Multi-modal Brain Image Analysis Laboratory (MBIAL) (Officer In-charge: Dr. John P. John)

Multi-modal Brain Image Analysis Laboratory (MBIAL) (Officer In-charge: Dr. John P. John)

This laboratory aims at integrating the acquisition and analysis of multiple modalities of brain imaging for a more comprehensive understanding of brain structure, function and signalling in various neuropsychiatric disorders. This facility aims at employing an integrated multi-disciplinary approach to examine brain structure and function in health and disease through active collaborations between various departments both within and outside the institute. Research projects being undertaken at MBIAL include multi-modal imaging-genomics studies in schizophrenia and dementia, as well as of certain cognitive processes; these projects are funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Many PhD scholars, MD (Psychiatry) post-graduates as well as trainees from other departments of NIMHANS as well as external trainees have also utilized the facility for obtaining training in various aspects of multi-modal image acquisition and analysis.

Completed research activities include; (i) EEG power spectral and complexity analyses in neuroleptic-naïve patients with recent-onset schizophrenia; (ii) Novel landmark-based definition of the rostral prefrontal cortex and evidence for neurodevelopmental deviance of the rostral prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia; (iii) Corpus callosal abnormalities in schizophrenia and gender dimorphism of corpus callosum; (iv) MRI brain activations and deactivations during word generation and aberrations of the same in schizophrenia;(v) development of an task-based ensemble synchrony measure of EEG using Frobenius norm

Presently, the major thrust areas of research at MBIAL include: (i) multi-modal imaging-genomics approach to investigating the link between impaired word generation and aberrant glutamatergic function in schizophrenia; (ii) examination of aberrant neural synchrony in schizophrenia using EEG, fMRI and polysomnography; (iii) study of the link between blood biomarkers and neuroimaging parameters in schizophrenia; (iv) examination of the link between candidate gene polymorphisms and neuropsychological and information processing deficits in schizophrenia; (v) network connectivity in minimal cognitive impairment and early dementia; (vi) default mode network andcognition in healthy ageing; (vii) diffusion tensor imaging and apoE polymorphisms in Alzheimer’s dementia; and (viii) neural correlates of well-being associated with mindfulness meditation and (ix) structure and function of the rostral prefrontal cortex (BA 10).

The laboratory has 4 ongoing funded projects and one completed project. More than 25 researchers including PhD scholars, MD, MSc students, SRFs and faculty from NIMHANS and other collaborative institutes including an undergraduate medical student from UK are currently using the lab facility. The researchers have received awards and student travel grants for the research carried out in the laboratory.

Publications( 2013-2014)

  1. Balachandar R, John JP, Saini J, Kumar KJ, Joshi H, Sadanand S, Aiyappan S, Thangaraju SP, Loganathan S, Varghese M, Bharath S (2014). A study of structural and functional connectivity in early Alzheimer’s disease using rest fMRI and diffusion tensor imaging. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, in press.

  2. Thirunavukkarasu P, Vijayakumari AA, John JP, Halahalli HN, Paul P, Sen S, Purushottam M, Jain S (2014). An exploratory association study of the influence of dysbindin and neuregulin polymorphisms on brain morphometry in patients with schizophrenia and healthy subjects from South India. Asian Journal of Psychiatry http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2014.04.002.

  3. Prasad P, Halahalli HN, John JP, Majumdar K (2014). Single-trial EEG classification using Logistic Regression based on ensemble synchronization. Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics 18 (3): 1074-1080.

  4. Taran R, Mamidi MK, Singh G, Dutta S, Parhar IS, John JP, Bhonde R, Pal R, Das AK (2014). In vitro and in vivo neurogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from different sources. Journal of Biosciences 39 (1): 157-169.

  5. Bagepally BS, John JP, Varghese M, Halahalli HN, Kota L, Sivakumar PT, Bharath S, Jain S (2013) Relationship of Clinical and Cognitive Variables with Brain Morphometric Abnormalities in Alzheimer’s Disease: a Voxel Based Morphometric Study Using 3-Tesla MRI. Aging and Disease 4 (5) 235-243

  6. Shakeel MK, Halahalli HN, Kumar K, Jain S, John JP (2013). Utility of a computerized, paced, semantic verbal fluency paradigm in differentiating schizophrenia and healthy subjects. Asian Journal of Psychiatry 7: 22-27