|
|
 |
Back to Previous Page
Brain Stimulation Unit
Eric Wassermann, M.D., Staff Clinician
Dr. Wassermann received his B.A. from Swarthmore College, his M.A. from the
University of Pennsylvania where he studied behavioral neurophysiology with
C.R. Gallistel, and his M.D. from New York Medical College. After a Neurology
Residency at the Boston City Hospital, he came to the NINDS as a postdoctoral
fellow in the Human Motor Control Section, where he studied the physiology of
the motor cortex and the control of voluntary movement. In 1997, he established the Brain Stimulation Unit to extend the same
techniques and concepts to investigating the prefrontal cortex and the control
of emotion and action. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the
Pfizer Visiting Professorship in psychiatry, two NIH Director's Awards, and the US Public Health Service
Outstanding Service Medal. Dr. Wassermann’s clinical interests include
behavioral neurology, clinical neurophysiology, and chemical casualty care. He
directs the clinical activities of the NINDS Cognitive Neuroscience Section and
serves as a Senior Medical Advisor to the HHS Assistant Secretary for
Preparedness and Response.
| |
Staff:
Research Interests:
We study the physiology of the brain systems underlying executive function and emotional regulation, using noninvasive stimulation and imaging techniques. We are also interested in developing new treatments for patients with frontal lobe (executive) disorders and ways of enhancing cognitive functions in healthy individuals.
Using magnetic stimulation and electrical neuromodulatory techniques and functional MRI, we are investigating the mechanisms of rewarded and emotionally driven behaviors in the human brain. New thrusts include incorporating near infrared spectroscopy into our work in healthy subjects and patients.
We are part of the NINDS Cognitive Neuroscience Section (Jordan Grafman, Chief) and collaborate with them on the natural history and pathophysiology of frontotemporal dementia and other frontal lobe. Other clinical collaborations with the Cognitive Neuroscience Section include the evaluation of war fighters with traumatic brain injury.
Clinical Protocols:
- DC polarization of bilateral prefrontal cortex 07-0066
- Detecting a reward signal in the motor cortex 07-N-0063
- Cross-validating NIRS with fMRI 07-N-0139
- Effect of DC brain polarization on verbal memory 07-N-0147
Selected Publications:
- Kapogiannis D, Campion P, Grafman J, Wassermann EM (2008) Reward-related activity in the human motor cortex, European Journal of Neuroscience 27, 1836-1842. Full Text/Abstract
- Wassermann EM, Epstein CM, Ziemann U, Walsh V, Paus T, LIsanby SH (Eds.) (2008) The Oxford Handbook of Transcranial Stimulation, Oxford: Oxford University Press .
- Gilbert DL, Wang Z, Sallee FR, Ridel KR, Merhar S, Zhang J, Lipps TD, White C, Badreldin N, Wassermann EM (2006) Dopamine transporter genotype influences the physiological response to medication in ADHD, Brain 129, 791-808.
- Iyer MB, Mattu U, Grafman J, Lomarev M, Sato S, Wassermann EM (2005) Safety and Cognitive effect of frontal DC brain polarization in healthy individuals, Neurology 64, 872-876.
- Wassermann EM, Grafman J (2005) Recharging cognition with DC brain polarization, Trends Cog Neurosci 9, 503-505.
- Iyer MB, Schleper N, Wassermann EM (2003) Priming stimulation enhances the depressant effect of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, J Neurosci 23, 10867-10872. Full Text/Abstract
- Smith MJ, Adams LF, Schmidt PJ, Rubinow DR, Wassermann EM (2002) Ovarian hormone effects on human cortical excitability, Ann Neurol 51, 599-603. Full Text/Abstract
All Selected Publications
Contact Information:
Dr. Eric Wassermann
Brain Stimulation Unit, NINDS
Building 10, Room 7D43
10 Center Drive, MSC 1440
Bethesda, MD 20892-1430
Telephone: 301-496-0151 office,
301-496-0151 laboratory,
301-480-2909 fax
Email: wassermanne@ninds.nih.gov
|
