Elisabeth JONCKERS

e-mail

Telephone: (+32) 3 265 2762
Fax: (+32) 3 265 2774


Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
Department of Biomedical Sciences

Address
Campus Drie Eiken
D.UC.114
Universiteitsplein 1
2610 Wilrijk


RECENT RESEARCH TOPICS

Resting state fMRI to study neuronal network structure, function and plasticity non-invasively.
This PhD thesis serves a double purpose. The first objective is implementation and optimization of ‘resting state fMRI’ in control rats. Since most research is done in humans, the challenge is to develop a scanning and analysis protocol with optimal parameters for scanning, anesthesia and data-processing. During rest, low-frequency fluctuations in the intensity of the fMRI signal are measured. Spatial distinct regions of the brain show temporal correlated fluctuations. These areas are functional connected and form in this way different resting state networks. In human research many studies investigate the effect of different pathologies and biological processes on these networks active during resting state. Changes in functional connectivity, measured with resting state fMRI could provide a possibility for early diagnosis in an non-invasive way. Only a few publications report on animal research, almost none in pathologic animals. Consequently, the second objective is to investigate if resting state fMRI can detect and quantify deterioration and recovery of neuronal networks indifferent animal models with as most important example the songbird model of seasonal neuroplasticity.

Publications

• Functional connectivity fMRI of the rodent brain: comparison of functional connectivity networks in rat and mouse.
  E. Jonckers, J. Van Audekerke, G. De Visscher, A. Van der Linden, M. Verhoye.
  PLoS One. 2011 6(12):e18876.

Internal Library (password protected)