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Neurology

Research

Dr. Bennett Shaywitz uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the neurobiology of reading and dyslexia, including examination of neural systems in good and poor readers, investigation of the neural basis and mechanisms of beginning and of skilled reading, developmental changes in neural systems and response of neural systems to specific reading interventions and implications for teaching children to read. Dr. Shaywitz is Director of the Center for the Study of Learning and Attention.

Dr. Laura Ment studies the impact of preterm birth on the developing brain in groups of newborn 16 and 18 year old ex-preterm infants, by assessing serial neurodevelopmental outcome measures coupled with volumetric, functional and diffusion tensor imaging strategies. Her research on the "adaptive mechanisms of developing brain" addresses questions of neurogenesis, axonal guidance, synaptogenesis and the angiogenic/neurogenic interface in a preclinical model of preterm birth. Finally, Dr. Ment and her colleagues have just begun a 14 center study investigating the genetic and environmental risk factors for intraventricular hemorrhage, the most common cause of injury to the developing preterm brain.

Dr. Edward Novotny investigates cerebral metabolism during development using non-invasive nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. His studies include basis research studies in animals combining in vivo NMR methods and other neurobiological techniques. In addition, active neuroimaging research studies in humans using fMRI, simultaneous EEG/fMRI, magnetic resonance spectroscopy and nuclear medicine imaging are being done in children with epilepsy. Some human studies are related to genetically determined epilepsies and neurometabolic diseases. Active clinical research studies include:

• Treatment of new onset Childhood Absence Epilepsy
• Pediatric epilepsy neuroimaging studies and other clinical research studies

Dr. Geoffrey Miller investigates neuropsychological function in the muscular dystrophies. In addition, he investigates and reports on the bioethical issues that surround the care and management of the disabled child. This includes end-of-life issues, extreme prematurity, and the neurologically impared infant.

Dr. Sally Shaywitz investigates the epidemiology, developmental course, long-term outcome and neurobiology of reading and reading disabilities, particularly dyslexia. She uses fMRI to examine the neurobiological outcome of early reading difficulties, subtypes, compensation and persistence of reading difficulties and early predictors of outcome. Recently, she has begun to use functional imaging to examine hormonal influences on brain organization and cognitive function in children and in postmenopausal women. Dr. Shaywitz is Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Learning and Attention.

Dr. Kenneth Pugh uses functional magnetic resonance to examine reading systems and adaptive learning mechanisms in developing readers. His studies include measured effects of priming, repetition, level of processing, task demands, and stimulus type of the neurobiological mechanisms associated with reading.