Browsing Graduate Theses and Dissertations - Neuroscience by Title
Now showing items 1-40 of 112
-
A Translational Investigation of Discoidin Domain Receptor 1 Inhibition as a Novel Therapeutics Strategy in Neurodegenerative Disease
(Georgetown University, 2021)Neurodegenerative diseases (ND) are gaining recognition as imminent health crises. The greatest unmet need in neurodegeneration is a disease modifying therapy, but the failures of drug development have not been for a lack ... -
A-ephrins in Neuropsychiatric Spectrum Disorder Models
(Georgetown University, 2014)Neuropsychiatric spectrum disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are frequently comorbid and exhibit overlapping abnormalities in both behavioral symptoms and ... -
The Acquisition of Productive Rules in Child and Adult Language Learners
(Georgetown University, 2017)In natural language, evidence suggests that, while some rules are productive (regular), applying broadly to new words, others are restricted to a specific set of lexical items (irregular). Further, the literature suggests ... -
Acute Microglial Responses to Single Non-Epileptogenic vs. Epileptogenic Seizures in Mouse Hippocampus
(Georgetown University, 2019)As the resident macrophage of the central nervous system, microglia are in a uniquely privileged position to both affect and be affected by neuroinflammation, neuronal activity and injury, which are all hallmarks of seizures ... -
Adolescent Neurocognitive Maturity Mediates Paths to Altered Social Norms and Vulnerability in Emerging Adulthood
(Georgetown University, 2020)The transitional period between adolescence and adulthood is a high-risk period for social strain and adversity leading to experiences of violence and altered normative civic beliefs. In this dissertation, I examine cognitive ... -
Age- and Experience-Dependent Modulation of Coherent Visual Motion Processing
(Georgetown University, 2016)Visual motion processing dysfunction has been observed in developmental dyslexia, but the nature of the relationship between this dorsal stream function and the reading difficulties observed in dyslexia is unclear. This ... -
Alpha-synuclein and its direct effects on microglial activation
(Georgetown University, 2013)Accumulation, deposition and dysfunction of α-synuclein occur in a class of neurodegenerative disorders known as synucleinopathies. These include Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system ... -
ALPHA-SYNUCLEIN AND THE MULTIPLE HIT HYPOTHESIS OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE
(Georgetown University, 2012)Alpha-synuclein has been linked to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies through its propensity to form toxic oligomers. The exact mechanism for oligomeric synuclein-directed cell vulnerability ... -
The Behavioral and Neural Basis of Emotional Face Processing in Atypically Developing Children and Adolescents
(Georgetown University, 2014)The ability to recognize, interpret, and respond appropriately to the affective facial expressions of others is an important component of non-verbal communication; when face-emotion recognition is impaired there can be ... -
Behavioral Flexibility in Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Role of Memory and Its Neural Correlates
(Georgetown University, 2020)Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by social and behavioral deficits, including pronounced inflexibility. Behavioral interventions often fail to generalize, possibly due to difficulties ... -
The Brain Basis of Arithmetic, Reading and Reading Disability
(Georgetown University, 2013)Reading and arithmetic, both foundational skills essential for classroom success, are symbolic systems that were invented relatively recently in regard to evolutionary history; so recently that the human brain has not ... -
Brain Oscillatory Dynamics of Lexical-Semantic Processing
(Georgetown University, 2013)Neuropsychological and imaging studies have shown that anterior and posterior brain areas are involved in the retrieval and selection of semantic representations, but it is not known how these areas dynamically interact ... -
Cerebellar Involvement in Reading and Math Disabilities
(Georgetown University, 2020)Brain imaging studies have shown that the cerebellum, traditionally associated with motor function (Manto et al., 2012), is active during reading (Martin et al., 2015) and math (Arsalidou & Taylor, 2011). Cognitive deficits ... -
Changes in Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity Following Exposure to High Frequency Head Impacts (HF-HI)
(Georgetown University, 2020)Concussions account for over 80% of all cases of TBI reported each year. Sustaining multiple concussions is associated with the development of lasting cognitive and memory impairments. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy ... -
Characterization of SOX11 Partner Proteins and Interaction Domains in Xenopus Neurogenesis
(Georgetown University, 2020)During neurogenesis, transcription factors (TFs) regulate each cellular transition from cell cycle exit, to neuronal differentiation and eventual maturation, ensuring that the correct number and class of neurons are ... -
Cholesterol 24S-hydroxylase: Involvement in Brain Injury and Disease.
