Franklin Brown, PhD, ABPP
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Associate Professor
Biography
Dr. Brown is an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology within the Division of Neuropsychology. He primarily sees patients with brain tumors, epilepsy, various forms of cancer with cognitive complaints, multiple sclerosis patients, and those with various forms of brain injuries. He also conducts Wada testing for presurgical epilepsy patients. Prior to his work in the neurology department, he was in the Yale Neurosurgery Department focusing on epilepsy patients. In the past, he has worked at rehabilitation centers with TBI patients, NFL Concussion Patients, and at with learning disorder students at colleges and school districts.
In addition to clinical, work he conducts research within the areas of visual memory, cognitive inefficiency, oncology, and epilepsy. He developed the Brown Location Test which is uses internationally and at some of the top neuroscience centers in the United States. He also developed the STEPS sleep treatment program which is also incorporated at many sites in the United States and abroad.
In addition to his paid activities, he volunteers his time on several boards within relevant professional associations (AACN & AACNF), reviews board certification application written samples, and has written grants to improve diversity within the field of neuropsychology.
Appointments
Neurology
Associate Professor on TermPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Brain Tumor Center
- Epilepsy & Seizures
- Neurology
- Neuropsychological and Psychological Assessment Service
- Neuropsychological Services
- Neuropsychology
- Pediatric Epilepsy Program
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Medicine
- Yale Ventures
Education & Training
- Fellow
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (2004)
- PhD
- Louisiana Tech University (2002)
- Intern
- Utah State Hospital (2002)
- Specialty Coursework
- Brigham Young University (2002)
- MA
- Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (1996)
- BA
- Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (1994)
Research
Overview
Specific ongoing research includes the following. Visual memory functioning in pre and postsurgical temporal lobe epilepsy patients. I am administering complete epilepsy batteries including the Brown Location Test to epilepsy patients before or after surgery with the goal of identifying those more consistently associated with right temporal lobe epilepsy, and the utility in predicting postsurgical changes. Within this general area, I am also studying the effects of medication, anxiety, depression and other non-neurological variables upon cognitive test performance in presurgical evaluations. Furthermore, we have been finding an interesting association between math and visual memory which is further being explored within epilepsy and other patient populations.
Within multiple sclerosis, I am studying which cognitive tests are most sensitive to the effects of this disease. In addition to traditional MS related tests, I have added the Brown Location Test and Test of Variables of Attention to further study the effects of cognitive inefficiency within MS. Though MS is not typically a primary memory disorder, the BLT includes one subtest of delayed rotated memory which was designed to assess allocentric memory. In preliminary analysis this appears more sensitive to MS than more traditional measures. We are exploring whether this isolated weakness could be related to reduced connectivity due to the effects of MS. My overreaching goal is to identify measures most sensitive to changes with MS and have these ultitmately included as a key measure of disease progression.
Alzheimer's disease is often quoted as the most common cause of dementia. However, in my clinical referrals this does not seem to be the case even though many of those referred have been preliminarily thought to have AD. Yet, on neuropsychological tests their profile seems more consistent with the effects of vascular disease and a subcortical profile - at least those who have mild cognitive impairment. My goal is to improve the accuracy of diagnoses and eventually determining which methods are most accurate according to postmortem studies.
In addition to the above discussed primary areas, I am always interested in new findings among clinically referred patients. Subcortical strokes is a particular area of interest in that they may produce minimal obvious physical changes, yet can impact cognition in ways that may not be immediately apparent but could dramatically impact quality of life and the ability to maintain employment. I have a small subset of thalamic stroke patients and would like to increase this data set to improve our understanding about how these impact cognition, and quality of life.
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Lawrence Hirsch, MD
Publications
2018
Effect of immunotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery on cognitive function and quality of life in long term survivors of metastatic brain malignancies.
