Brain rhythms linked to visual and thinking problems after prenatal alcohol exposure
C3-Neural oscillations in visual cognitive deficits
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR · NIH-11086009
Researchers will use noninvasive brain scans to study rhythms and wiring in adolescents exposed to alcohol before birth to learn more about their thinking and visual difficulties.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (ALBUQUERQUE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11086009 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would visit the lab for noninvasive brain recordings using magnetoencephalography (MEG) while doing two cognitive tasks and while resting, and you would have a diffusion MRI to map brain wiring. The team will compare these human measures with results from animal models to find consistent patterns that cross species. Prior work from this group found altered alpha rhythms in younger children with fetal alcohol exposure, and this project tests whether those changes continue into adolescence and relate to cortico‑thalamic connections. The long-term aim is to use these brain markers to guide development of interventions that could help people with FASD.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adolescents aged 12–16 with a history of prenatal alcohol exposure or a diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder who can tolerate MEG and MRI scanning are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without prenatal alcohol exposure, individuals outside the 12–16 age range studied, or those who cannot undergo MEG/MRI (for example due to metal implants or severe anxiety/behavioral challenges) are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal brain-based markers that help target new treatments or supports to improve thinking, visual processing, and daily functioning for people with FASD.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier studies—including the team's prior work—have found altered alpha brain rhythms in children with prenatal alcohol exposure, but combining MEG and diffusion MRI in adolescents to link rhythm changes to structural wiring is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
ALBUQUERQUE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR — ALBUQUERQUE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: STEPHEN, JULIA MARIE — UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR
- Study coordinator: STEPHEN, JULIA MARIE
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.