Ongoing Studies at the Brain Sciences Center
The primary goal of the research at the Brain Sciences Center is to elucidate the dynamic mechanisms of the working brain in health and disease. The neuroscientists at the Brain Sciences Center are working to unlock the mysteries of debilitating neurological diseases, disorders, and addictions. With today's technology, researchers are able to view these dynamic processes of the working brain, and take the first steps toward understanding the mechanisms which may lead to treatment and prevention to help the millions suffering from brain afflictions.
Gender & Development
Brain areas associated with development and gender differences in healthy subjects.
Objectives: To determine the relations between brain anatomy, brain activity, and neuropsychological measures in healthy females and males, during development and as adults.
Research plan and methods: We plan to study healthy females and males to determine gender differences in brain anatomy and function. Subjects will also be recruited across a broad age range to determine developmental changes in the brain. Subjects will undergo cognitive and motor testing to provide quantitative measures of their behavior. The results of this testing will be related to brain anatomy, as measured by structural MRI, and brain activity, as measured by functional MRI and magnetoencephalography (MEG)/electroencephalography (EEG).
The Brain Sciences Chair
was created by the efforts of a tripartite partnership from private, state and federal sectors including:
The American Legion Family of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota
Minneapolis Veterans Affairs
Health Care System
This partnership provided funds for an endowed chair in Brain Sciences, as well as office space and general support for the Brain Sciences Center.
Since it opened in 1991, the Center has grown substantially in physical size and personnel. The staff now includes more than 40 people, who come from a variety of academic backgrounds and institutions around the world. All have trained at the Brain Sciences Center on research methods ranging from neurophysiology to brain imaging. This unique blend of people and the integration of many scientific disciplines creates an environment for excellence in research and education.
(above) The Brain Sciences Chair in the office of Dr. Apostolos Georgopoulos.
