{"id":871,"date":"2013-10-07T17:10:43","date_gmt":"2013-10-07T17:10:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/research.unl.edu\/annualreport\/2013\/?p=871"},"modified":"2014-03-13T16:24:16","modified_gmt":"2014-03-13T16:24:16","slug":"unraveling-secrets-of-brain-biology-and-behavior","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/annualreport\/2013\/unraveling-secrets-of-brain-biology-and-behavior\/","title":{"rendered":"

Unraveling Secrets of<\/h2>

Brain, Biology and Behavior<\/h1>"},"content":{"rendered":"

From studying the neurological basis of decision-making to understanding how
\nthe brain behaves after injury, UNL\u2019s new Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior<\/a>
\nis positioned to become an international leader in understanding how brain
\nfunctioning affects human behavior.<\/p>\n

Established in 2013, the center\u2019s multi-disciplinary focus, state-of-the-art equipment and a unique partnership between UNL research and athletics deepen the university\u2019s research capacity, including its growing expertise in concussion research. Research ranges from uncovering the biological underpinnings of political leanings and the nature of addiction to exploring the heritability of social attitudes and language development.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe we can revolutionize brain research and bring it into the everyday,\u201d said center director Dennis Molfese, Mildred Francis Thompson Professor of Psychology.<\/p>\n

The center also is the world\u2019s only lab to simultaneously capture functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), record brain electrical activity and track eye movement, Molfese said. The goal is to get a complete picture of the brain\u2019s structure, how different brain areas interact with each other and how it carries out thoughts and responds to stimuli.<\/p>\n

\n

\"01\"<\/p>\n

“I believe we can revolutionize brain research
\nand bring it into the everyday.”
\n– Dennis Molfese<\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

This technology enhances concussion research, a cornerstone of the center\u2019s work. Molfese and colleagues study how the brain processes information before and after a concussion. Molfese hopes their findings lead to better tools for assessing injury. This research could improve treatment for other head injuries, as well as concussions. Annually, 10.1 million Americans suffer traumatic brain injuries.<\/p>\n

The center, which occupies just over half of a more than 50,000-square-foot addition to East Stadium, features shared research areas that encourage faculty collaboration. It\u2019s adjacent to the Nebraska Athletics Performance Lab, a collaborator on health and performance initiatives.<\/p>\n

The athletics-research partnership aids Molfese\u2019s leadership in a Big Ten Conference\/Ivy League effort, in conjunction with the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, to study sports-related head injuries. These findings could reshape collegiate athletics worldwide.<\/p>\n