Digital Commons Network^™

Traumatic Brain Injury And Psychopathic Traits In Justice-Involved Adult Males, Michaela M. Milillo, Tessa Cappelle, Gerard J.B Clarke, Craig S. Neumann, J Michael Maurer, Nathaniel Anderson, Carla L. Harenski, David Arciniegas, Jean Decety, Michael Koenigs, Kent A. Kiehl

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

This is an original study that investigates correlates of traumatic brain injury (TBI; i.e., severity, total number of TBIs, age at first TBI) and psychopathic traits (i.e., antisocial or interpersonal qualities) in justice-involved adult males who were incarcerated at the time of their participation. Our results show higher levels of psychopathic traits in individuals with TBI versus those without, which suggests a greater need to target TBI in the treatment of justice-involved populations.

FUNDING This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01MH109329 R01DA026964, R01DA026505, R01MH071896, R01DA020870, R01MH070539; PI: Kent A. Kiehl, Ph.D.).

Recognizing Strokes In The Pacu In Adult Versus Pediatric Patients, Juliet Velhagen, Thomas Ferrer, Ricardo Falcon, Tim Petersen, Codruta Soneru

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

This poster discusses strokes in the post-anesthesia care unit in both adult and pediatric patients. We discuss stroke incidence, post-anesthesia stroke symptoms to be aware of, what symptoms overlap between adult and pediatric patients, and the importance of early stroke recognition.

Peer Support Model To Address Substance Use Disorders Treatment Engagement In Rural Communities, Justine L. Saavedra, Lucia E. Martinez, Annette Crisanti, Sttep Research Group

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

New Mexico consistently leads the nation in alcohol-related and drug overdose deaths. In an attempt to reduce the consequences of substance use disorder (SUD), a telehealth-SUD treatment program is being implemented at Sandoval Regional Medical Center to reach underserved rural communities. Peer Support Workers (PSWs) deliver culturally informed treatment and medical professionals provide medication addiction treatment. Data on participant outcomes and preliminary costs associated with peer delivered TH-SUD treatment are currently being collected.

Funding: Research reported in this presentation was supported by Congressionally Delegated funds administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Award Number 1H79FG000817-01.

Measurement Invariance Of The Harm Reduction Self-Efficacy Scale (Hrses) Among College Students, Joey C. Mok, Frank J. Schwebel, Matthew R. Pearson, Addictions Research Team (Art)

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

The Harm Reduction Self-Efficacy Scale (HRSES) was developed to measure an individual's level of self-efficacy to limit their substance use consistent with their own substance use goals. To date, the HRSES has been validated in one relatively small sample. Using a large college student sample, we tested whether the HRSES is interpreted similarly in individuals depending on their self-identified sociodemographic groups. Our measurement invariance analyses supported the validity of the HRSES.

Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor 1 Agonist Sew2871 Reduces Bbb Dysfunction And Improves The Cognitive Impairment Associated With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease, Bushra Shal, Michael Griego, Yirong Yang, Laurel Sillerud, Carlos Perez, Joanna Mcchriston, Haoran Deng, Haojie Chen, Yi Yang

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) involves vascular pathological processes under hypoxic hypoperfusion that contributes to the endothelial dysfunction resulting in blood brain barrier (BBB) damage, brain white and grey matter lesions, and vascular cognitive impairment. We previously reported that activation of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1), using a selective S1PR1 agonist, SEW2871 (SEW) reversed the loss of BBB integrity. This study investigated the different doses of SEW2871, a S1PR1 agonist against neuropathological cascades involved in SVD.

FUNDING: This study is supported by a NIH/NINDS grant (1RF1NS110724) to Dr. Yi Yang

Glun2a-Nmdar Mediated Increased Neuronal Prostaglandin E2 Release And Microglial Activation Exacerbates Ischemic Brain Injury Under Hyperhomocysteinemic, Sarah Seelig, Prabu Paramasivam, Surojit Paul, Ranjana Poddar

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Hyperhomocysteinemia, or elevated levels of blood homocysteine, is a metabolic condition caused by dietary deficiency of folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 and has been implicated in neurological disorders including ischemic stroke and dementia. We show that following ischemic stroke, hyperhomocysteinemia exacerbates brain damage by triggering a neuro-inflammatory response via a unique intracellular pathway involving GluN2A-NMDA receptors. As such, inhibiting this pathway could yield potential drug targets to mitigate brain damage in hyperhomocysteinemic stroke patients.

