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INFORMATION FOR

Hampson Lab

Overview

Our lab does functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of neuropsychiatric populations, as well fMRI studies of healthy control subjects. A major focus at present in our lab is the use of real-time fMRI neurofeedback to treat and study mental illness. We use this form of neurofeedback to train people to control a specific aspect of their brain function. For example, we are beginning a new study training adolescents with Tourette syndrome (or chronic tic disorder) to control activity in their supplementary motor area to see if better control over neural activity in this region can result in improved control over tic symptoms.

We are also involved in developing neurofeedback interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Typically, one of our studies will involve two or three sessions of fMRI neurofeedback and two or three additional fMRI sessions that are used to monitor changes in brain activity patterns. The primary aim of this work is to develop neurofeedback as an intervention for improving neuropsychiatric symptoms. In addition, our neurofeedback studies examine how changes in brain function over the course of neurofeedback training relate to symptom improvements, which can provide insights into the neurobiological substrates giving rise to symptoms.

The Hampson Lab is led by Michelle Hampson, PhD, Assistant Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Psychiatry, Biomedical Engineering, and the Child Study Center.

Participant Eligibility/Benefits

Most of our studies involve MRI scans. We are beginning a new neurofeedback study for adolescents with Tourette Syndrome ages 10-16.

Research Interest

New ways of imaging human brain function to study and treat mental illness.

IRB Study Title

Neurofeedback from the supplementary motor area for Tourette Syndrome (HIC #0206017435)

Collaborating Yale Faculty