Bernard Chang Lab: Research
Research Interests
The normal process of human brain development is a remarkable sequence of events in which a small cluster of cells grows and transforms into a functioning organ of tremendous complexity. The cerebral cortex, the ribbon of gray matter on the surface of the brain, contains cells that allow us to process information from our environment, create and recall memories, control our behavior and actions, and exercise judgment in our decision-making. The process by which the cortex forms involves the generation of these brain cells, called neurons, the migration of neurons to their proper destination, and their organization into proper layers with the correct connections. When this complicated process is disrupted anywhere along the way, developmental brain disorders called cortical malformations may result. These disorders can lead to epilepsy (a tendency to recurrent seizures), learning problems, and difficulties with motor function, among other things.
In our research, we focus on how the presence of a cortical malformation affects a person’s brain structure and function. Why do some patients with widespread malformations have only mild learning problems, while others are more severely affected? How does epilepsy develop in malformation patients and why can it be so varied? Using the latest technological methods for studying the brain, we can begin to address some of these questions by studying patients with these malformations who volunteer to participate in our research.