The Critical Role Of Cntn1 In Myelination Of White Matter Tracts During Brain Development, Haojie Chen, Luis E. Paez-Beltran, Tou Yia Vue

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Contactin-1 (CNTN1), a cell adhesion and cell surface molecule, has been shown to be important for brain development. CNTN1 is suggested to be required for neuronal development and formation of myelin that protects the neurons. When CNTN1 is absent during development, it is lethal for the animal. The objective of this experiment is to elucidate the role of CNTN1 during brain development and myelination.

Funding: This research was supported by R01NS121660, UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center Support Grant NCI P30CA118100, and Taconic-Cyagen Custom Animal Model Awards.

A Review On The Diagnostic Utility Of Artificial Intelligence In Psychology, Serena Smith, Eunice Kim

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been increasingly integrated into clinical and neuroscientific research methods over the last decade, expanding on methods and results while raising ethical concerns. Concerns about patient privacy, scientific and clinical validity, neuro-discrimination, and anthropomorphism have been evaluated in the literature (Salles, et al., 2020, Ienca and Ignatiadis, 2020, Timmons, et al., 2022). A literature review was conducted to evaluate the potential benefits as well as the potential concerns associated with recent AI developments over the last 5 years in the fields of neuroscience and psychology. 30 articles were reviewed using Google Scholar and PubMed. Search terms included …

The Effects Of Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure On Performance In Hippocampal-Dependent Spatial Memory And Anxiety Tasks By Adult Male And Female Rats, Gabriela Acosta, Jack Madden, Ariyana Lacour, Suzy Davies, Jeremy Hogeveen, Daniel D. Savage, Nathan Pentkowski, Benjamin Clark

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (mPAE; ~60-80 mg/dL) has been found to result in structural alterations to the hippocampus. Although many studies have shown that mPAE impairs performance on hippocampal-dependent tasks, few studies have compared behavior across male and female mPAE rats. Thus, the present study was aimed at comparing performance by male and female mPAE rats in tests of spatial memory and anxiety. Overall, mPAE didn't significantly affect spatial tasks but decreased anxiety-like behaviors.

This research was supported by R01 AA029700 and P50 AA022534.

Effects Of Third Trimester Alcohol Exposure (Ttae) On Oligodendrocyte Development In The Mouse Brain, Estrella Villicana, Luis E. Paez-Beltran, Bianca L. Myers, C Fernando Valenzuela, Tou Yia Vue

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Background: Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) occurs when an expecting mother consumes alcohol at any stages of pregnancy. PAE will lead to children to develop fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), which are a group of conditions that can include a wide range of behavior problems, cognitive impairments and distinctive physical features. Oligodendrocyte Precursor cells (OPCs) are glial cells and they’re responsible for generating oligodendrocytes which myelinate neuronal axons to allow proper conduction of action potentials. Decrease myelination in the brain is a prominent feature of PAE both studies in humans and animal models. We hypothesize that third trimester pups exposed to …

Gut Microbiome Underpinnings Of Anxiety And Depression In Long Covid-19, Haley E. Prather, Kimberly Barnhart, Stephanie Nitschke, Kayla Julio, Nicholas Shaff, Aleksandr Birg, Henry C. Lin, Sephira G. Ryman, Andrei A. Vakhtin

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Non-expert summary:

COVID-19 has been identified as having a negative effect on the psychological well-being of those affected. The purpose of this investigation is to elucidate the prevalence of depression and anxiety in long COVID-19, as well as explore whether gut-based processes underlie such psychiatric consequences of COVID-19. By investigating the connection between the gut and anxiety as well as depression in long COVID-19, we can better understand and treat this debilitating condition.

Funding: NIGMS Grant P20GM109089 and NINDS Grant R01NS129407

Longitudinal Trajectories Of Ptsd Severity And Associations With Risk And Protective Factors Among Recently Resettled Refugees In The United States, David Lardier, Meredith A. Blackwell, Jessica R. Goodkind

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Refugees are at risk of experiencing emotional distress due to exposure to traumatic events. Less is known about the etiological trajectories of these mental health symptoms. This study conducted secondary data analyses from a longitudinal RCT testing an intervention among 290 refugees from 148 households. The primary purpose of the current study was to identify distinct longitudinal subgroup trajectories based on participant PTSD severity among refugees as well as factors influencing latent class group membership.

