Jim Voyvodic, Ph.D.[Edit Page]
Assistant Professor, Radiology
BS, 1976, Yale University (Physics)
PhD, 1988, Washington University, St. Louis (Neural Science)
Research Interests
Functional organization of visual cortex, diagnostic clinical fMRI, real-time image processing and 3D graphics.
Research Statement
My lab is involved in the development and application of functional MRI in two major areas of research. My primary scientific focus is in neurobiology, using fMRI to study information processing mechanisms in the nervous system. I am particularly interested in how the visual system represents 3-dimensional depth in processing visual scenes. We address this issue with functional MRI using novel analysis tools for high resolution mapping of visual activity.
My second major research focus is in applying functional MRI as a clinical tool to aid in the treatment of brain tumors and epilepsy. Although many studies have shown that fMRI can be used in patients, it is not yet reliable enough to be used as a routine procedure. My lab collaborates with faculty in Duke's Neurosurgery department to determine the clinical effectiveness of fMRI for locating essential brain regions to be spared during neurosurgical resections. One aspect of this is to investigate how fMRI signals are affected by brain tissue pathology. Another is to develop efficient software methods for near real-time statistical processing, 3D surface reconstruction, and quantitative assessment of scan quality. The goal is to make fMRI a more consistent and reliable clinical diagnostic tool.
Recent Representative Publications
Petrella JP, Shah LM, Harris KT, Friedman AH, George TM, Sampson JH, Pekala JS & Voyvodic JT (2006). Preoperative functional MR imaging localization of language and motor areas: effect on therapeutic decision making in patients with potentially resectable brain tumors. Radiology. 240(3): 793-802.
Voyvodic JT (2006). Activation mapping as a percentage of local excitation: fMRI stability within scans, between scans and across field strengths. Magnetic Resonance Imaging. 24(9): 1949-61.
LaBar KS, Crupain MJ, Voyvodic JT & McCarthy G (2003). Dynamic perception of facial affect and identity in the human brain. Cerebral Cortex. 13(10): 1023-33.
Voyvodic JT (1999). Real-time fMRI paradigm control, physiology, and behavior combined with near real-time statistical analysis. NeuroImage. 10(2): 91-106.
Thulborn KR, Chang SY, Shen GX & Voyvodic JT (1997). High-resolution echo-planar fMRI of human visual cortex at 3.0 Tesla. Harvard Review of Psychiatry. 10(4-5): 183-190.
Voyvodic JT (1996). Cell death in cortical development: How much? Why? So what?. Neuron. 16(4): 693-696.
Duke University Academic Affiliations
Department of Radiology (primary)
Department of Neurobiology (secondary)