Role of White Matter Integrity in Age-Related Functional Reorganization

项目总结/摘要 克里斯汀·肯尼迪博士的独立之路奖（K99/R 00）的目标是，是为了扩大 候选人在认知神经科学领域的专业知识，使她能够调查有关 白色物质完整性在支持与年龄相关的功能重组中的作用，并成功过渡到 在一所研究型大学担任终身教职的独立科学家。结合结构和功能 大脑完整性的测量是衰老认知神经科学领域的一个主要目标， 从这项研究中获得的信息应该使我们更接近于了解大脑结构如何影响大脑的功能。 重组和该重组的补偿性质。该项目的主要目的是 研究白色物质结构连接在双侧募集中的作用，并检查代偿性 这一功能重组的本质。这些假设将在成年人的寿命样本中进行测试， 弥散张量成像、认知表现测量和语义判断功能性MRI任务 从中我们可以衡量双边活动指数。本提案的具体目的是：1）测试 假设白色物质连接控制年龄相关的双侧募集; 2）联合收割机白色物质 完整性和认知表现，以确定与年龄相关的双侧募集的补偿性质; 3）通过实验操作任务要求来检验白色物质连通性的假设 随着难度的增加，在支持双边征聘方面变得更加重要。因为候选人 最终目标是在一所研究型大学中获得终身教职， 建议书将有助于获得这一职位，为从接受指导过渡到独立工作做好充分准备 工作和管理神经影像实验室所需的专业技能。最后，该提案的批准 将允许候选人准备和提交一个主要的研究计划（R 01）在较早的阶段比将 没有这个K99/R 00机制是可能的。

Project Summary/ Abstract The objectives of this Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) for Kristen Kennedy, Ph.D., are to expand the candidate's expertise in the field of cognitive neuroscience, to enable her to investigate novel questions regarding the role of white matter integrity in supporting age-related functional reorganization, and to transition successfully to an independent scientist in a tenure-track position at a research university. Combining structural and functional measures of brain integrity is a major goal in the field of the cognitive neuroscience of aging, and knowledge gained from this study should bring us closer to understanding how brain structure affects the brain's functional reorganization and the compensatory nature of that reorganization. The central aim of this project is to investigate the role of white matter structural connectivity in bilateral recruitment and to examine the compensatory nature of this functional reorganization. The hypotheses will be tested in a lifespan sample of adults using Diffusion Tensor Imaging, measures of cognitive performance, and a semantic judgment functional MRI task from which we can measure a bilateral activity index. The specific aims of this proposal are: 1) To test the hypothesis that white matter connectivity governs age-related bilateral recruitment; 2) To combine white matter integrity and cognitive performance to determine the compensatory nature of age-related bilateral recruitment; and 3) To experimentally manipulate task demands to test the hypothesis that white matter connectivity becomes more important in supporting bilateral recruitment as difficulty increases. Because the candidate's ultimate goal is to secure a tenure-track faculty position in a research-oriented university, award of this proposal will facilitate acquiring that position well-prepared for the transition from mentored to independent work and with the professional skills necessary to manage a neuroimaging lab. Lastly, award of this proposal will allow the candidate to prepare and submit a major research proposal (R01) at an earlier stage than would be possible without this K99/R00 mechanism.