Pilot-Testing A Vascular Risk Factor Reduction Intervention For Adults With Post Stroke Executive Dysfunction: Champs, Suzanne Burns, Tim Dionne, Jude Chavez, Karen Lou, Binh T. Nguyen, Sarah K. Ward, Kevin Wilson, Davin Quinn, Jessica Richardson

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Non-Expert Summary: People with stroke are at an increased risk for recurrent stroke, heart disease, cognitive decline, and general decline in health and function after returning to community living. This poster describes the protocol and study progress for a pilot intervention project that is designed to provide metacognitive strategy training and vascular risk factor reduction education in people with stroke and residual cognitive deficits like executive dysfunction.

Formative Stages Of Administering A Comprehensive Neurodevelopmental Battery At Unm For A Large Multi-Site National Study, Lidia Enriquez Marquez, Jillian Kotulski, Alexandria Wiesel, Lawrence Leeman, Ludmila Bakhireva

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

The HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) is a multi-site research study (25 sites) designed to prospectively examine brain and behavioral development beginning prenatally through mid-childhood. The study incorporates repeated Child Cognitive Systems, such as the Early Regulation in Context Assessment (ERICA) and the NIH Infant and Toddler Toolbox (NBT). The HBCD pilot phase focused on optimizing a pragmatic behavioral coding scheme to facilitate data acquisition in infants (3 months) and toddlers (≤36 months).

Examining Substance Use And Mental Health Patterns Among Hispanic Adolescents: A Latent Class Analysis And Its Associations With Risk And Protective Factors, Carolina Verdezoto, David Lardier, Pauline Garcia-Reed, Robert J. Reid

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Concurrent substance use and comorbid mental health issues tend to be correlated with numerous socioecological indicators (e.g., community violence exposure; low community connectedness) as well as both interpersonal (e.g., family relationships) and intrapersonal (e.g. perceived empowerment) experiences. The purpose of this study was to examine alcohol and concurrent drug use patterns among Hispanic adolescents in an underserved community as well as associations with community ecology (e.g. access to drugs and alcohol; community connectedness), family dynamics, and intrapersonal domains of self-efficacy and empowerment. Such research may help in supporting target treatment and prevention.

FUNDING: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration …

Department Of Family & Community Medicine Transdisciplinary Evaluation And Support Clinic (Teasc), Martin Gonzales, Toni Benton, John Phillips, Gail Thaler, Helene Silverblatt, May Goldenberg, Clark Hardgrave, Amber Seik, Pat Beery, Shelly Marek, Liz Donsbach, Rae Romero

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

This poster submission highlights the success and impact the Transdisplinary Evaluation and Support clinic (TEASC) has had in providing healthcare and behavioral requirements of adolescents and adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). Over the past three decades, the TEASC has successfully implemented a consultative model to address the complex needs of individuals with I/DD, catering to both teens and adults. This innovative team model offers statewide consultative services, extending support to individuals, their families, and their support teams. TEASC employs a variety of interdisciplinary clinical initiatives to provide clinical expertise throughout the state. The TEASC Evaluation involves in-person consultations …

Ascl1 Regulates Astrocyte And Oligodendrocyte Cell Fate, Proliferation, And Migration In The Dorsal Cortex, Luis E. Paez-Beltran, Bianca L. Myers, Milindu Liyanapathirana, Haojie Chen, Estrella Villicana, Tou Yia Vue

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Crucial questions in developmental neuroscience are how a common progenitor gives rise to different cell types and how development changes over time. This study explores both questions by examining how ASCL1 regulates the cell fate, migration, and proliferation of glial progenitors and how they give rise to different progeny at different stages. Understanding the mechanisms of neurodevelopment not only increases our understanding of fundamental biology but allows us to comprehend pathologies that share similar mechanisms.

Russians Fleeing Putin’S Country: Trauma, Daily Stressors, Anxiety, Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Maria Mccready, David Witherington, Steven Verney, Dmitry Boltyanskiy

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

The turmoil unleashed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 triggered a mass migration of individuals from Russia to nearby countries like Armenia and Georgia. Amidst this upheaval, concerns have arisen regarding the mental well-being of Russian emigrants and their experiences during this turbulent period. To bridge this gap in knowledge, our study aims to examine the mental health status of adult Russian emigrants who departed from their homeland after the beginning of the conflict.

