Brain / Neuro / Spinal

Washington University has an array of strong interdisciplinary research programs exploring the human brain and related issues, such as psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, cognitive function and the mind-brain connection. Washington University's Spinal Cord Injury Program is one of the top treatment and research facilities in its field. Explore this topic through any news stories or experts listed below. Related groups and medical topics are listed to the right.

Faculty Experts:

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James Cheverud Professor of Physical Anthropology in Arts and Sciences Expertise: quantitative genetics, evolutionary theory, human genetics, human and nonhuman primate biology, genetics, obesity, evolution, … Direct contact: (314) 362-4188 / cheverud@wustl.edu

Steven Petersen James S. McDonnell Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience in Neurology Petersen is chief of the Neuropsychology Division and a pioneer in using brain imaging to identify brain regions that contribute to attention, learning, memory and language. He also investigates the effects of disease and brain damage on these cognitive processes, bridging a range of psychological ... Expertise: Neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, neuropyschology, brain imaging, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), attention, … Media assistance: (314) 286-0122 / purdym@wustl.edu

David Gray Associate professor in the Program in Occupational Therapy Gray studies how environmental enhancers and barriers affect people with disabling conditions. He also is examining how surgery influences the mobility of children and adults with cerebral palsy. Additionally, he is looking at how disabling conditions affect the spouses of people with multiple sclerosis ... Expertise: environmental enhancers and barriers, disabling conditions, mobility of children with cerebal palsy, disabling conditions and spouses Media assistance: (314) 286-0111 / williamsdia@wustl.edu

Shirley Sahrmann Professor of cell biology and physiology Clinically, Sahrmann specializes in musculoskeletal pain syndromes and neuromuscular dysfunction syndromes. Her research interests include motor control and the classification of musculoskeletal pain syndromes. Expertise: musculoskeletal pain syndromes, neuromuscular dysfunction syndromes, motor control Media assistance: (314) 286-0111 / williamsdia@wustl.edu

David Clifford Melba and Forest Seay Professor of Clinical Neuropharmacology in Neurology Clifford, who is director of the AIDS Clinical Trials Unit (ACTU) at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, is a leading expert on the neurological complications of AIDS and their treatment and management. He has also participated in studies of epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. Clifford is involved ... Expertise: Neuropharmacology, HIV, AIDS, AIDS-related dementia, peripheral neuropathy, leukoencephalopathy, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, … Media assistance: (314) 286-0126 / pattoner@wustl.edu

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News Stories & Tip Sheets:

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New drug target Mutation linked to pediatric brain tumor may pave way for targeted treatment Oct. 29, 2009 -- Researchers at the School of Medicine have linked mutations in a gene to a benign pediatric brain tumor, a finding that will help scientists seek drug treatments that block growth of the tumors, they report in the journal Neurology.

Earlier diagnosis Skills tests like 'connect the dots' may be early Alzheimer's indicator Oct. 13, 2009 -- A study of mental decline in the years prior to diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease suggests that changing the focus of testing may help physicians detect signs of the disease much earlier. School of Medicine researchers have found that visuospatial skills, evaluated with tasks such as connecting the dots or using a guide to build a structure with blocks, begin to deteriorate up to three years prior to a diagnosis of Alzheimer's.

Toward a cure Scientists encouraged by new mouse model's similarities to human ALS Oct. 12, 2009 -- A new mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) closely resembles the paralyzing disorder in humans, researchers at the School of Medicine report online in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Related News Clips:

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Show More Brain / Neuro / Spinal Clips

Sleep helps reduce errors in memory United Press International and 4 others Sept. 15, 2009 -- Researchers at Michigan State, Chicago, and WUSTL says sleep may reduce mistakes in memory for both the young and the old. They studied the presence of false memory in groups of college students. Previous research has shown that sleep improves memory, but this study address errors in memory. The study was published in the journal Learning & Memory.

Brain Scientists Misled By Squid NPR Morning Edition and 1 others Sept. 11, 2009 -- Jon Hamilton reports on a recent German study in Science that says that for more than 50 years, scientists who study the brain have been misled by squid. They did experiments on squid nerve cells thinking that those cells were good models for the human nervous system. WUSTL radiology professor Marcus Raichle, who does brain imaging studies, says, "There is always this tendency that if you're working in an area and your experiments are working well and you're getting good data, to not think of the larger context in which this is occurring."

Commentary: More Funding To End Migraine Forbes.com Sept. 10, 2009 -- Cindy McCain explains the need for more funding for research to cure migraine headaches. As a nation, we spend very little on research into the causes and treatments of migraines. It is estimated that the NIH spends less than $13 million a year for migraine research. Neurology professor Todd Schwedt of WUSTL's Headache Center says that based on the burden migraine exacts from society, funding should be closer to $260 million.

More Alzheimer genetic risk factors found United Press International and 3 others Sept. 9, 2009 -- An international team of scientists has reported finding two more genetic risk factors of Alzheimer's disease. Includes comments by co-author and WUSTL professor of genetics in psychiatry Alison Goate.

Young Animals May Be Able to Erase Bad Memories U.S. News & World Report online and 5 others Sept. 8, 2009 -- New Swiss research published in Science suggests that young animals may have a mechanism that allows them to jettison traumatic memories, but experts say it's unclear whether humans of any age can do the same. Includes comments by WUSTL psychology professor and memory specialist Mark McDaniel.

Spotlight Links:

Online Neuroscience Tutorial
An illustrated guide to the essential basics of clinical neuroscience created in conjunction with the first-year course for medical students at Washington University in St. Louis. Take the tutorial

Brain Awareness Week at Washington University
A annual event organized by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, Brain Awareness Week is an international effort to advance public awareness about the progress, promise, and benefits of brain research. Washington University has established a Web site with links of interest to brain research and an archive of material from past events. More info

Neuro-Rehabilitation
Clincal neurorehabilitation services at Washington University focus primarily on Stroke and Brain Injury Rehabilitation and on Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation. The Spinal Cord Injury Section integrates research and clinical care. Current research is focused on the mechanisms of injury and developing strategies to repair the injured cord. The Clinical Program centers on the delivery of traditional and advanced rehabilitation therapies. The STATeam (Spinal Trauma and Treatment Team) is a group of professionals that provide care from the onset of injury through life long care.

Center for the Study of Nervous System Injury
Central nervous system injury is a problem of widespread clinical importance currently lacking treatment but ripe for the development of new therapeutics derived from advances in neuroscience. Such injury occurs in two main settings. The first is acute insults, such as stroke (caused by sudden loss of blood flow to the brain, or hemorrhage), head trauma or spinal cord trauma. The second is chronic neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), Parkinson's disease or Huntington's disease. Taken together, central nervous system injury represents one of the most important challenges facing medicine today. It is particularly significant in the elderly population, where it ranks as the leading cause of disability and one of the leading causes of death. To approach this pressing problem, Washington University established the Center for the Study of Nervous System Injury in 1992. The center's mission is to develop new therapeutic strategies to protect the brain and spinal cord from injury and to promote recovery once injury has occurred. More info

Art and the Mind-Brain
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the bearing of cognitive science on the perception and understanding of art. This interest has roots in tradition: Historically, art, aesthetics, and vision science have often been linked. But the growth of knowledge in cognitive science has opened up new opportunities for understanding art and addressing philosophical questions regarding the nature of aesthetic experience. The converse is also true. The production, perception, and understanding of art are human capacities that can shed light on the workings of the mind and brain in general. More info