Functional Neurology Research Group
Explore This Lab
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
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.
Podcast: Assessing and Managing Patients with Functional Neurological Disorders
David Perez and Andrea Leigh Haller discuss the assessment and management of patients with functional neurological disorders.
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 L. Perez, MD, MMSc
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 Wisonsin–Madison
Priyanka Alluri, BA
Research Assistant
Graduate of Boston University
Ibaia Diez, PhD
Research Assistant
Graduate of Boston University
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 Delaware
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
Sigrid Young
Brown University
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.