Press Releases
June 13, 2017
Study Finds Way to Predict Treatment Effectiveness for Adults with Autism
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers from the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas and the George Washington University identified certain brain regions that significantly correlate with an increase in social abilities following a virtual environment based training program. Adults on the autism spectrum who showed greater activity in the social brain network prior to the training improved more in emotion recognition than those who showed less activity.
June 7, 2017
Jonathan’s Story: Outrunning TBI
In December 2002, Jonathan Swiatocha and his family were hit by a drunk driver. The then 10-year-old Jonathan suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Over the last 14 years, Jonathan has focused on training his body and his brain to make physical and cognitive victories.
May 23, 2017
Strategic brain training positively affects neural connectivity for individuals with Traumatic Brain
A recent study from the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas is the first to show that a certain type of instructor-led brain training protocol can stimulate structural changes in the brain and neural connections even years after a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
May 1, 2017
Neuroscientists Seek Brain Basis of Craving in Addiction and Binge Eating
A new article in JAMA Psychiatry details the first step in revealing how craving works in the brain. Scientists at the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas are the first to propose a systematic and quantitative model for drug addiction research.
February 27, 2017
Center for BrainHealth and Dallas Police Department Partner to Advance Brain Health of Police Office
Law enforcement is inherently a high-pressure profession. Police officers must routinely make tough decisions, often under extreme stress and/or facing threat of harm. The Center for BrainHealth, part of The University of Texas at Dallas, and its Brain Performance Institute are collaborating to provide programs to help officers who serve on the front lines of the city of Dallas.
February 15, 2017
Stress can make your brain stronger if you know this
According to an article in JAMA Internal Medicine, stress is at least partially to blame for 60 to 80 percent of primary care visits. Studies show that those who suffer from chronic, severe stress are more likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease later in life. However, there are interesting caveats. Not all people who have experienced excessive amounts of stress are worse off, mentally or physically than those who have not.
December 20, 2016
Top 10 Center for BrainHealth Breakthroughs in 2016
As we look back at 2016, we remember 10 breakthroughs that advanced brain science, six new faces who shaped our year and celebrate more than 60,000 people we have reached in 24 states through our research initiatives and programmatic offerings at the Center for BrainHealth and its Brain Performance Institute.
December 12, 2016
You Do This 160 Times a Day, It Stresses and Depresses You
Dr. Ian Robertson, author of The Stress Test, explains how a wandering mind can stress you out.
December 6, 2016
Why we need to study the effects of marijuana on motor learning
Most marijuana studies demonstrate that consuming cannabis induces cognitive and motor performance deficits. Science, though, has yet to study cannabis’ effect on motor learning, which is necessary for simple and complex movements – such as reflexes and speaking – as well as properly calibrated physical movement. Researchers at the Center for BrainHealth, part of The University of Texas at Dallas, argue that addressing this research gap could lead to breakthroughs in addiction therapies.
December 5, 2016
Q&A with Dr. Kihwan Han
Kihwan Han, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for BrainHealth, was awarded The Sapphire Foundation Friends of BrainHealth Distinguished New Scientist award. Learn more about his research and how he became interested in neuroimaging.