Functional Neurology Research Group

Overview

The Functional Neurology Research Group uses advanced structural and functional brain magnetic resonance imaging techniques to study the biological basis of Functional Neurological Disorders and related conditions.

Patients with medically unexplained neurological symptoms, including Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures, Functional Movement Disorders and Functional Weakness, experience symptoms that are common yet poorly understood.

The mission of the Functional Neurology Research Group at Massachusetts General Hospital, working in collaboration with researchers at the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging and others within the Harvard Medical School hospital community, is to characterize brain circuit abnormalities in Functional Neurological Disorders.

Longitudinal studies also aim to probe brain biomarkers of prognosis and treatment response.

David Perez, MD, MMSc, is a dual trained Neurologist-Psychiatrist and Cognitive-Affective Neuroscientist. Clinically, Dr. Perez works in the Cognitive Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry Units at Mass General to diagnose and treat patients with Functional Neurological Disorders.

Media

Study Provides Insights on How Early Life Trauma can Contribute to Functional Neurological Disorder

In a new study published in Molecular Psychiatry, a research team led by Ibai Diez, PhD and David Perez, MD, MSSC, examined the brains of individuals who experienced early-life trauma, some with functional neurological disorder (FND) and others without the condition. The findings may provide a better understanding of what happens in the brains of some patients with FND, as well as those with various other trauma-related brain disorders.

White Matter Is Altered in Functional Neurological Disorder

Using a novel method of analyzing MRI scans, neurologists at Massachusetts General Hospital identified microstructural differences in white matter between 32 patients with functional neurological disorder (FND) and 36 healthy controls.

The Role of Functional Neuroimaging in Functional Neurological Disorders

Dr. Perez speaks with Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry Podcast Editor, Elizabeth Highton about stepwise functional connectivity, a novel brain imaging technique, and how it might help us better understand the biology of functional neurological disorders.

What Can Neurology and Neurosurgery Learn from Psychiatry?

Video recording of a panel discussion with Bruce Price, MD, Ron Alterman, MD, Matcheri Keshavan, MD, and David Perez, MD, MMSc.

An Early Interdisciplinary Approach Is Vital with FND Patients

(Coverage of a recent paper authored by David Perez, MD, Kathleen McKee, MD, Nicholas Kontos, MD, and colleagues from Massachusetts General Hospital)

Motor functional neurologic disorders (FND)—previously termed “hysteria” and later “conversion disorder”—are exceedingly common and frequently encountered in the acute hospital setting. But despite their high prevalence, patients with motor FND can be challenging to diagnose accurately and manage effectively, say the authors. And, to date, there has been limited guidance on the inpatient approach to the neuropsychiatric evaluation.

BJM Talk Medicine podcast featuring Dr. Perez

Despite the prevalence of the disease, neurologists and psychiatrists can be wary of treating patients with functional neurological disorder (FND). Assistant Professor David Perez (Massachusetts General Hospital, USA) discusses how FND sits between neurological and psychiatric disciplines, the relationship between poor health status and affective symptoms, and associations with grey matter volumetric profiles.

Brain alterations linked with symptoms of PTSD, functional neurologic disorders

Distinct structural alterations in cingulo-insular areas may be found in patients with symptoms of functional neurologic disorders (FNDs), as well as in those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or those who experienced childhood adverse events, suggests new neuroimaging research.

Meet Our Team

Faculty

David Perez, MD, MSSc Assistant in Neurology and Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School Affiliated Faculty, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging

Christopher D. Stephen, MB, ChB, MRCP Assistant in Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital Instructor in Neurology, Harvard Medical School

Julie Maggio, PT, DPT, NCS Senior Physical Therapist

Laboratory Staff

Anna Larson, BS Research Assistant Graduate of University of Wisconsin-Madison

Priyanka Alluri, BA Research Assistant Graduate of Boston University

Ibaia Diez, PhD Senior Post-doctoral Research Fellow

Vihang Nakhate Harvard Medical School Student

Alumni

Juan Pablo Ospina Botero, MD Universidad de los Andes, Colombia

Isabelle Gilman Summer Research Student Villanova University

Julie King Summer Research Student University of Deleware

Rozita JalilianHasanpour, MD Laboratory Research Fellow Graduate of Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Sara J. Makaretz Tufts University

Nassim Matin, MD, MPH Laboratory Research Fellow Graduate of Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Benjamin Williams, BS Brown University

Julie King Summer Research Student University of Deleware

Research Projects

Neurobiology of Motor Functional Neurological Disorders and Related Conditions

This study uses structural and functional neuroimaging techniques, in conjunction with self-report and research administered questionnaires, to study brain-symptom relationships in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures, functional movement disorders, functional weakness and related conditions.

Research Positions

Visiting Scholar Program: We are enthusiastic about offering external scientists the opportunity to join us in our daily research work and exchange new ideas and perspectives. We welcome individuals at different levels of clinical/academic training, with specific focus on providing students and trainees (undergraduate and graduate students, medical students, residents, and fellows) with exposure to clinical research in the fields of neurology and psychiatry, with a particular emphasis on clinical research in behavioral neurology/neuropsychiatry and Functional Neurological Disorders. Each application is handled and considered individually.

Publications

Visit PubMed to view recent publications by members of our research team.