Drawing from a sample of 67 participants, comprising 30 females and 3 non-binary individuals, our research focuses on communities in Armenia and Georgia, …

Circvopp1: A Potentially New Regulator Of Long-Term Immune Dysfunction In The Peripheral And Central Nervous System Arising From Prenatal Alcohol Exposure, Ariana N. Pritha, Andrea A. Pasmay, Michaela Dell'orco, Joshua J. Sanchez, Jacob E. Sanchez, Suzy Davies, Daniel D. Savage, Nikolaos Mellios, Erin D. Milligan, Shahani Noor

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Research indicates prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) increases the risk of heightened touch sensitivity after minor nerve injury due to inflammation. We explored how non-coding circular RNAs (circRNAs) may influence this. Using rat models, we found 18 circRNAs significantly altered by PAE. These circRNAs regulate genes related to immune responses, including the NF-κB pathway, crucial in inflammation. One circRNA, circVopp1, potentially affects NF-κB activity. Further study may identify circVopp1 as a biomarker for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and a target for treatment.

FUNDING: This work was supported by T34 GM145428, R01 AA025967, R21 AA023051, T32-AA014127, P50 AA022534 and R01AA029694

Sleep Disturbances Relate To Problematic Alcohol Use Via Effortful Control And Negative Emotionality, Chloe E. Martinez, Christian C. Garcia, Matison W. Mccool, Maria M. Wong, Matthew R. Pearson, Protective Strategies Study Team

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

A quarter of college students report experiencing insomnia symptoms, and 70-90% report sleeping less than 8 hours on weeknights. Sleep problems are linked to higher alcohol use, which also peaks during early adulthood. In a study of 2000 students, those who reported sleep issues also reported struggling with negative emotions and self-control, additional factors that have been related to problematic alcohol use. Exploring these relationships can aid in improved interventions to alcohol-related problems among students.

The Littlest Thinkers, Updated! A Neonatal Cognitive Development Investigation Using Eeg, Kate L.C Cavanagh, Jessie Maxwell, Dawn Novak, Aaron L. Cardon

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

This novel study investigates cognitive processing by way of auditory event-related potentials in neonates who are undergoing a clinical EEG as part of their care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Auditory event-related potentials (AERPs) have been infrequently gathered in neonates and remain a limited studied age group in EEG literature. Within the small community of researchers who have gathered neonatal ERPs, most have been collected on healthy term neonates. This ongoing study continues to assess AERPs in neonates who are undergoing a clinical EEG and compare the response from those who have a normal EEG background, to the …

Pediatric Postoperative Stroke Recognition, Thomas Ferrer, Juliet Velhagen R Valhagen, Tim Peterson, Codruta Soneru

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Introduction

The recognition and diagnosis of pediatric strokes (PS) or cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) is a well known challenge.¹ In postoperative environments, additional factors such as sedation, regional anesthesia, and postoperative limitations exacerbate the difficulty.² This overview of PS etiology and clinical characteristics includes postoperative guidelines and identifies current literature gaps.

Discussion

As in adults, PS can be ischemic: Arterial Ischemic Stroke (AIS) and Cerebral Sinovenous Thrombosis (CSVT); or hemorrhagic (HS): intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage. The presentation of these varies substantially both from each other and their adult counterparts. Younger children and infants may have unexpected presentations such as …

Elevation Of Mir-150-5p In Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells As A Result Of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Is Mediated By Transcriptional Mechanisms, Marissa Westenskow, Christina Wong, Amy S. Gardiner

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) affect the development of children prenatally exposed to alcohol. Severe forms of FASD involve altered structure and function of brain microvasculature. These alterations are partially mediated by an increase in the microRNA miR-150-5p in brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVECs). We investigate molecular mechanisms that may cause increased miR-150-5p following alcohol exposure. These mechanisms may include altered DNA methylation and transcription factor binding at the miR-150 promoter.

