PSY 1471 - HUMAN BRAIN CONNECTIVITY LAB: BASIC RESEARCH AND CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

Minimum Credits: 3
Maximum Credits: 3
This course covers use of a novel Pittsburgh developed High Definition Fiber Tracking (HDFT) technology providing human brain connectivity with unprecedented fidelity. The technology maps a million streamlines (0.1mm diameters sets of axons) per person providing 93 miles of tracts within the head involving 40 tracts connecting 170 brain areas. We can follow tracts from source to destination mapping projection fields with high accuracy. The fibers can be visualized and quantified providing circuit diagrams of cortical networks. These techniques will advance the study of brain systems, disorders, development, neuropathology, and neurosurgery. Students will perform projects individually or in groups analyzing collected data or developing new analysis or biomedical methods. Students can do projects that are cognitive neuroscience studies of a brain system or technical development of new methods. Sample projects might include mapping a sensory system, developmental assessment or automated brain segmentation and circuit tracing and detection of clinical anomalies (e.g., TBI breaks, tumors). Technical projects might involve better fiber reconstruction, tracking, tract segmentation or developing new visualization or statistical projects. Students must have some statistics and research experience/course work.
Academic Career: Undergraduate
Course Component: Credit Laboratory
Grade Component: LG/SNC Elective Basis
Course Attributes: Undergraduate Research

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