IDDRC: Neurobehavioral Evaluation Core

Staff Director   Gerard Gioia, PhD, Director 301-765-5430 ggioia@childrensnational.org Contact for Child and Adolescent Neuropsychology Services Faculty Penny Glass, PhD Contact for Infant Studies 202-476-2132 pglass@childrensnational.org   Chandan Vaidya, PhD Contact for Neuroimaging Studies 202-687-4274 cjv2@georgetown.edu

The NEC has the capacity to assess a wide variety of neuropsychological and neurobehavioral functions including general intellectual functioning, attention, learning and memory, language, visual-spatial processes, executive functioning, motor skills, academic achievement, adaptive behavior, and social-emotional functioning. See complete listing. Using the expertise of the faculty, the appropriate test battery is developed according to the specific research questions being addressed for each protocol, drawing on the commonly used age-specific assessment tools, but also considering the study population and setting. Specialized batteries for children with sensory impairments, physical handicaps, culturally diverse language backgrounds, and for high and low incidence disorders can also be designed as needed.

Services
The NEC provides sophisticated neurobehavioral/neuropsychological research support to IDDRC investigators, including:

Neuropsychological testing services

• Assists investigators with the development and validation of measures used in neurobehavioral phenotyping and neuroimaging studies
• Performs assessments of infants, children, adolescents, and adults as specified in IDDRC-approved protocols
• Scores and interprets neurobehavioral and neuropsychological tests and measures

• Consultation and training on the proper design, use, and interpretation of neurobehavioral, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging measures.
• Train research assistants (RAs) in testing/data collection methods using the study instruments; monitor study data collection methods and data quality.

• Support for studies investigating neurobehavioral and neuropsychological outcomes that involve exploring mechanisms at the genetic level (utilizing the Molecular Genetics, Proteomics, and Biochemical Analysis Core) and neuropathophysiologic level, using the Neuroimaging Core. Collaboration between the cores serves to enhance these studies.
• Expertise in task development and refinement for neuroimaging studies of neurocognitive development and disorders, assuring continuity between studies of clinical neuropsychological factors and underlying neuropathophysiology.

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Krivitzky L, Babikian T, Lee HS, Thomas NH, Burk-Paull KL, Batshaw ML. (2009). Intellectual, adaptive, and behavioral functioning in children with urea cycle disorders. Pediatric Research, 66(1):96-101.

Lee PS, Yerys BE, Della Rosa A, Foss-Feig J, Barnes KA, James JD, VanMeter JW, Gaillard WD, Vaidya CJ, & Kenworthy L. (2009). Functional connectivity of the inferior frontal cortex changes with age in children with autism spectrum disorders: Evidence from an fMRI study of response inhibition. Cerebral Cortex, 19(8), 1787-94.

Yerys B, Janowski KF, Shook D, Rosenberger L, Barnes KA, Berl MM, Ritzl EK, VanMeter J, Vaidya CJ, & Gaillard WD. (2009). The fMRI success rate of children and adolescents: typical development, epilepsy, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorders. Human Brain Mapping, 30(10), 3426-3435.

Gioia GA, Collins M, & Isquith PK. (2008). Improving Identification and Diagnosis of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury With Evidence: Psychometric Support for the Acute Concussion Evaluation, Journal Head of Trauma Rehabilitation, 23, 230-242.