Heather Burrell Ward, MD
@heatherwardmd.bsky.social
Psychiatrist. Director of Neuromodulation Research & Assistant Professor @VUMCPsych using fMRI/TMS to study the brain circuit basis of co-occurring substance use and psychotic disorders. Mom. www.vumc.org/heatherwardlab/
9. Press Release: news.vumc.org/2025/06/25/s...
Study unravels the neurobiological mechanism of psychomotor disturbance in psychiatric disorders
Vanderbilt research explores underlying neurobiological mechanism of psychomotor disturbance in psychiatric disorders.
news.vumc.org
July 14, 2025 at 6:46 PM
9. Press Release: news.vumc.org/2025/06/25/s...
8. These results have dramatic implications for treatment of psychomotor function in psychotic disorders, as they suggest a unifying role of DMN connectivity in psychomotor disturbance 🏃, overall function, and well-being 😀.
July 14, 2025 at 6:46 PM
8. These results have dramatic implications for treatment of psychomotor function in psychotic disorders, as they suggest a unifying role of DMN connectivity in psychomotor disturbance 🏃, overall function, and well-being 😀.
7. We identified significant relationships between the same brain regions and their connectivity patterns to the DMN that were related to well-being 😀, overall function, and grip strength 💪.
July 14, 2025 at 6:46 PM
7. We identified significant relationships between the same brain regions and their connectivity patterns to the DMN that were related to well-being 😀, overall function, and grip strength 💪.
6. Higher grip strength 💪 was correlated with greater connectivity from multiple brain regions to the DMN. Given associations between grip strength and well-being, we repeated this analysis to see if we would identify similar brain correlates for grip and well-being – and we did.
July 14, 2025 at 6:46 PM
6. Higher grip strength 💪 was correlated with greater connectivity from multiple brain regions to the DMN. Given associations between grip strength and well-being, we repeated this analysis to see if we would identify similar brain correlates for grip and well-being – and we did.
5. Using data from the multi-site Human Connectome Project for Early Psychosis (HCP-EP, n=206), we performed a multivariate pattern analysis of the entire connectome 🧠 to identify brain circuits linked to grip strength 💪, overall function, and well-being 😀.
July 14, 2025 at 6:46 PM
5. Using data from the multi-site Human Connectome Project for Early Psychosis (HCP-EP, n=206), we performed a multivariate pattern analysis of the entire connectome 🧠 to identify brain circuits linked to grip strength 💪, overall function, and well-being 😀.
4. The brain 🧠 correlates of grip strength have been presumed to lie in the motor system, so previous brain analyses are frequently restricted to motor regions. However, a unifying brain circuit explanation linking grip strength and overall well-being has remained elusive 👀 until now
July 14, 2025 at 6:46 PM
4. The brain 🧠 correlates of grip strength have been presumed to lie in the motor system, so previous brain analyses are frequently restricted to motor regions. However, a unifying brain circuit explanation linking grip strength and overall well-being has remained elusive 👀 until now
3. Grip strength 🏋️ is one measure of motor function associated with all-cause mortality and overall well-being. It has been assumed that associations between grip strength and well-being are purely related to mechanical impairments reflective of overall poorer physical health.
July 14, 2025 at 6:46 PM
3. Grip strength 🏋️ is one measure of motor function associated with all-cause mortality and overall well-being. It has been assumed that associations between grip strength and well-being are purely related to mechanical impairments reflective of overall poorer physical health.
2. Psychomotor disturbance is highly prevalent across psychiatric disorders and has many manifestations, e.g., catatonia, psychomotor retardation, psychomotor agitation, etc. But what is the neurobiological mechanism of psychomotor disturbance 🏃 in psychiatric disorders?
July 14, 2025 at 6:46 PM
2. Psychomotor disturbance is highly prevalent across psychiatric disorders and has many manifestations, e.g., catatonia, psychomotor retardation, psychomotor agitation, etc. But what is the neurobiological mechanism of psychomotor disturbance 🏃 in psychiatric disorders?
7. TMS is an exciting intervention for SUDs because of the flexibility in its administration schedule. We should design and test alternative TMS dosing schedules that are: 1) Highly effective 💪 and 2) Accessible for individuals recovering from SUDs.
June 25, 2025 at 2:35 PM
7. TMS is an exciting intervention for SUDs because of the flexibility in its administration schedule. We should design and test alternative TMS dosing schedules that are: 1) Highly effective 💪 and 2) Accessible for individuals recovering from SUDs.
