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Research Techniques used at the ABL Lab
Research Techniques used at the ABL Lab
Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)
Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS, pronounced EF-NEARS) is an optical imaging method that is safe and non-invasive. Similar to fMRI, this technique measures which regions of the brain are being used during a specific activity. Unlike fMRI, however, it can only measure regions near the surface of the brain and it does this by measure differences in the absorption of light by the brain. Participants simply wear a cap with sensors that produce and detect changes in near-infrared light while they are doing an activity. These changes allow researchers to measure changes in the amount of oxygen in the blood in the brain in real time. While wearing the fNIRS cap, participants may move and partake in activities more real world type tasks. For more information about fNIRS, check out:
Resources
Resources
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a safe and non-invasive form of neuromodulation that increases (or decreases, depending on design) the likelihood of brain activity using electrodes placed on the head. Effects from tDCS treatment have been found to last for up to two hours. tDCS has been used with a number of patient populations, including people with dementia and Alzheimer's Disease, stroke patients including those with speech and language problems (aphasia), individuals with depression, as well as people with ASD to reduce behavioral problems, and healthy populations. Our overarching focus is investigating whether tDCS can be beneficial for individuals with ASD with language difficulties and how it changes how the brain processes language information.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is at the heart of the research conducted by the Autism, Brain and Language Lab. MRI is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create images of organs and tissue. It does not involve any radiation or injections and has been safely used for many years. We use MRI technology to examine the structure, function, and connections in the brain. In the ABL lab, we are particularly interested in language in children with ASD, so we often use functional MRI (fMRI) to see what brain regions are being used during language processing, as well exploring the strength of connectivity between these language-related regions using an MRI technique called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The ABL lab also uses MRI to measure the size (volume or thickness) of specific brain regions as our research focuses on how these measures compare to typically developing children. Differences of specific brain measures may help us understand and develop interventions for some of the language deficits observed in many children with ASD.
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