Tracking changing brain connections with MRI
Dynamic embedding time series models in functional brain imaging
This project builds computer models to show how connections in the human brain change over time using MRI scans from many people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11126720 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you shared brain MRI scans, researchers would use them to build models that map how your brain connections evolve over time. The team treats brain networks as curved surfaces and avoids grouping the brain into large parcels so they can follow changes at the voxel level. They will combine T1, diffusion MRI, and task and resting-state fMRI from over 1,200 people in the Human Connectome Project, including 243 twin pairs, to link network patterns with behavior and genetic influences. The group will publish brain-network heritability maps and provide an open-source toolbox so other researchers and clinicians can use the methods.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who have high-quality brain MRI data or who might participate in future neuroimaging studies, with twin volunteers especially valuable for the genetic analyses.
Not a fit: People without brain imaging data or with conditions not represented in the Human Connectome Project dataset would be unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help researchers better understand how brain connectivity relates to behavior and genetics and provide tools that improve future imaging-based diagnostics and studies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked fMRI network patterns and twin data to behavior, but the proposed curved-surface, voxel-level dynamic embedding approach is a novel method.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chung, Moo K — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Chung, Moo K
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.