Complexities of
the brain
FIU takes an interdisciplinary approach to neuroscience research
M
any FIU scientists from a variety of disciplines have dedicated their careers to studying mental processes in the healthy and the diseased human brain. They study brain activity, including language, cognition, emotion, action, sensory perception and mental health, while working to develop new technologies in cognitive neuroimaging. A key component of our brain research is the new Center for Imaging Science. It serves as the MRI site for FIU’s part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study — the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States. The state-of-the-art facility offers opportunities for on-campus research and student training in various fields including physics, psychology, engineering, public health, chemistry and biology. The center is home to the 3 Tesla Siemens MAGNETOM Prisma MRI scanner which brings the latest imaging technology to FIU. In addition to the landmark ABCD study, our researchers are using this MRI facility to develop more targeted treatments for children with ADHD and other behavioral and emotional disorders including those related to sleep. This research will lead to new interventions that could dramatically improve the lives of thousands of children and families affected by these disorders. Our scientists are using this MRI technology to analyze data from the brain and other areas of the body to discover how screen time affects children’s social and brain development or determine if coffee or energy drinks have negative effects in children’s development. They are also providing critical training for our students to become the next generation of biomedical scientists in universities, hospitals and clinics, research labs and more. Our groundbreaking research promises to inform future educational strategies, child development innovation, research priorities, more effective public health interventions and science-based policy decisions across the nation.
With the recent arrival of our new state-of-the-art MRI machine, FIU researchers are unlocking the secrets of cognition to develop key treatments for autism, ADHD, depression and anxiety. They are achieving breakthroughs in teaching and learning and even better understanding of how we age. By helping support our researchers, you can help unravel the pathways leading to an improved human experience. To learn how you can get involved, contact givetocase@fiu.edu | 305-348-4349.