EDUCATION: • PhD in Biological Brain Sciences, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Science Academy, Warsaw • Certified Clinical Psychologist & Graduate M., Clinical Division, British Psychological Society; Member of HCPC (Royal British Charter) UK POST-DOCTORAL: • UMIST, University of Manchester, UK • UCSD, Department of Neurosciences & Children’s Hospital, San Diego, USA • University College London, Institute of Child Health, London, UK
RESEARCH: Multimodal neuroimaging and neuropsychological research conducted by Dr. Kristina Rewin Ciesielski focuses on developmental etiology of anxiety and OCD spectrum disorders. The conceptual target of the investigations are developmental mechanisms of the neural inhibitory control subserving sensorimotor and cognitive information processing within the brain dorsal and ventral visual networks. The main research procedure involves an integration of the MEG, EEG, strMRI, fMRI, MR spectroscopy and neuropsychological measurements to identify early childhood biological brain/behavior markers of subclinical anxiety. The crucial role of child-mother system in early anxiety is emphasized. The specific aim is to translate the above integrative insight into the design of early neuroimaging-informed preventative interventions, such as a child-friendly Brain-MEG Neurofeedback.
Associated Lab
The David Cohen MEG Laboratory, Department of Radiology, MGH, Charlestown, MA, USA
Associated Lab(s) Sites
Pediatric Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, PCNC, University of New Mexico, ABQ, NM, USA
Education
PhD, AMBPS CD
Select Publications
• Ciesielski K.T.R., Hämäläinen MS, Lesnik PG, Geller DA, Ahlfors SP. (2005). Increased MEG activation in OCD reflects a compensatory mechanism specific to the phase of a visual working memory task. NeuroImage 24: 1180-119. (1st recorded MEG study in OCD).
• Ciesielski, KTR., Stern, E.M., Diamond, A., Sheraz, K., Busa E.A., Goldsmith, T.E., van der Kouwe A., Fischl, B., Rosen, B.R. (2019). Maturational Changes in Human Dorsal and Ventral Visual Networks. Cerebral Cortex, 30 March, 5131-5149. DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz053
• Ciesielski K.T.R, Bouchard C., Solis I., Coffman B.A., Tofighi D., Pesko J.C. (2021). Posterior brain sensorimotor recruitment for inhibition of delayed responses in children. Experimental Brain Research. 239: 3221 – 3242.
• Hodgdon E.A., Anderson R., Azzawi A.H., Wilson T.W., Calhoun V.D., Wang Y-P., Solis I., Greve D.N.,Stephen J.M., Ciesielski K.T.R. (2024). MRI morphometry of the anterior and posterior cerebellar vermis and its relationship to sensorimotor and cognitive functions in children. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 67, 101385.
Highlights
• Early maturation of the dorsal brain architecture including dorsal visual and default brain networks.
• Significance of a model of cognitive inhibitory control as the key for unraveling etiology of anxiety disorders.
• Critical role of early visual networks plasticity for prevention of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive spectrum.