Exploring the Link Between Emotional Behaviours, Inflammation, and Endocanbinoid Signaling in a Mouse Model of Colitis
Students: Hailey Vecchiarelli
Type of project: Nutraceutical, Mind and Body, Basic, Translational
Grant Type: PhD
Year of Award: 2015
Supervisor: Dr. Mathew Hill
Institutions Affiliated: University of Calgary
Description: The endocanabinoid signaling system (what Cannabis has effects on) is involved in the generation and regulation of stress responses and emotional behaviours. New evidence has suggested that it might have a role in inflammation as well, making it a potential therapeutic target for conditions such as colitis. This project seeks to explore endocanabinoid signalling as a mediator of stress behaviours and inflammation and evaluate the possibility of using cananinoids (both endogenous and exogenous) to treat the dysfunctions of these processes in a mouse model of colitis.
Exploring Epigenetic Changes in Worm Model of Addiction
Student: Kaeli Knudsen
Type of project: Basic, Mind and Body
Grant Type: Undergraduate
Year of Award: 2015
Supervisor: Dr. Carvahlo
Institutions Affiliated: University of Saskatchewan
Description: Epigenetics is a relativity new field that explores the interaction between genes and their environment on an organism. Many mind and body neuroCAM interventions could be operating through epigenetic changes, though an understanding of epigenetics in pathological states is limited. This project seeks to address this gap by exploring the epigenetic changes in a worm model of addiction. By better understanding the gene and environment interactions, scientists might be able to better understand mind and body modalities and improve them.
Pre-natal Infection as a Factor of Psychological Disturbance in Mice
Student: Jillian Caton
Type of project: Basic, Mind and Body
Grant Type: Undergraduate
Year of Award: 2015
Supervisor: Dr. Howland
Institutions Affiliated: University of Saskatchewan
Description: A number of disorders (schizophrenia, autism, etc.) have been linked to prenatal infections. This study seeks to explore a possible mechanism of this link by infecting pregnant rats and performing cognitive testing on her offspring when they grow up. The results of this study could illuminate possible preventative and intervention strategies to minimize the effects of prenatal infection on neural development.
Use of Haptic Anchors to Improve Balance and Mobility in Aging Populations
THE SCIENCE
Walking is a surprisingly complex task. Just look at two-legged robots for proof. Unfortunately, this means that people with certain brain conditions can struggle with the complex task of walking and experience issues with mobility. This study examined a low-tech intervention that could have some big impact: haptic anchors (pictured on the right). This elegant device provides you brain with extra information to improve mobility. The results of this project were published in a peer-reviewed Journal.
The Scientists
IsabelHedayat, MD Student
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Allison Oates
University of Saskatchewan
Dr. Oates' WebsiteTHE IMPACT
The paper published was just a proof of principle that haptic anchors could be a more effective approach to increasing mobility. Since many different neurological disorders present challenges with mobility, the impact of haptic anchors could be quite large. While this simple intervention could help with conditions like Parkinson's Disease, it could be even be used to help regular people when old age presents challenges getting around.
WHAT'S NEXT?
This research helped kick-start a larger series of studies exploring the neuroscience of haptic anchors to better understand exactly how they work and what neurological populations could benefit from them. These kinds of studies are crucial if this intervention will make the leap from the laboratory bench to the bed side. Or perhaps a more accurate description would be for this intervention to restore freedom of movement back to our elders and those with neurological motor challenges.
Amount Funded: $14,000
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Connecting Hippocampal Activity to Memory Processing
Students: Brandon Hauer
Type of project: Basic, Translational, Mind and Body
Grant Type: Undergraduate
Year of Award: 2015
Supervisor: Dr. Dickson
Institutions Affiliated: University of Alberta
Description: There is considerable evidence that sleep impacts memory consolidation for a number of skills and the retention of knowledge. There has been interest in using electrical stimulation on the head as a way to influence this consolidation process, despite an adequate understanding of how this impacts brain processes. This project seeks to address this concern by “testing” this intervention strategy in rats, as this will not only translate into a better understanding of transcranial stimulation, but illuminate how the brain consolidates memories under normal conditions, which go awry in disorders such as Alzheimer’s and depression.
