Meeting Agenda

The Maturation of Functional Brain Networks: Insight into the Origins and Course of Mental Disorders

January 27, 2011 – January 28, 2011
Washington, D.C.

Day 1: January 27

TimeEvent
8:00 a.m.Breakfast/Check-in
8:30 a.m.

Welcome, Introductions, and Workshop Objectives

Philip Wang: Deputy Director, NIMH
Alice Luo Clayton: Workshop chair; Division of Developmental Translational Research, NIMH
Bradley Schlaggar: Workshop co-chair; Washington University

8:45 a.m.

Session 1: New Approaches to Study Neural Network Connectivity

Review technical and analytical innovations in the measurement of network dynamics, including advances in electrophysiology, and functional, structural and optical imaging. Discuss the evolving definition of functional networks, and the methodologies used to define and analyze them. Examine issues of data interpretation, and temporal and spatial scaling.

Speakers:

  • Steve Petersen (presented by Bradley Schlaggar)
    Large scale networks: An overview of concepts and methods
  • David Leopold
    Digging deeper into the physiological processes underlying resting state functional connectivity
  • Joseph Culver
    Optical Imaging of Functional Connectivity
10:00 a.m.Break
10:15 a.m.

Session 1: Continued

  • Scott Makeig
    New dimensions of human neuroelectromagnetic brain imaging
  • Ragini Verma
    Creating imaging-based biomarkers of “connectivity” using diffusion and electrophysiology
11:00 a.m.

Session 1: Discussion

Moderators:

  • Charles Schroeder, Nancy Kopell
11:30 a.m.Lunch
12:45 p.m.

Session 2: Structure-Function Relationships over the Course of Development

Examine the dynamic relationships between functional networks and neuroanatomy through development. Discuss challenges in scaling anatomical metrics from an adult brain to a developing brain. Evaluate boundaries in interpreting data from non-invasive methods to draw conclusions regarding connectivity. Identify opportunities to link data on known neural circuitry from tract-tracing studies in animals to inform on human data using non-invasive methods. Discuss strategies to reveal the neurobiological basis of signals from imaging studies.

Speakers:

  • Jay Giedd
    Anatomic MRI of developmental trajectories from ages 3 to 25 years
  • Ellen Grant
    Developing connectivity: Thoughts from multimodal approaches and pathology correlation
2:00 p.m.

Session 2: Discussion

Moderators:

  • Bradley Peterson, David Lewis
2:30 p.m.Break
2:45 p.m.

Session 3: Maturation of Neural Networks in Typical and Atypical Development

Review our current knowledge of how neural network trajectories in mental disorders deviate from typical development. Evaluate how aberrant network dynamics relate to disorder symptomatology and/or domains of function. Discuss whether changes in spatial and temporal network dynamics can serve as biomarkers, and what aspects of brain development or the disease process these biomarkers could potentially identify.

Speakers:

  • Damien Fair
    Using resting-state fcMRI to study developmental trajectories in typically developing youth and youth with ADHD
  • Bradley Schlaggar
    Investigation into the brain's functional network architecture for task control in Tourette Syndrome
  • Stewart Mostofsky
    Motor network connectivity as a model for investigating typical and altered patterns of brain development
  • Sophie Molholm
    The neurophysiology of typical and atypical processing across nodes of the cortical network
4:15 p.m.

Session 3: Discussion

Moderators:

  • Ian Gotlib, Vinod Menon
4:45 p.m.Summary/Charge for Day 2
5:00 p.m.Adjourn

Day 2: January 28

TimeEvent
8:00 a.m.Breakfast
8:30 a.m.

Day 1 Recap

Moderators:

  • Bradley Schlaggar, F. Xavier Castellanos
8:45 a.m.

Session 4: Opportunities and Challenges in Neural Network Studies Using a Prospective, Longitudinal Design

Discuss the scientific advantages, caveats, and practical challenges in using such a design to study pediatric clinical populations.

Moderators:

  • Bradley Schlaggar, Jay Giedd, Beatriz Luna
10:15 a.m.Break
10:30 a.m.

General Discussion: Recommendations and Next Steps

Moderators:

  • Bradley Schlaggar, F. Xavier Castellanos

Goals:

  • Create a recommendation list for longitudinal studies of neural network maturation, including developmental, conceptual and practical considerations.
  • Identify needs for analytical tool development and optimization, and evaluate the potential of incorporating knowledge from other disciplines to achieve these goals.
  • Specify promising strategies for identifying and utilizing biomarkers to inform on the etiology and developmental trajectory of mental disorders.
  • Prioritize the next scientific goals, and identify possible scientific or practical barriers to achieving these goals. Discuss what roles the scientific community and NIMH should play in overcoming these barriers.
12:00 p.m.Adjourn

Meeting Info