(Georgetown University, 2008)Here we investigated whether traumatic brain injury (TBI) altered the regulation of cholesterol 24S-hydroxylase (Cyp46), an enzyme that converts cholesterol to the more hydrophilic 24S-hydroxycholesterol. We examined changes ... -
A COMPARISON OF FREQUENCY-SPECIFIC ACTIVITY DURING REM SLEEP IN TRAUMA-EXPOSED SUBJECTS WITH PTSD AND RESILIENCE
(Georgetown University, 2014)PTSD can develop following exposure to a traumatic event or events resulting in symptoms of hyperarousal, avoidance and the re-experiencing of events related to the trauma experience. Sleep disturbance may contribute to ... -
Controlling growth cone behavior through substrate patterning
(Georgetown University, 2015)Throughout the process of development, billions of neuronal axons are responsible for navigating through the nervous system and synapsing onto their appropriate targets. To establish their individual paths, neurons are ... -
Creatine Synthesis and Supplementation Regulates Central Nervous System Postnatal Development and Injury
(Georgetown University, 2021)Cerebral creatine deficiency syndrome (CCDS) is an inborn error of metabolism characterized by intellectual delays, seizures, and autistic-like behavior. Exactly how endogenously synthesized creatine regulates central ... -
Creatine Synthesis and Supplementation Regulates Central Nervous System Postnatal Development and Injury
(Georgetown University, 2021)Cerebral creatine deficiency syndrome (CCDS) is an inborn error of metabolism characterized by intellectual delays, seizures, and autistic-like behavior. Exactly how endogenously synthesized creatine regulates central ... -
The development of bursting networks following chemical long term potentiation
(Georgetown University, 2012)Collective rhythmic dynamics from neurons are vital for cognitive functions but how neurons self-organize to produce such activity is not well understood. Attractor-based computational models are a theoretical framework ... -
Distinct Roles for EphA7 Isoforms in Cortical Dendritic Elaboration and Synapse Formation
(Georgetown University, 2017)The cerebral cortex consists of complex circuitry that directs diverse functions. Development of the cortex relies upon precise coordination between inherent genetic programs and environmental signals to create distinct ... -
DOPAMINE-REGULATING GENES, EXECUTIVE CONTROL, AND THE NETWORK STRUCTURE OF THE HUMAN BRAIN
(Georgetown University, 2013)Executive control processes, including working memory (WM), attention, and impulse control, rely on brain networks centered in the prefrontal cortex, and especially on dopaminergic signaling in these networks. The function ... -
EEG Investigations of the Temporal Dynamics of Visual Object Categorization in Human Brain
(Georgetown University, 2014)A hallmark of human cognition is the ability to rapidly assign meaning to sensory stimuli. In the domain of vision, it is generally thought that this fast object categorization ability is accomplished by a cortical ... -
EFFECTS OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE GENETIC RISK FACTOR APOE4 ON THE NORMAL BRAIN
(Georgetown University, 2016)Over 70 million Americans inherit the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the E4 allele for apolipoprotein E (APOE4), but have few strategies to reduce their risk. To identify markers associated ... -
The Effects of Inflammation on Dorsal Striatal Spiny Projection Neurons
(Georgetown University, 2017)Neuroinflammation precedes neuronal loss in striatal neurodegenerative diseases and can be exacerbated by the release of proinflammatory molecules by microglia. These molecules can affect trafficking of glutamate receptors. ... -
THE EFFECTS OF ROBOTIC TRAINING AND CORTICAL STIMULATION ON REACHING SKILL AFTER CHRONIC STROKE
(Georgetown University, 2011)<bold>BACKGROUND: </bold> Reaching in three dimensional (3D) space, crucial for activities of daily living (ADLs), is deficient after stroke. The effects of cortical stimulation on 3D robotic training for patients with ... -
ELECTRIC FIELDS AND SLOW CORTICAL ACTIVITY
