1. My experience in brain cognitive research for summer minority high school students Ron Hu, M.D. Johnson Foundation Summer Research Program ‘01

2. Summer 2001

3. Summer Program

4.  Picture

5. The Knot Tying Experiment Tests how brain engages in motor learning Subjects learn two sailor’s knots Brain oxygenation and performance data gathered Bowline Clove hitch

6. Hypotheses 1. The p refrontal cortex is involved in learning motor function 2. An imagery period will enhance the performance of subjects 3. Repetition learning in the subjects will subsequently decrease brain activation.

7. Methods 18 subjects randomly split into two groups Exp group asked to imagine tying knot before trial Control group had rest period before trial Each subject tested 4 times with at least one day between each test Performance was compared BaselineVideoGapTrial Period BaselineVideoImageryTrial Period Control Experimental

8. Oxygenation Prefrontal cortex Pre-frontal cortex activation was associated with imagining and actual knot-tying

9. Best Performer Baseline Video Imagery Trial

10. Worst performer Baseline Video Imagery Trial

11. Performance Imagery period did not improve performance in our subjects

12. Repetition learning Learning did occur as subjects gained experience in tying the knots, and the overall activation decreased

13. Since Summer Program

14. The future Thank you! Prefrontal Cortex