Ciencia Puerto Rico

Our laboratory studies functional connectivity in rodent models of neurological and psychiatric brain disorders.  We utilize high field MRI to measure resting state and stimulus-evoked BOLD signal responses in rodent brains. We apply this approach to: (1) investigate mechanisms by which beta amyloid alters resting state networks and how this relates to age-related changes in cognitive and non-cognitive behaviors, (2) determine mechanisms involved in the reorganization of functional connectivity in rodent models of experimentally-induced focal brain injury, and (3) study the functional changes in the rodent brain following chronic exposure to substances known to produce drug misuse disorders. In these three major research areas we explore relationships between neuroimaging outcomes and rodent behaviors. Our laboratory conducts tests for anxiety, fear, social interactions, reward seeking, and locomotor activity in mice. Ultimately, our ongoing goal is to uncover whole brain neural mechanisms, from neurons to networks, and gain new insight on dementia disorders in aging, traumatic brain injuries, and addiction. Using this in vivo whole brain imaging and behavior approach offers a rigorous platform for testing of therapeutic candidates in mouse models using fMRI, behavior, and statistical analyses.