Division of Neurotherapeutics

Our focus is on neurotherapeutic interventions for severe, treatment-resistant psychiatric illnesses. Currently, we focus in particular on obsessive-compulsive disorder, mood, and anxiety disorders but our focus is continually expanding.

Our research spans mechanistic studies, clinical trials and device-based interventions employing a variety of techniques, including neuroimaging and electrophysiology. We also provide clinical services and surgical treatments for psychiatric illness.

Our work utilizes functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial focused ultrasound pulsation (tFUS), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), ablative limbic system procedures, and deep brain stimulation (DBS) to further understanding of psychiatric illness and treatment.

Research Projects

Transformative Restoration of Affective Networks by Systematic, Function-oriented, Real-time Modeling and Deep Brain Stimulation (TRANSFORM DBS)

This multi-year integrated translational neuro-engineering project proposes to co-develop a new deep brain stimulation (DBS) system that actively senses a patient's brain activity, delivers electrical stimulation, and adjusts that stimulation in real time based on the brain's electrical response. These "closed loop" systems offer tremendous potential for bringing new hope to patients living with severe mental illness, especially particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and addiction.

TRANSFORM DBS hopes to create a new generation of medical devices that actively sense a patient's brain activity, deliver electrical stimulation, then adjust that stimulation in real time based on the brain's electrical response. These "closed loop" systems offer tremendous potential for bringing new hope to patients living with severe mental illness. Learn More

EMOTE-DBS: ON/OFF Stimulation, Reward Motivation, and Impulsivity in Patients with Deep Brain Stimulators

While past studies have been successful in identifying functional and neurochemical correlates of individual differences in reward motivation and impulsivity, assessment of causal mechanisms has remained elusive due to the inherent limitations of human neuroscience methods. Here, we test the causal role of human mesolimbic circuitry in reward motivation and impulsivity by examining a cohort of patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) within the ventral striatum. We examine behavior on and off stimulation across a range of tasks that index different forms of learning and motivation.

The long-term goal of this line of research is to help identify the neural circuitry underlying motivation for positive experiences, so as to better understand the neurobiology of anhedonia and motivational deficits found across numerous psychiatric patient populations.

High Resolution MRI in Cingulotomy and Capsulotomy Patients

The purpose of this study is to examine patterns of connection and activation in brain regions of patients who undergo anterior cingulotomy or  anterior capsulotomy for treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The purpose of this investigation is to use high resolution MRI, specifically diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), as well as resting state MRI, to look at the connection patterns in patients who have been treated with cingulotomy or capsulotomy for MDD or OCD, as compared to healthy controls.

Integrated Information Theory of Consciousness: Investigation of Surgical Interventions for Psychiatric Disorders

Current measures of human consciousness rely on self-report or behavioral responses from patients. These measures may not accurately uncover covert consciousness, i.e. patients who are in minimally conscious states. The Integrated Information Theory (IIT) of consciousness posits that the nature and complexity of the brain’s response to external stimuli can differentiate between different states of consciousness. This theory leads to a Perturbational Complexity Index (PCI), a quantitative measure of human consciousness.

The purpose of this multi-site study is to investigate the psychometric properties of PCI in healthy individuals and extend this work in patients who have undergone psychiatric surgical interventions. We will use Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to perturb the brain and electroencephalography (EEG) to record the complexity of the brain's response. We will later investigate if ablations (such as cingulotomies and capsulotomies) in patients affect PCI values.

Neural Correlates of the Consciousness of Fear

The purpose of this study is to investigate brain activity, behavioral reports, and psychophysiological responses associated with the conscious experience of fear. We will administer Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound Pulsation (LIFUP) or transcranial Focused Ultrasound (tFUS) as a neuromodulatory tool to the amygdala to probe its role in the feeling of fear. This study will enable us to potentially differentiate between subjective and objective measures of the anticipation and experience of fear. We will also explore the ability of LIFUP/tFUS to change a core emotion.

Clinical Feasibility of Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound Pulsation for the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

While pharmacological treatments and psychotherapy are currently available for anxiety, the average response rates can be around 50-55%. In this multi-site study, we are investigating the feasibility of using LIFUP or tFUS for treatment-resistant Generalized Anxiety Disorder. This study involves fMRI, behavioral tasks, and psychophysiological measures. This study may identify a novel, non-invasive, neuromodulatory treatment option for individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder who have not benefited from existing treatments.

Neuromodulation of Ventral Striatum with Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound Pulsation

Currently, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) of the ventral capsule/ventral striatum (VC/VS), has been FDA approved for treatment-resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). DBS is an invasive form of brain stimulation which requires neurosurgery. This study investigates the use of a new form of non-invasive stimulation, LIFUP or tFUS, which has the ability to target deeper subcortical regions such as the VC/VS. We will use LIFUP/tFUS of the VC/VS in healthy individuals to first identify optimal stimulation parameters and later apply these to individuals with treatment-resistant OCD.

Transdiagnostic Treatment of Anxiety and Bipolar I Disorder

Currently in the analysis stage, this project seeks to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy with the Unified Protocol in treating a full range of anxiety and unipolar mood disorders in individuals with BP-I disorder and comorbid anxiety.

Further, the present study uses fcMRI to explore potential biomarkers of individual treatment response to this approach. By applying a transdiagnostic approach to the treatment of patients with bipolar disorder, this study may offer the possibility of treating bipolar disorder and comorbid anxiety by using a single psychosocial treatment protocol, providing a unique opportunity to investigate whether a transdiagnostic approach is also a feasible approach to treating bipolar disorder.

fMRI on the Neural Correlates of the Consciousness of Fear

The purpose of this study is to investigate the neural correlate relating to fear and how activation in these regions covaries with self-report levels of fear and galvanic skin response. In conjunction with fMRI and experimental tasks, this study also looks at the brain anatomy in patients other than the amygdala that contributes to the feeling of fear.

Postdoctoral Fellows

Chao Gu, PhD

Clinical Research Coordinators

	Benjamin Borron
	Brian Kochanowski
	Ashley Hayden

Publications