Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit Mission

Research & Development

To dissect the cognitive architecture of the human brain using multidisciplinary approaches;
To define the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders in terms of the emerging knowledge of human higher brain functions;
To refine cognitive neuroscience concepts and theories based upon the biological constraints emerging from human brain mapping.

Clinical Applications

To enable the transfer of technology to the clinical setting for improved diagnosis and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders:

Definition of the sensitivity and specificity of parametric neuroimaging in the diagnosis of mental disorders;
To develop procedures suitable for preoperative mapping of cognitive functions;
To identify with neuroimaging the anatomical site(s) of action of psychoactive drugs.
To identify the site(s) of action of vagus nerve stimulation in treatment-refractory unipolar depression

To study the neural correlates of undiagnosed psychiatric disorders (Feighner et al.).

Training in Basic and Clinical Neurosciences

Opportunities for training and collaboration occur at multiple levels: predoctoral, postdoctoral, resident physician, research scientist, and faculty. The Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit facilities span both the UM and VAMC campuses providing an integrated training experience.

Graduate Faculty of the Unit provide supervision of predoctoral and postdoctoral students. The UM Program in Neuroscience (directed by Dr. Soechting) offers a broad multidisciplinary doctoral program. The UM M.D./Ph.D. Program (directed by Dr. Elizabeth Ross) trains future clinician-scientists through individual mentorship, seminars series, and special tutorials. The Brain Sciences Center (directed by Dr. Apostolos Georgopoulos) at the VAMC offers multiple resources and opportunities for collaboration. The Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (directed by Dr. Kamil Ugurbil) provides training and resources for MR imaging and spectroscopy. The UM Research Explorations Program, REX (directed by Susan Henderson & Helen Penrose), enables access of non-specialists to the exciting developments in mind/brain research. Close collaborations occur with other departments at UM (Psychology; Cognitive Science Center, Computer Science; Institute of Technology) as well as with the Augsburg College (Minneapolis) and the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul).
Training in Clinical Neuroscience occurs through facilities at the University of Minnesota Hospitals and Clinics and the Psychiatry Service at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Specialized clinics include the following: Mood Disorders; Schizophrenia; Eating Disorders; Addictive Disorders; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; Community Outreach Psychiatry; Anxiety/OCD Clinic; Geropsychiatry; Tardive Dyskinesia Clinic; Brain Mapping Clinic; Forensic Psychiatry; Transcultural Psychiatry; Clozapine Clinic; Depot Neuroleptic Clinic; LCV (lithium, carbamazepin, valproate) Clinic. The GRECC (Geriatric Research and Education Clinical Center) at the VAMC offers specialized training in research and clinical skills for geropsychiatry and the dementias.
The Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit meets weekly for didactic sessions about neuroimaging topics and to discuss ongoing research and new research proposals. The Mind/Brain Journal Club meets weekly to review recently published papers and meeting highlights.

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