Projects

Cholinergic dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease

Patients with Parkinson's disease frequently have cognitive symptoms which are more disabling than motor impairment. This project uses a combination of perfusion MRI and functional MRI in a double-blind placebo-controlled test of whether a cholinergic deficiency is a major contributor to cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease.

Models of Motor Skill Learning in Neurodegeneration

Modern theories of motor learning support the hypothesis that two distinct aspects of a skill can be dissociated. One aspect is tied to specific motor movements while another is acquired independent of the motor action. We are testing this hypothesis by measuring the acquisition of each type of skill in patients with Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in Depression

We treat patients with medication-resistant depression with TMS in our Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation. While the treatment has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, numerous studies and clinical experience shows that TMS can be helpful for many patients. We are testing factors associated with response to treatment and manipulations to maximize the effectiveness of TMS in depression.

Genetic contributors to cognitive symptoms in Parkinson's disease

We treat patients with medication-resistant depression with TMS in our Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation. While the treatment has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, numerous studies and clinical experience shows that TMS can be helpful for many patients. We are testing factors associated with response to treatment and manipulations to maximize the effectiveness of TMS in depression.