Reddy N, Brown F, Hess J, Fogarasi M, Chiang V. Effect of immunotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery on cognitive function and quality of life in long term survivors of metastatic brain malignancies. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2018, 36: 125-125. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2018.36.7_suppl.125.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBrain metastasis diagnosisQuality of lifeCognitive functionBrain metastasesMetastasis diagnosisWhole-brain radiation therapyLong-term cognitive functionEffect of immunotherapyWhole brain radiationBrain radiation therapyLong-term survivorsTotal lesion volumeMetastatic brain malignanciesSingle assessment sessionExecutive functionBrain radiationTerm survivorsImproved survivalMedian timeMean ageBrain malignanciesSuccessful treatmentLesion volumePatients' scoresRadiation therapy
2017
Comparison of the Computer and Hand Administered Versions of the Brown Location Test (BLT)
Brown FC, O’Connor B, Vitelli KM, Heinly M, Rommel GC, Davis RN. Comparison of the Computer and Hand Administered Versions of the Brown Location Test (BLT). Archives Of Clinical Neuropsychology 2017, 33: 47-56. PMID: 28535289, DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acx049.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitations
2016
B-62A Comparison of the Brown Location Test Paper Version and the California Verbal Learning Test-II on Short-Delayed Free Recall, Long-Delayed Free Recall, and Recognition Hits
Heinly M, Vitelli K, Brown F. B-62A Comparison of the Brown Location Test Paper Version and the California Verbal Learning Test-II on Short-Delayed Free Recall, Long-Delayed Free Recall, and Recognition Hits. Archives Of Clinical Neuropsychology 2016, 31: 636-636. DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acw043.137.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2015
Spatial memory for asymmetrical dot locations predicts lateralization among patients with presurgical mesial temporal lobe epilepsy
Brown FC, Hirsch LJ, Spencer DD. Spatial memory for asymmetrical dot locations predicts lateralization among patients with presurgical mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsy & Behavior 2015, 52: 19-24. PMID: 26398592, DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.08.020.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsVerbal memory testsRight temporal lobe epilepsyMemory testTemporal lobe epilepsyMesial temporal lobe epilepsyLobe epilepsyLocation memory testRight mesial temporal lobe epilepsyHemisphere languageCVLT-IISpatial memoryDot locationsPositive predictive valueBinary logistic regressionVideo-EEGPatientsPredictive valueEpilepsyLogistic regressionLimited sample sizeVSRTRTLELTLEMemoryLateralizationPROFESSIONAL ISSUES: TEST DEVELOPMENT AND METHODSC-62An Alternate Forms Reliability Study of the Brown Location Test Paper vs. Computer-Based Versions within a Single Testing Session
Heinly M, Vitelli K, Murah J, Mangini D, Stryjewski A, Brown C, Brown F. PROFESSIONAL ISSUES: TEST DEVELOPMENT AND METHODSC-62An Alternate Forms Reliability Study of the Brown Location Test Paper vs. Computer-Based Versions within a Single Testing Session. Archives Of Clinical Neuropsychology 2015, 30: 586-586. DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acv047.264.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitations
2014
The relationship of self-reported subclinical obsessive-compulsive symptoms and impulsivity among adults with AD/HD
Brown FC, Katz LJ, Roth RM, Beers SR. The relationship of self-reported subclinical obsessive-compulsive symptoms and impulsivity among adults with AD/HD. Psychiatry Research 2014, 216: 131-136. PMID: 24556290, DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.01.034.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSubclinical obsessive-compulsive symptomsAD/HDResponse inhibition difficultiesObsessive-compulsive symptomsInhibition difficultiesAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderBrown Attention-Deficit Disorder ScaleDeficit/hyperactivity disorderAttention Deficit Disorder ScaleMore commission errorsContinuous Performance TestPerformance-based testsObsessive Compulsive ScaleHyperactivity disorderCommission errorsDisorder ScaleSCL-90Obsessive symptomsCPT IIHigher scoresSecond editionPerformance testsIndividualsAdultsImpulsivity
2013
Influence of anxiety on memory performance in temporal lobe epilepsy
