Neuroimaging of Mind-Body Interaction and Treatment Laboratory
The objective of NoMBIT is to apply cutting-edge techniques (i.e. MRI/fMRI, PET, MEG/EEG, neuromodulation) to investigate the interaction between the brain (mind) and body, and translate the findings to clinical practice. Currently, our research focus on following domains:
Neural substrates of expectation (placebo and nocebo effects), its clinical application and modulation Both placebo and nocebo effects have profound implications for basic / clinical research and medical practice. Working with our collaborators, we have tried to answer the following questions: what is the brain circuit associated with placebo and nocebo effects, do they share the same brain network, how does expectancy interact with real and sham interventions, how can we apply expectancy to clinical practice to boost treatment effects, what is the role of consciousness in placebo and nocebo effects, and can we modulate placebo and nocebo effects using neuromodulation method such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) ?
Brain circuits associated with experimental and chronic pain
Pain is the primary reason individuals seek medical care, and treatment of pain is often unsatisfactory. We have investigated brain networks involved in experimental pain and the brain functional and structural changes associated with chronic pain including low back pain, migraine, fibromyalgia, neck pain, and knee osteoarthritis. Most recently, we have applied machine learning methods to distinguish chronic pain patients from pain-free controls and predict treatment response.
Alternative medicine Alternative medicine. One focus of our research is to investigate the brain response to acupuncture and imagined acupuncture, as well as brain functional connectivity changes following longitudinal alternative therapies such as acupuncture, mind-body interventions and imagery in patients with chronic pain, depression, and cognitive decline. Also, to better evaluate the quality of acupuncture, we have developed a scale (MGH Acupuncture Sensation Scale; MASS) to assess the sensations evoked by acupuncture. The MASS has been translated to Chinese and Japanese.
Peripheral and central Neuromodulation: The vagus nerve (VN) consists of a complex network that regulates mood, pain, and memory. Working with collaborators, we investigated the effect and underlying mechanism of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taNVS) on patients with depression and migraine. We found that 1 month of tVNS treatment can significantly reduce depression and migraine symptoms. We also found that taVNS can modulate the default mode network, amygdala, reward network, and hypothalamus circuits. In addition, we also investigated if central neuromodulation method such as tDCS and TMS can modulate placebo / nocebo effects.