Staff
Martin Vestergaard
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Current position Research groups Main research interest My ph.d. project focus on the relationship between the human stress hormone cortisol (glucocorticoid) and brain development in school children ages 7-14 years. Specifically, the project will examine associations between cortisol secretion and brain structure and function measured with MRI in typically developing children and children treated with glucocorticoid in early life to examine for potential long-term effects of glucocorticoid administration on brain development. To examine the long-term effects of glucocorticoids a clinical group of 30 children diagnosed with rheumatic or nephritic disorder will be enrolled in the study alongside a control group of 40 healthy children matched on gender and age. The two clinical groups have been treated with high doses of exogenous glucocorticoid (prednisone) in preschool years. All participants undergo structural MRI and DWI. Furthermore, two fMRI paradigms designed to engage brain regions enriched with glucocorticoid receptors will be implemented and cortisol saliva samples will be collected during scanning to examine for assocations between cortisol response and brain activity. Other research interests Publications Madsen KS, Baaré WF, Vestergaard M, Skimminge A, Ejersbo LR, Ramsøy TZ, Gerlach C, Akeson P, Paulson OB, Jernigan TL., Response inhibition is associated with white matter microstructure in children. Neuropsychologia. 2010 Mar;48(4):854-62. Madsen KS, Baare WF, Skimminge A, Vestergaard M, Siebner, HR, Jernigan TL. Brain microstructural correlates of visuospatial choice reaction time in children. in review Curriculum vitae
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