OxCIN Global Scholars + WIP

Brain on the Brink: Tracing Changes from Substance Use and Neurodegeneration using Neuroimaging

Presented by Nisha Chauhan

Abstract: Understanding brain and metabolic alterations is crucial for studying substance use disorders, neurodegeneration (such as Parkinson’s disease, SCA) and other brain conditions. Our research integrates neuroimaging and metabolomics to investigate these changes, focusing on markers linked to treatment response and disease progression. Conducting such studies in India presents unique challenges which include diverse substance use patterns, clinical variability and limited access to advanced imaging. This talk will highlight our combined efforts to advance neuroimaging research in India, emphasizing the need for more systematic studies, better imaging accessibility and interdisciplinary collaborations to understand and address these pressing brain health issues.

Motivation in depression: Can high-field MRI, neurofeedback and real-world digital phenotyping provide novel insights into psychiatric syndromes?

Presented by Laurel Morris

Abstract: Motivational states are driven by environmental and internal reinforcers with their own reward values that can be perturbed in individuals with anhedonic depression. Although preclinical research implicates the dopamine system in modulating motivation/anhedonia, translation of these findings to humans remains limited by traditional neuroimaging and behavioural measures. This project will extend my prior work in developing ultra-high-field MRI sequences and novel cognitive/computational methods to not only measure but also directly modulate neural activity in dopaminergic circuits in individuals with depression.