(Georgetown University, 2013)Electrical activity in the brain gives rise to endogenous electric fields, which are the cause of many signals recorded from the nervous system. Electric fields can also be applied from external sources to modulate the ... -
Elucidating the Role of Plasticity-Related Gene Type 3 Protein in the Central Nervous System
(Georgetown University, 2018)PRG-3 (Plasticity-Related Gene), a member of a family of lipid phosphatase related proteins, also known as Phospholipid Phosphatase-Related Protein Type (PLPPR) proteins, are integral membrane proteins characterized by six ... -
Endogenous acidification of the inhibitory synapse : proton amplification of GABAA-mediated neurotransmission
(Georgetown University, 2009) -
Establishing the sensitivity of functional near-infrared spectroscopy to cognitive load and state in healthy adults and children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
(Georgetown University, 2017)Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an emerging low-cost noninvasive neuroimaging technique that measures cortical blood flow. While fNIRS has gained interest as a potential alternative to fMRI for use with ... -
Evaluating goals: the roles of the orbitofrontal cortex and amygdala
(Georgetown University, 2012)The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and its interactions with the basolateral amygdala (BLA) are critical for goal-directed behavior, especially for adapting to changes in reward value. I investigated the contribution of OFC ... -
Examinations of Audiovisual Speech Processes, the McGurk Effect and the Heteromodal Superior Temporal Sulcus in the Human Brain Across Numerous Approaches
(Georgetown University, 2016)Speech can be perceived through the speech sounds we hear and the facial/lip movements we see. In this dissertation, I explore the fundamental question of how the brain processes audiovisual (AV) speech using different ... -
Experimental Studies of Subdiaphragmatic Vagotomy and Nicotine for Reducing Body Weight
(Georgetown University, 2014)Melanocortin neural circuits are important regulators of food intake (FI) and body weight (BW). The hypothesis of the first part of my dissertation is that the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) represents an important ... -
From Perception to Social Connection: Assessing Deficits and Modulation of Empathic Processes to Study Human Social Behavior
(Georgetown University, 2021)Perceiving and responding to the emotions of other individuals is thought to motivate adaptive social behaviors and help form strong interpersonal connections. Failure or manipulation of the empathic processes that subserve ... -
From Perception to Social Connection: Assessing Deficits and Modulation of Empathic Processes to Study Human Social Behavior
(Georgetown University, 2021)Perceiving and responding to the emotions of other individuals is thought to motivate adaptive social behaviors and help form strong interpersonal connections. Failure or manipulation of the empathic processes that subserve ... -
Functional and Structural Brain Imaging Studies of Developmental Dyslexia
(Georgetown University, 2013)Written language is relatively new from an evolutionary standpoint; however, reading has become an essential aspect of success in everyday life. As with other acquired skills, the ability to learn to read is variable ... -
Functional Neuroanatomy of Arithmetic in Bilinguals
(Georgetown University, 2020)Despite the prevalence of bilingualism worldwide, the effect of using multiple languages on the cognitive process of math is only just beginning to be understood. Arithmetic in particular draws on linguistic representations ... -
Functional Neuroimaging Studies of Simple Finger Movements in Healthy Development and Aging and in Children with Dyslexia
(Georgetown University, 2017)The functional neuroanatomy of the motor system underlying finger movements has been thoroughly elucidated in young adults. However, less is known about this system at younger and older ages, and in disorders. This ... -
Generalization and maintenance in aphasia rehabilitation
(Georgetown University, 2010)
