Leveraging Technology
The complex, sophisticated human brain contains 100
billion neurons, each of which is
connected to an average of 7,000
other neurons. They pass signals via
500 trillion synaptic connections.
Unsurprisingly, the brain's secrets
have been difficult to uncover.
However, we finally have the
technology that allows us to see into the living
brain. With this capability, we can
gather and analyze terabytes of data
with a fidelity that was previously
impossible.
In 2019, the Center for BrainHealth® opened The University of Texas at Dallas BrainHealth Imaging Center, which is uniquely focused on the discovery of composite brain health metrics to measure the brain's positive response to interventions.
In addition, The BrainHealth Project is generating vast amounts of data from our technology platform, the training modules and our multimodal brain imaging paradigms. These anonymized data will be shared openly with collaborating researchers to uncover new insights and pave the way for precision brain health.
Meet the Sammons BrainHealth Imaging Center Team: Sergey Cheshkov, PhD, research scientist; Bart Rypma, PhD, director; Andrew Wolfson, MRI technologist; and Angela Plata, administrative coordinator.
Sammons BrainHealth Imaging Center
OPTIMIZED FOR FUNCTIONAL IMAGING
The Sammons BrainHealth® Imaging Center is a one-of-a-kind facility completely focused on human brain imaging to measure changes in brain health and function.
The two 3-tesla MRI scanners enable exciting, leading-edge research to advance the measurement of brain improvement. By leveraging imaging and other technology, we can objectively measure if, how and to what extent someone's brain is getting healthier and fitter over time.
Machine Learning
Individualized Precision Health
"Machine learning will allow us to take very large volumes of data and help identify the most important markers of brain health, validate indices, and choose targeted training strategies for individualized, precision brain health. Scaling these evidence-based brain health protocols will ultimately move global public health to an entirely new level."
Jeffrey S. Spence, PhD
Director of Biostatistics
Virtual Social Learning Platform
Researched Here – Developed Here
Center for BrainHealth developed Charisma™, a flexible, virtual simulation platform that is used in combination with a clinician-led cognitive social learning protocol to help users increase their social adeptness. Charisma leverages cutting-edge game development software to allow repeated – but novel – practice with real-time simulation of authentic, dynamic social interactions at varying levels of complexity.
Cognitive Training and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Pilot Trial
This randomized controlled trial combines the SMART™ protocol with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), confirming SMART can significantly enhance cognitive performance in mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
The Peripheral Effect of Direct Current Stimulation on Brain Circuits Involving Memory
Researchers have observed the activation of the noradrenergic pathway to the hippocampus can modify functional connectivity, supporting the consolidation of a memory event.
Machine Learning Applications for Earth Observation
This paper is a review of machine learning applications in Earth science.
