Transcript No Slide Title

NRC STAFF
Technology in the Works: The Creation of the Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center
Kim Celone, Amanda Ortengren, V.D. Calhoun, Kent A. Kiehl, Godfrey Pearlson
Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Institute of Living, Hartford, CT and Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Imaging and Electroencephalography Data
Fig 3. The neural correlates of driving
behavior are identified with fMRI and their
modulation with speed is investigated.
(Vince Calhoun)
• Educate ourselves and others in the understanding of the brain and how it functions in
conjunction with behavior and genetics via neuroimaging research.
BACKGROUND
• The Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center was made possible by an endowment to the
Institute of Living for the sole purpose of furthering research in the area of schizophrenia and
other debilitating mental illnesses in order to move towards a better understanding of the
diseases themselves as well as finding newer treatments and diagnoses.
• Recently work has been implemented to create a database system in order to organize and store subject
information including:
• Patient demographics (i.e., age height, medical history, etc.)
• Behavioral data
• Processed image data
• Assessment information (i.e., diagnosis, family history of illness, neurological assessments).
• Three-Tier Design consisting of:
• Database backend: We anticipate a large volume of data to be stored within the database. Also we are
investigating which option offers the best means of importing and exporting data into other analysis
programs, for example SPSS. Our choices include: Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle.
• Logic: Since image retrieval and storage algorithms incorporate a great deal processing ability, we plan to
utilize a middle layer of logic to increase time needed to perform these actions. Possible technologies
include: Visual Basic (COM+), C++, and XML.
Fig 4. This DTI image is an example of fiber
tract tracing from Broca's and Wernicke's
areas. It shows arcuate, uncinate, superior and
inferior longitudinal fasciculi, etc. (Jinsuh
Kim)
•User Interface: One of the main requirements of our system is that it can be easily accessible. To
accommodate this need, we envision a web-based user interface typically created using Active Server Pages.
Requirements
• A unique overlapping lab structure allows for the combination of each of the biomarker
technologies to produce more scientifically valid data:
Fig. 5. Grand Average plots of
Event-Related Potentials
generated by ERPSS. These
plots specifically show the
activation in relationship to a
visual oddball study.(Kiehl)
• The main functionality described above is also to be complemented by:
• A series of reporting tools which will aid in further analysis of collected data.
• A desktop application for recording data at sites that do not offer Internet access. This data that is
collected would need to be stored and then imported into the main database.
• Scalable to allow the addition of new experimental paradigms and data.
• Secure enough to allow the other institutions to access and eventually even combine database information
while adhering to HIPAA requirements.
• Data must be extractable into statistical analysis tools, such as SPSS for further analysis.
Processing
RESOURCES
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• 3T Seimens Allegra
• Increased signal-to-noise ratio and BOLD-effect due to 3 T field strength. Reduced
susceptibility-based distortions in single-shot EPI due to ultra-short echo-spacing.
Highest b-values in diffusion weighted imaging due to powerful gradient system.
Electroencephalography
• Two complete 64 Channel high resolution EEG data collection system for complete
spatio-temporal mapping of brain electrical activity in health and disease. EEG systems
are housed in specially designed shielded and sound-proofed rooms for high quality
recordings. Custom visual and auditory presentation software for precise experimental
control of all stimuli and participant behavior
• Computer Hardware:
• Neuro-imaging techniques are very computer intensive in both data collection and in data analysis to
account for this we employ the stability and power of several different types of workstations (i.e.
Sun/Solaris, Windows, Linux).
• Software:
• Externally Developed:
• Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM99) - Written to organize and interpret functional neuroimaging data. (www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/spm/)
• Analysis of Functional NeuroImages (AFNI) – Software program for viewing, manipulating, and
analyzing functional images. (afni.nimh.nih.gov/afni/)
• FMRIB Software Library (FSL) - FSL is a comprehensive library of functional and structural brain
image analysis tools, written mainly by members of the Image Analysis Group
(www.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/fsl/index.html)
• ERPSS - A UNIX based software analysis program for analyzing EEG data. Facilitates the analysis
of electrical activity known as Event-Related Potentials (ERPs), (Hillyard et. al, UC San Diego).
Fig 1. 3T Seimens Allegra,
designed for brain research
IOL Psychiatrist-In-Chief: Harold I. Schwartz, MD
Architecture
• Two primary labs comprise the Olin Center:
• Medical Image Analysis Laboratory (MIA Lab), which is focused on developing and
optimizing methods and software for quantitative analysis of structure and function in
medical images with a particular emphasis on the study of psychiatric illnesses. The
primary areas of interests include; functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI),
diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and structural imaging.
MIALab Director: Vince Calhoun, PhD
INTEGRATING DATABASE TECHNOLOGY
PURPOSE
• Clinical Cognitive Neuroscience lab (CCN Lab), which applies the theories, tools and
techniques of cognitive neuroscience to better understand diagnose and treat illnesses
of the brain. This includes looking at a myriad of different diseases including
schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, psychopathy, drug abuse, Alzheimer's disease, and
Huntington’s Chorea.
CCNLab Director: Kent Kiehl, PhD
Lab Personnel: Mike Stevens PhD, Jinsuh Kim MD,
Kristen Mckeirnan PhD, Karen Anderson RN,
David Dean, Tim O’Keefe, Karyn Groth, Thania
Benios, Amanda Ortengren, Kim Celone, Corey
Blumenfeld.
Olin
Neuropsychiatry Research Center
Institute of Living
Director: Godfrey Pearlson, MD
Fig 2. Example of an
EEG electrode cap.
(Electrocap worn by Tim
O’Keefe)
• Internally Developed:
• Visual and Auditory Presentation Package (VAPP): A DOS based program which presents visual
(tiff, bitmap) and auditory (WAV;cd quality) stimuli with precise millisecond timing. (Kent Kiehl,
[email protected])
• fMRI Analysis using Independent Component Analysis (ICA) – A novel, flexible analysis approach
to improve our ability to characterize and utilize the information contained in fMRI data, (Vince
Calhoun, [email protected])
• Many other scripts and utilities for image analysis have been developed in a variety of computer
languages (e.g. Matlab, C, C++, Java, IDL)
Fig 6. User interface flow diagram showing an example of a summary search to retrieve subject
information including image summaries.
A BRIGHT FUTURE
• The Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center is dedicated to utilizing cutting edge technology to further research in
the area of neuropsychiatric mental disorders.
• If you wish to contact the NRC:
• Website: www.instituteofliving.org/NRC/external_index.htm
• Center Coordinator: Corey Blumenfeld: 545-7678 or [email protected]