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Randy L Buckner, PhD
Professor of Psychology and of Neuroscience at Harvard University
Neuroscientist in Psychiatry and Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital
Investigator at Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Department of Radiology, MGH
PhD, Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine
Building 149, Room 2618
13th Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
Phone: 617-726-5464
Fax: 617-726-7422
Location: CNY149-2618
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DESCRIPTION OF WORK / BIOSKETCH
Many neuropsychiatric disorders run in families, suggesting a strong
genetic component. For example, a child with an autistic sibling is 25
times more likely to develop the disorder than his peers. To better
understand the underlying genetic mechanisms that influence brain
function and risk for neuropsychiatric disorders, we and our colleagues
have recently begun to study the link between genetic variation and
brain function. This line of inquiry has led to the development of
approaches that focus on the individual and methods that can
specifically measure features of brain organization that indicate
atypical brain development. In the past, human neuroimaging techniques have had to combine
measurements from many people, providing a fictional "average brain."
But even the brains of normal individuals vary considerably, so abnormal
function has to be distinguished from this diversity. Moreover, common
disorders are likely products of abnormalities in multiple brain systems
and gene variants. By harnessing advances in magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) scanner technology, including new coil designs and fast imaging
protocols, we are measuring the detailed activity and structure in
thousands of individual brains, with the goal of understanding the
causes of common variation.
LINKS
Recent Publications
Buckner Laboratory
MGH Psychiatric Neuroimaging Research Program
Harvard Center for Brain Science
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