Associate Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation University of Pittsburgh Phone: (412) 648-6654 Fax: (412) 692-4354 Email: rickerjh@upmc.edu Lab Website: http://www.pitt.edu/~jhr2/

Ph.D, Wayne State University

 

Research Interests

 

My overall program of research is in the examination of neurobiological correlates and predictors of cognitive impairment, recovery, and rehabilitation following brain trauma in humans. Traumatic brain injury is one of the leading causes of disability, but there are virtually no effective treatments for its debilitating consequences. By understanding the neurobiological correlated and predicts of cognitive and functional disability, new pharmacological and other treatment may be developed.

My current research projects include the examination of altered cerebral blood flow and metabolic correlates of impaired episodic and working memory after brain injury. Technologies utilized in my lab include functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI), functional near infrared spectroscopy (FNIRS), and positron emission tomography (PET).

Research projects are conducted in collaboration with the Brain Imaging Research Center (BIRC), the Cognitive Neuroscience program in the Department of Psychology, and the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Pitt’s School of Medicine.

 

Recent Publications

• Arenth PM, Ricker JH, Schultheis MT: Functional near-infrared spectroscopy in neurorehabilitation. Clin Neuropsychol 21: 38-57, 2007.
• Ricker JH, Arenth PM: Traumatic brain injury. In M D'Esposito (ed) Functional MRI: Applications in Clinical Neurology and Psychiatry: 197-206.  New York:  Taylor & Francis, 2006.
• Zafonte RD, Ricker JH,Yonas H, Wagner A: Frontal contusions: Imaging and behavioral consequences. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 84(3): 197-198, 2005.
• Li Y, Chiaravalloti N, Hillary FG, DeLuca J, Liu WC, Kalnin AJ, Ricker JH: Differential cerebellar activation on fMRI during working memory performance in patients with multiple sclerosis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 95: 635-639, 2004.