Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging
Cognitive neurosciences and imaging in neuropsychiatric disorders is overseen by Dr.Elizabeth Finger. Dr. Finger’s research program is focused on two main streams: 1) delineating the cognitive and molecular changes that give rise to the varied symptoms and diseases featuring abnormal social behavior and impaired empathy and 2) identifying and testing novel treatments for these symptoms. Her research combines structural and functional imaging techniques including MRI and PET with genetic and protein biomarker correlations, pharmacologic challenges and clinical trials including dose-finding studies in patients with Frontotemporal Dementias, Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia, and individuals with high callous and unemotional traits to characterize and treat symptoms related to empathy deficits.
Current Projects
If you would like more information please contact our Research Coordinator, Sarah Jesso.
519.646.6000 x64852
Sarah.Jesso@sjhc.london.on.ca.
Oxytocin for Empathy Deficits in Frontotemporal Dementia
We are leading a phase 2 randomized controlled trial of intranasal oxytocin for social apathy and empathy deficits in Frontotemporal Dementia (FOXY) with enrollment beginning in January 2018. This study will take place at 10 academic neurology centres in Canada and the US (trial webpage link).
Imaging Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Disorders 
Neuroinflammation may be a key mediator of neuronal dysfunction and cell loss in neurodenegerative disorders. Using the hybrid PET/MRI scanner at Lawson Health Research Institute and a PET ligand that can bind to activated immune cells in the brain, in collaboration with scientists Keith St. Lawrence, Udunna Anazodo, Michael Kovacs and Justin Hicks we are examining whether patients with Frontotemporal Dementia and related disorders exhibit greater inflammation in their brains that healthy aged matched controls.
Genetic FTD Initiative (GENFI)
We are a member of the GENFI study, an international, multi-centered study of patients with known FTD genetic mutations and at-risk family members. This study is evaluating feasibility of a platform for mounting future large-scale natural history studies of FTD and its associated disorders and for conducting clinical trials of disease-modifying interventions. The GENetic Frontotemporal Dementia Initiative (GENFI) unites the collective expertise and resources of internationally recognized centres-of-excellence in the field in annual neurologic, cognitive, imaging and fluid biomarker assessments for patients and their biologic family members.
Empathy and Moral Emotions
Through a series of studies we are examining mechanisms of social cognition in normal populations, in youths with disruptive behavior disorders, and in patients with FTD in collaboration with Dr. Derek Mitchell (weblink). This work also focusses on developing novel techniques including functional imaging and psychophysiologic measures by which the effects of treatments for these symptoms may be tested.
Alzheimer Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI)
We are an active site in the ADNI international cohort study examining cognitive, imaging, fluid biomarker and genetic predictors of development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative (ONDRI) 
We are an active site in the provincial ONDRI cohort study supported by the Ontario Brain Institute examining cognitive, imaging, fluid, gait and ocular biomarkers and genetic predictors of development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Frontotemporal Dementias, Vascular Cognitive Impairment, Mild Cognitive Impairment and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). (ONDRI webpage)
Canadian Consoritium for Neurodegeneration and Aging (CCNA) 
We are an active site in the Canadian cohort study examining cognitive, imaging, fluid, gait and ocular biomarkers and genetic predictors of development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Frontotemporal Dementias, Vascular Cognitive Impairment, Mild Cognitive Impairment and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
Misidentification and Capgras
In collaboration with Dr. Stefan Kohler and Dr. Chris Fiaconni we are examining the psychophysiologic and neuroanatomic basis for the development of misidentification symptoms and Capgrass syndrome in Lewy body Dementia and in Alzheimer’s disease.