6. Extended dosing: Recovery from substance use takes time and behavior change, and symptoms of post-acute withdrawal can persist for weeks. Extended TMS dosing, such as multiple sessions/day once per week, may be an opportunity to provide continued treatment & relapse prevention
June 25, 2025 at 2:35 PM
6. Extended dosing: Recovery from substance use takes time and behavior change, and symptoms of post-acute withdrawal can persist for weeks. Extended TMS dosing, such as multiple sessions/day once per week, may be an opportunity to provide continued treatment & relapse prevention
5. Accelerated dosing: Newer, accelerated protocols apply multiple TMS sessions per day to shorten time to response. However, protocols that involve treatment for 10h/day x 5 days pose challenges to recovery goals, such as full-time employment, education, or caretaking.
June 25, 2025 at 2:35 PM
5. Accelerated dosing: Newer, accelerated protocols apply multiple TMS sessions per day to shorten time to response. However, protocols that involve treatment for 10h/day x 5 days pose challenges to recovery goals, such as full-time employment, education, or caretaking.
4. Flexible dosing: Traditional TMS protocols involve weekly treatment for weeks at a time. Recently, studies have tested flexible protocols that provide TMS a few times/week, allowing for more scheduling flexibility (Meredith Addicott & Greg Sahlem)
June 25, 2025 at 2:35 PM
4. Flexible dosing: Traditional TMS protocols involve weekly treatment for weeks at a time. Recently, studies have tested flexible protocols that provide TMS a few times/week, allowing for more scheduling flexibility (Meredith Addicott & Greg Sahlem)
3. As TMS has been increasingly studied as a novel intervention for SUDs, the principle of patient-centered care has been absent from protocol design. We focus on dosing schedule and advocate for patient-centered neuromodulation protocols to support recovery from SUDs.
June 25, 2025 at 2:35 PM
3. As TMS has been increasingly studied as a novel intervention for SUDs, the principle of patient-centered care has been absent from protocol design. We focus on dosing schedule and advocate for patient-centered neuromodulation protocols to support recovery from SUDs.
2. TMS has growing interest and evidence as a novel treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). Substance use treatment has embraced patient-centered care approaches that prioritize a patient’s individual needs, goals, and treatment preferences.
June 25, 2025 at 2:35 PM
2. TMS has growing interest and evidence as a novel treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). Substance use treatment has embraced patient-centered care approaches that prioritize a patient’s individual needs, goals, and treatment preferences.
Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Studies like Petersen et al. that use single rTMS sessions with fMRI to probe the mechanism of rTMS for substance use disorders are critical stepping stones toward highly effective neuromodulation interventions for substance use
@heatherwardmd.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@heatherwardmd.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
One step at a time: use of single-session rTMS to test novel targets for substance use disorders - Neuropsychopharmacology
Neuropsychopharmacology - One step at a time: use of single-session rTMS to test novel targets for substance use disorders
www.nature.com
June 17, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Studies like Petersen et al. that use single rTMS sessions with fMRI to probe the mechanism of rTMS for substance use disorders are critical stepping stones toward highly effective neuromodulation interventions for substance use
@heatherwardmd.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@heatherwardmd.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
These labor-intensive, mechanistic TMS studies are 🏋️♀️ challenging to conduct but provide critical stepping stones for future TMS clinical trials.
June 16, 2025 at 8:37 PM
These labor-intensive, mechanistic TMS studies are 🏋️♀️ challenging to conduct but provide critical stepping stones for future TMS clinical trials.
In her @npp-journal.bsky.social paper, @npetersen.bsky.social tests the effects of single sessions of personalized, network-targeted TMS on nicotine craving, withdrawal, and negative affect: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Comparing neuromodulation targets to reduce cigarette craving and withdrawal: a randomized clinical trial - Neuropsychopharmacology
Neuropsychopharmacology - Comparing neuromodulation targets to reduce cigarette craving and withdrawal: a randomized clinical trial
www.nature.com
June 16, 2025 at 8:37 PM
In her @npp-journal.bsky.social paper, @npetersen.bsky.social tests the effects of single sessions of personalized, network-targeted TMS on nicotine craving, withdrawal, and negative affect: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Only if it’s a randomized, crossover, within-subjects design 🤣
June 10, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Only if it’s a randomized, crossover, within-subjects design 🤣
Congratulations!!!🎉
June 10, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Congratulations!!!🎉