Project Summary

Dost Ongur, M.D., Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2004) of McLean Hospital/Harvard University, will use fMRI to study a particular aspect of visual and cognitive function, called paired object recognition, to assess its possible impairment in people with schizophrenia and bipolar disease. Paired object recognition involves remembering two previously seen items and the relationship between them. Recent research from Dr. Ongur’s laboratory has found that two brain areas, the medial prefrontal cortex and the parahippocampal gyrus, are activated when humans carry out these tasks. Although patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disease perform poorly on several cognitive tasks, no previous research has studied the neural activity resulting from the performance of paired object recognition in patients with these disorders. Dr. Ongur hypothesizes patients will have reduced volumes in these areas, perform poorly in difficult tasks and show abnormal blood flow in his areas of interest. The medial prefrontal cortex is interesting because this area may be involved in memory, emotional processing and the guidance of behavior in decision-making situations.

Program Area: MULTIPLE FOCUS AREAS\Bipolar Disorder/Schizophrenia

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