Research Areas

Brain Mapping of Reward and Emotion

MNI Limbic Brainstem Atlas Contents on Google Drive:

• Locus Coeruleus(Link is external) (01_LC_ATLAS_2022a.nii.gz) 
• Nucleus Tractus Solitaris(Link is external) (02_NTS_ATLAS_2022a.nii.gz)
• Ventra Tegemental Area(Link is external) (Link opens in new window) (03_VTA_ATLAS_2022a.nii.gz)
• Periaquaductal Grey(Link is external) (Link opens in new window) (04_PAG_ATLAS_2022a.nii.gz)
• Dorsal Raphe Nucleus(Link is external) (Link opens in new window) (05_DRN_ATLAS_2022a.nii.gz)
• MNI Limbic Brainstem Atlas Contents(Link is external) (Link opens in new window)

Recommend using FSL software (https://fsl.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/fsl/fslwiki(Link is external) (Link opens in new window)) and the above referenced 200b nonlinear asymmetric MNI template. These files have no threshold applied. Recommend min 10 and max 90 to start, adjust as needed based on use case. Also available at: http://nist.mni.mcgill.ca/icbm-152-nonlinear-atlases-2009/(Link is external) (Link opens in new window).

Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subgenual Cingulate Cortex for the Treatment of Medically Refractory Chronic Low Back Pain (IRB#19-001566)

The goal of this proposal is to demonstrate the safety, feasibility and preliminary efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subgenual cingulate cortex (SCC) region in the treatment of medically refractory chronic low back pain (CLBP).

The Role of Cortical and Subcortical Brain Areas in Motor and Psychiatric Processing Using Invasive and Non-Invasive Neuronal Recordings: New DBS Patients (IRB#17-001433)

The overall goal of this research is to identify the electrophysiological and neuroanatomical correlates of motivation and hedonic value within the basal ganglia and limbic system. This will better inform future therapeutic interventions for the treatment of addiction and other neuropsychiatric disorders.

Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Impulsivity and Reward in Subjects with Traumatic Brain Injury (IRB#19-000265)

This study examines whether non-invasively stimulating of the vagus nerve can modulate complex behaviors upstream of the site of stimulation. This research grants us the opportunity to develop future non-invasive therapeutic interventions for the treatment of impulse control disorders.

Electrophysiological and Anatomical Basis of Reward Processing in the Basal Ganglia and Limbic System

The proposed research aims to delineate the role of the basal ganglia and limbic system in mediating brain reward and motivation. This knowledge will result in a better understanding of the neurobiology of substance abuse and help to develop novel treatment strategies.

Techniques Used

• Intraoperative task-based neuronal recordings
• Deep Brain Stimulation
• Electrocorticography (ECoG)
• Local Field Potential (LFP) Recordings
• Depth Electrode Recordings (LFP, single units)
• Probabilistic tractography (DMRI)
• Tractography (DTI)