Schmahmann Lab for Neuroanatomy & Cerebellar Neurobiology
Email: jmacmore@mgh.harvard.edu
Overview
The Schmahmann Lab focuses on the anatomical substrates of cognition and emotion. We use the methods of systems neuroscience, and we uphold the mission of Massachusetts General Hospital by incorporating patient care and teaching into our research program.
My work pioneered the role of the cerebellum in cognition and emotion, and together with my collaborators I continue to evaluate the clinical features and neuroanatomical and functional substrates of the cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome. Our methods include tract tracing studies in animals of the pathways that link the cerebellum with the cerebral cortex; neurological and neuropsychological studies of cognition and emotion in patients with cerebellar diseases; and structural (MRI) and functional imaging (PET and fMRI) of the cerebellum to better understand the organization of the human cerebellum and the consequences of cerebellar damage on higher order behaviors.
In addition to cerebellar connections with cerebral cortex, we are interested in the connections of different cortical association areas with each other; with subcortical structures such as thalamus and basal ganglia; and the organization of the white matter tracts that link different brain regions.
Our tract tracing studies in animals provided new insights into cerebral white matter pathways, and we are using new MRI approaches (diffusion spectrum imaging – DSI) to study these pathways and connections in the whole brain – in animals and humans.
This work has potential to shed new light on cerebral and cerebellar systems affected by many diseases, from the ataxias to autism, schizophrenia and depression. We complement these anatomical investigations by studying patients with lesions in these areas (thalamus, pons, and cerebral white matter, as well as cerebellum) to better understand these presentations, and to facilitate improved diagnosis, management, and counseling.
Teaching
Education is central to our mission. The clinical insights and results of our research efforts are shared in teaching sessions with medical students who rotate through Mass General wards on the neurology clerkships, as well as with undergraduate and graduate students locally and nationally.
Patient outreach is a central part of our clinical mission, and a driving force in our research efforts. Dr. Schmahmann is a member of the Medical Advisory Board of the National Ataxia Foundation, and the Medical Advisor to its New England Ataxia Support Group.
The Laboratory has been funded by the National Institutes of Health for the development of the MRI Cerebellar Atlas, anatomical studies of the corticopontine projections in animals, and studies of motor and cognitive effects of cerebellar strokes in patients; by the McDonnell-Pew Foundations for behavioral and anatomical studies in animals; the Birmingham Foundation; the Mass General Executive Committee on Research for anatomical as well as clinical studies; and philanthropic gifts from patients and their families.
Collaboration
Our collaborators play an essential role in fulfilling our mission. At the Mass General these include investigators and clinicians in the following areas:
- Athinoula Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging
- Psychology Assessment Center
- Cognitive/Behavioral Neurology Unit
- Department of Neuropathology
- Stroke Service
- MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease (MIND)
- The Broad Institute
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy)
- Neuro-otology and Vestibular Clinical Laboratories
We also collaborate closely with neuroscientists in the Boston University Laboratory for Anatomy and Neurobiology, the New England Regional Primate Center, the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation, the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, and previously with the McConnell Brain Imaging Center at the Montreal Neurological Institute and the Laboratory for Neuroimaging at UCLA.
Research Projects
- Tract tracing studies in animals of the connections between amygdala and the cerebellar system; organization of fibers in the anterior limb of the internal capsule; cortical projections to the zona incerta.
- Diffusion spectrum imaging in animals and humans to study cerebral white matter pathways and connectional neuroanatomy.
- Structure-function correlations of motor and cognitive effects of cerebellar stroke.
- Cerebral hemisphere diaschisis identified with PET in cerebellar stroke patients.
- Neurobehavioral manifestations of patients with cerebellar agenesis.
- Linguistic processing in patients with cerebellar degeneration.
- Further studies of the neuropsychiatric aspects of the cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome.
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of cerebellum in neuropsychiatric disorders.
- Evaluation of the arginine-growth hormone stimulation test for the diagnosis of multiple system atrophy – cerebellar type.
- Ataxia Rating Scales in cerebellar patients.
- Neuropathology of cerebellar disorders.
- Neuroimaging in multiple system atrophy for early diagnosis and prognosis.
- Mitochondrial basis of sporadic ataxia syndromes.
- Case studies and neuropathology of cerebral white matter leukodystrophy.
- Clinical research studies of new therapeutic options in Friedreich’s Ataxia.
Research Team
Jeremy D. Schmahmann, MD
Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School and Founding Director, MGH Ataxia Center
Christopher D. Stephen, MBCHB, MS
Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School and Clinician Investigator, MGH Ataxia Center
Chih-Chun (Charles) Lin
Clinician Investigator, MGH Ataxia Center
Franziska Hoche
Clinician Investigator, MGH Ataxia Center
Publications
Open Positions
We are not presently hiring, but we welcome enquiries from students who are interested in volunteering in the laboratory and/or clinic on selected projects.