fMRI-Based Markers for Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
Summary Abstract:
Neuropsychological rehabilitation studies frequently utilize functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as a tool to gain insights into the effectiveness and mechanisms by which these interventions influence cognitive functioning. However, a significant limitation of such studies is the absence of a priori knowledge regarding the contribution of specific brain regions and their connectivity patterns in predicting cognitive outcomes, thus influencing the interpretability of training studies. In this lecture, Dr. Prakash will provide an overview of the commonly employed fMRI-based markers in neuropsychological rehabilitation studies, with a particular focus on mindfulness-based approaches. She will also delve into the recent advancements in the field of network neuroscience, which can be harnessed to comprehensively characterize the impact of the intervention on the entire human connectome. Using mindfulness meditation as an example of a training strategy aimed at enhancing attentional control, Dr. Prakash will share findings from a series of studies that leverage network neuroscience-based approaches to develop an fMRI-based marker for studying attentional control.
Number of Credit Hours: 1.5
Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Learning Objectives:
1. Describe three ways functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is used in neuropsychological rehabilitation.
2. Explain the differences between brain activity and brain connectivity markers in rehabilitation studies.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of how network neuroscience is applied to mindfulness meditation research.
Presenter(s):
Ruchika Prakash, PhD
Professor of Psychology, Ohio State University
Dr. Prakash is a College of Arts & Sciences Distinguished Professor of Psychology at The Ohio State University (OSU). She is the Director of the Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Brain Imaging; a state-of-the-art neuroimaging research facility housed in the Department of Psychology. The goal of her research program is to develop and test the efficacy of various mind-body interventions in improving the cognitive and affective health of older adults and individuals with neurological disabilities. She employs neuroimaging and neuropsychological methods to better understand the efficacy and mechanisms of mind-body interventions. She has published 85 peer-reviewed journal articles with many of her papers published in top-tier psychology and neuroscience journals—such as Psychology and Aging, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, NeuroImage, Cerebral Cortex, and Developmental Psychology. She received the “Rising Star Designation” given by the Association for Psychological Science in 2013 and the Springer Early Career Achievement in Research on Adult Development and Aging by the American Psychological Association in 2016. Her research program is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
