Dr. Allen's general research interest is the integration of neuroanatomical, neurophysiological, and neurobehavioral information for the purpose of achieving an improved understanding of brain function and the neural and neurocognitive bases of psychopathology. Specifically, the primary focus of his research at the present time is normal cerebellar function and the impact that cerebellar dysfunction has in the context of autism.
Current projects include a National Science Foundation-funded functional MRI (fMRI) investigation aimed at testing a theory that the cerebellum is specialized to learn predictive relationships within sequences of neural activities and implement this information in the preparation of other neural systems for optimal performance. The findings from this investigation will form the basis for broader investigations of normal cerebellar function, and they will also inform future studies of cerebellar function in autism, a condition in which cerebellar abnormalities have been demonstrated.
In parallel with his fMRI studies, Dr. Allen has been actively involved in applications of a newer technique known as functional connectivity MRI (fcMRI). This is an implementation of fMRI technology that allows the in vivo examination of functional connections in the brain at rest or during task performance. In a recent fcMRI study, he demonstrated for the first time functional connectivity between the dentate nucleus, thalamus, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the human brain. In another recent study, he employed this same technique to show reduced connectivity between the hippocampus and other brain regions in Alzheimer's Disease.
Future projects will apply the fcMRI analysis of cerebellar connectivity that he has developed to a sample of autistic patients, and more extensive studies of cerebellar structure and function in autism are planned as well.
Finally, in addition to his own research endeavors, Dr. Allen is committed to assisting colleagues who wish to apply brain imaging techniques to their own research questions. For example, he has recently assisted colleagues in developing studies of hippocampal function subsequent to long-term corticosteroid treatment and changes in brain function in Alzheimer's Disease subsequent to treatment with Aricept.