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (Pae) And Mild Adolescent Stress Induce Vulnerability To Mild Adult Stress In Mice, Justine Zimmerly, Anette Fernandez-Oropeza, Melody S. Sun, Clara J. Tomicek, Erik J. Balmer, Noah A. Castro, Shahani Noor, Andrea A. Pasmay, Ariana N. Pritha, Carlos F. Valenzuela, Daniel D. Savage, Erin D. Milligan

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

This work presents the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on the development of anxiety-like behaviors in adult mice following mild stressors. Models of mild stress in adolescence and adulthood were utilized to unmask aberrant neuroimmune actions and subsequent development of anxiety-like behaviors in adult PAE offspring. The results indicate that PAE induces maladaptive stress responses mediated by neuroinflammatory processes in different brain regions.

Single Nucleus Transcriptomics Reveals Cell Type-Specific Heterogeneity On The Effects Of Gestational Ozone Exposure Within The Brain, Sumira Phatak, Kathryn Brayer, Russell Hunter, David Scieszka, Andrea Pasmay, Selita Lucas, Jamie Padilla, Matthew Campen, Shahani Noor

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Air pollution, particularly ozone, is a major global health concern that impacts respiratory health and has been linked to pregnancy-related complications. Our study exposed mice to ozone during early pregnancy, revealing significant changes within the cells of the brain. Combined ozone exposure and pregnancy affected pathways associated with neurodegenerative diseases, potentially influencing long-term maternal and offspring health. These findings highlight the importance of addressing air pollution's impact on both respiratory and neurological health during pregnancy.

Photosensitivity In Dravet Syndrome: Quantifying Impact Of Sunlight On Myoclonic Seizure Frequency, Sarah E. Otterson, Danny Rogers, Aaron L. Cardon

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Can sunglasses and curtains stop seizures? We show that in a child with a certain type of epilepsy, limiting sunlight exposure reduced seizures by 95%!

Effects Of Dysbiosis And Gut-Derived Hydrogen Sulfide On Cognitive Performance, Kimberly Barnhart, Haley Prather, Stephanie Nitschke, Kayla Julio, Nicolas Shaff, Alexander Birg, Henry Lin, Sephira Ryman, Andrei Vakhtin

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

The goal of this project was to examine the effects of gut dysbiosis and gut-derived hydrogen sulfide on cognitive performance in humans. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is known to produce neurotoxic effects in relatively large amounts, yet it is produced by the body in tiny concentrations and has important roles. Here, we examined how moderate levels of H2S produced by gut bacteria may affect cognition.

FUNDING:

This project was supported by the NIGMS Grant P20GM109089 and NINDS Grant R01NS129407

Altered Neuronal Network Connectivity In Children With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Maryam H. Alsameen, L Flynn, C Cerros, M Williams, D E. Hill, J M. Stephen

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

We investigated how Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) affects brain connections in children 6-8 years of age using noninvasive brain imaging. Comparing 52 children, half with FASD, we found differences in brain connectivity patterns. Children with FASD showed reduced connections in areas related to thinking and movement, while typically developing children had stronger connections in sensory and movement areas. These findings help us understand how FASD affects the brain's wiring and functioning.

FUNDING: NIAAA P50AA022534, R01AA029605.

Investigating Anticipation For Alcohol In Mice Elicited By Cues Predicting Its Availability, Seth David, Dominic Furlano, Monserrat Orozco, David N. Linsebardt

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Non-expert summary:

Excessive alcohol consumption leads to premature deaths and high societal costs, often exacerbated by relapses triggered by alcohol-associated cues. This study employed a mouse model of binge alcohol drinking to investigate if such cues elicit anticipatory behavior. We found that over time, all mice became responsive to cues irrespective of fluid provided. Surprisingly, control males spent more time near their sipper than other groups during cues, despite only ethanol mice exhibiting craving-associated drinking patterns.

Abstract:

Background: Excessive alcohol consumption contributes to approximately 140,000 deaths and $249 billion dollars in societal costs each year. This is due in …

Alpha Peaks And Learning Troughs: Examining Neural Networks Of Attention In Children With And Without A Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (Theta), Donovan A. Roberts, Julia M. Stephen

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

We investigated the effects of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) on Alpha Spectral Power (ASP). Alpha power is highly correlated with the Default Mode Network, which plays a huge role in cognition, learning, and attention. We also monitored resting connectivity to better predict outcomes than task-based responses alone, since both are involved in atypical inhibitory function in children with FASD.