BRAIN MODULATION LAB
HUMAN SYSTEMS NEUROSCIENCE
We are a human systems neuroscience lab studying brain electrophysiology and behavior in patients undergoing surgery for epilepsy, movement disorders, and psychiatric disease. The goal of our work is to facilitate the development and optimization of electrical and biological brain modulation therapies, by filling critical gaps in our understanding of human brain function.
FACULTY SCIENTISTS
Mark Richardson, MD, PhD, FAANS
Director of Functional Neurosurgery, MGH
Charles Pappas Associate Professor of Neurosciences, Harvard Medical School
Visiting Associate Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT
Vasileios Kokkinos, PhD
Instructor in Neurosurgery, MGH
Harvard Medical School
Alan Bush, PhD
Instructor in Neurosurgery, MGH
Harvard Medical School
STAFF SCIENTISTS
Varun Saravanan, PhD
Data Scientist
MGH-MIT inBRAIN Collaboration
Caroline Neely, PhD
Project Manager
Brain Modulation Lab
CONTRIBUTING SCIENTISTS
Nathan Sisterson, MD
Neurosurgery Resident, MGH
Nora Daly, MSHS, PA-C
Physician Assistant, MGH Functional Neurosurgery
Victoria Peterson, PhD
Harvard Research Fellow
Ashley Walton, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, Cognitive Science Program, Dartmouth
Tariq Parker, MD, PhD
Neurosurgery Resident, MGH
Zachary Kons, BS
Medical Student, VCU
Matteo Vissani, PhD
Harvard Research Fellow
Virginia Rosenberger, BS
Research Coordinator
Amir Hadanny, MD, PhD
Harvard Research Fellow
Pranav Nanda, MD
Neurosurgery Resident, MGH
RESEARCH THEMES
Basal Ganglia-Cortical Dynamics in Human Behavior
Intraoperatively, we collect simultaneously recorded cortical ECoG, subcortical MER/LFP, and behavioral data to study interactions between the cortex and basal ganglia that encode specific components of motor control.
STN and STN-Cortical Coding of Speech Production
BRAIN Initiative
Cortical-Basal Ganglia Speech Networks
BRAIN Initiative
Deep Neural Network Approaches for Closed-loop DBS
CRNCS in collaboration with ICNeuromodulation Neumann Group - Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Closed-Loop Brain Stimulation for Epilepsy
The lab's initial work in brain stimulation for epilepsy involved sensing-enabled DBS (PC+S and RC+S) in a nonhuman primate with idiopathic epilepsy. Subsequently, in order to better understand data recorded during responsive neurostimulation in our epilepsy patients, we built BRAINStim, a platform for Biophysically Rational Analysis and Informed Stimulation.
Computational Neuroscience of Language Processing
In this project led by Ev Fedorenko, we are collaborating to study neural responses to language stimuli using intracranial recordings, in combination with the recent advances in computational neuroscience and machine learning, in a quest to understand human linguistic ability.
Mapping the Olfactory Perception Network
Clinical Innovation in Functional Neurosurgery
The lab's resources, including surgical databases, are leveraged to innovate and advance neurosurgical strategies and technical approaches to better treat epilepsy, movement disorders, and other brain diseases.
about our logo:
brain on holiday was created by the Italian illustrator Alberto Ruggieri, who generously granted permission for its use by the Brain Modulation Lab.
For other examples of Mr. Ruggieri's work, visit: albertoruggieri.net
want to help sustain our work?
Please direct philanthropic inquiries to Caroline Neely, Brain Modulation Project Manager: cneely@mgh.harvard.edu
we're located on the MGH campus, a ten-minute walk from MIT:
Thier Building, 4th floor
Massachusetts General Hospital
50 Blossom St.
Boston, MA 02114