Brown FC, Westerveld M, Langfitt JT, Hamberger M, Hamid H, Shinnar S, Sperling MR, Devinsky O, Barr W, Tracy J, Masur D, Bazil CW, Spencer SS. Influence of anxiety on memory performance in temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsy & Behavior 2013, 31: 19-24. PMID: 24291525, PMCID: PMC3946774, DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2013.10.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCalifornia Verbal Learning TestRey Complex Figure TestVerbal memory testsHigher anxiety levelsMemory testLower anxiety levelsAnxiety levelsMemory performanceVisual memory performanceVisual memory testsVerbal Learning TestComplex Figure TestVerbal memory scoresInfluence of anxietyTemporal lobe epilepsyRCFT performanceVerbal memoryLearning TestFigures TestMemory difficultiesMemory scoresLobe epilepsyAnxietyTLEMore confidence
2011
Processing Speed and Working Memory Performance in Those with Both ADHD and a Reading Disorder Compared with Those with ADHD Alone
Katz LJ, Brown FC, Roth RM, Beers SR. Processing Speed and Working Memory Performance in Those with Both ADHD and a Reading Disorder Compared with Those with ADHD Alone. Archives Of Clinical Neuropsychology 2011, 26: 425-433. PMID: 21613301, DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acr026.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAttention deficit hyperactivity disorderReading disorderMore difficultyWorking Memory PerformanceExecutive functioning measuresMemory measuresCognitive weaknessesMemory performanceHyperactivity disorderFunctioning measuresProcessing speedEF scoresOlder adolescentsCommon underlying featureCurrent studyDisordersUnderlying featureMemoryDifficultiesMeasuresAdolescentsChildrenAdultsPrevious studiesIndividuals
2010
Visual memory in patients after anterior right temporal lobectomy and adult normative data for the Brown Location Test
Brown FC, Tuttle E, Westerveld M, Ferraro FR, Chmielowiec T, Vandemore M, Gibson-Beverly G, Bemus L, Roth RM, Blumenfeld H, Spencer DD, Spencer SS. Visual memory in patients after anterior right temporal lobectomy and adult normative data for the Brown Location Test. Epilepsy & Behavior 2010, 17: 215-220. PMID: 20056493, PMCID: PMC2825669, DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2009.11.026.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsVisual memoryLocation learningNormative dataLocation testLarge meta-analytic studiesAnterior mesial temporal lobeTemporal lobectomyRight temporal lobectomyAdult normative dataTemporal lobe changesMeta-analytic studyMemory testNormative sampleMemory deficitsMesial temporal lobectomyTemporal lobeStandardized scoresWorse performanceMemoryMesial temporal lobeHealthy adultsPresent findingsLearningLobectomy groupConsistent relationship
2007
A New Measure of Visual Location Learning and Memory: Development and Psychometric Properties for the Brown Location Test (BLT)
Brown FC, Roth RM, Saykin AJ, Beverly-Gibson G. A New Measure of Visual Location Learning and Memory: Development and Psychometric Properties for the Brown Location Test (BLT). The Clinical Neuropsychologist 2007, 21: 811-825. PMID: 17676546, PMCID: PMC4012424, DOI: 10.1080/13854040600878777.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsVisual memoryPsychometric propertiesVisual memory testsBrief test batteryVerbal memory deficitsGlobal intellectual abilityLocation testFavorable psychometric propertiesAlternate-form reliabilityVerbal memoryMemory testLocation learningIntellectual functioningNeuropsychological testsIntellectual abilityIdentical objectsTest batteryMemory deficitsMemoryForms reliabilityLess consistent resultsFactor analysisNew measureAdministration difficultiesEmpirical basis
Clinical Care
Overview
Franklin Brown, PhD, ABPP, is an associate professor of Clinical Neurology within the Division of Neuropsychology. He primarily sees patients with brain tumors, epilepsy, various forms of cancer with cognitive complaints, multiple sclerosis patients, and those with various forms of brain injuries. He also conducts Wada testing for pre-surgical epilepsy patients.
Prior to his work in the neurology department, Brown was in the Yale Neurosurgery Department focusing on epilepsy patients. In the past, he has worked at rehabilitation centers with traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients, NFL concussion patients, and with learning disorder students at colleges and school districts.
In addition to clinical, work Brown conducts research within the areas of visual memory, cognitive inefficiency, oncology, and epilepsy. He developed the Brown Location Test, which is used internationally and at some of the top neuroscience centers in the United States. He also developed the STEPS sleep treatment program, which is also incorporated at many sites in the United States and abroad.
In addition to his paid activities, Brown volunteers his time on several boards within relevant professional associations (AACN & AACNF), reviews board certification application written samples, and has written grants to improve diversity within the field of neuropsychology.
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Alzheimer's Disease
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