t o - J PEG d e c o m p r e s s o r
a r e n e e d e d t o s e e t h is p ic t u r e .
ERP
Structure
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Key et al., In press
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