Exploring the Cognitive and Electrophysiological Effects of Oxygen in Humans
THE SCIENCE
As anyone who flies to a high elevation destination is very aware of, there is an impact on the amount of Oxygen (O2) in the air and how our body functions. Most studies look at what happens when O2 level are too low, this study looked at what happens to the brain when the air has more O2 that usual. Published in Peer-Reviewed journal
Wes and his lab found that breathing in pure O2 air would increase alertness brain activity when awake, but sleep-related brain activity if they closed their eyes.The Scientists
Wesley Vuong, Undergraduate Student
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Clayton Dickson
University of Alberta
Dr. Dickson's WebsiteTHE IMPACT
People already manipulate O2 levels for a number of reasons. Athletes will train at high altitude, Oxygen Bars in Vegas are supposed to give you a competitive edge, and is an important part of anesthesia for some surgeries. This makes it important to understand how each of these conditions influence our brain and any important health consequences. It was surprising that the effects of high Oxygen air on brain activity depended on if your eyes were open or not, highlighting the complexity of the brain and the need for studies like this to test not only new treatments, but existing practices as well.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Once we were able to demonstrate that brain activity changes due to O2 administration were state-dependent (i.e., if you were awake or if you were in early stages of sleep), the next steps of the research was determining the impact of O2 on sleep. This was the premise of a follow-up BONF summer research project where we recruited post-secondary students and asked them to come into the lab to nap while we recorded their brain activity with O2 administration. Working on these projects helped to develop critical thinking and refine Wes's analytical skills as he pivoted from neuroscience researcher to working in public health. In this new role, Wes remained in the realm of mental health that he is very passionate about and able to apply newly refined critical lens and creative problem solving skills towards.
Amount Funded: $14,000
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Brainstem Neuromodulation in Sleep Apnea
Type of project: Basic, Mind and Body
Principal Investigator: Dr. Silvia Pagliardini
Institutions Affiliated: University of Alberta
Student: Sudi Duan (UGRAD):
Awards funded to project: 1
Background: Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by loss of muscle tone in the tongue and airway, resulting in short periods of suffocation in sleep. Little is known about the neuromodulatory aspects of normal muscle tone in sleep, let alone abnormal conditions like sleep apnea. This project uses state of the art Optogenetics technology to explore the neural circuitry in sleep breathing.
Findings: This project is a currently funded project pending results.
Implications: Sleep apnea is currently treated with a bulky mechanical respirator that has limited success. The findings from this project could identify targets that would allow for the development of less-invasive treatments.
The Effect of Exercise on Hippocampal Volume in Depression
Type of project: Translational, Personalized Medicine and Mind and Body
Principal Investigator: Dr. Signe Bray
Institutions Affiliated: University of Calgary
Student: Andrea Civitarese (UGRAD)
Awards funded to project: 1
Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric condition that is poorly understood despite a wealth of research. One common finding in MDD is reduced volume of the hippocampus, the brain structure that allows memories to be formed, thought to be attributed to reduced birth of new neurons in this region. Physical exercise has been shown to stimulate the birthing of new neurons as well as reduce the severity of MDD symptoms. This project explores the link between these two findings.
Findings: Awaiting final report
Implications: Awaiting final report
The Effect of CAM in Childhood Emotional Development
Type of project: Translational, Mind and Body
Principal Investigator: Dr. Dawne E. Clarke
Institutions Affiliated: Mount Royal University
Student: Jane Richardson (UGRAD)
Awards funded to project: 1
Background: Early childhood is an important time for cognitive and emotional development which can have lifelong effects. NeuroCAM utilizing behavioural and psychological principles could aid in this development or buffer against harmful detriments to emotional development. This project explores this hypothesis using “Kid Yoga,” drumming, massage, and dance.
Findings: Reports from the children themselves, their parents and their caregivers qualitatively reported positive outcomes from the CAM practices. These results were further supported by a quantitative assessment of emotional development (ASQ-SE).
Implications: This project shows that incorporation of these activities into child care programs can be beneficial to psychological development. Further exploration is required to precisely define these effects in both the mind and the brain.
Using EEG as a Measure of Concussion Severity
Type of project: Translational, Mind and Body and Personalized Medicine
Principal Investigator: Dr. Sean Maw
Institutions Affiliated: Mount Royal University
Student: Amy Varner (UGRAD)
Awards funded to project: 1
Background: Mild traumatic brain injuries (concussions) are a common injury, yet there is little effective diagnostic tools available as most rely on self-reported symptoms or clinician judgement. Electroencephalography (EEG) is the technique that measures “brainwaves” and offers a potential diagnostic option explored in this project.
Findings: An extensive literature review reveals that an EEG based approach to concussion diagnosis would not only be feasible, but potentially superior to physician judgement. The next phase of this project is to initiate a clinical trial to explore the diagnostic utility of EEG based concussion detection.
Implications: Neurology and psychiatry are both seeking biomarkers for various disorders. This project could establish EEG based measures as a biomarker for concussions and open the door for other EEG based biomarkers for other disorders.