Mark Bowren, Jr, PhD - In the Media

The Iowa Neurological Patient Registry

The Iowa Neurological Patient Registry is perhaps the most well-characterized cohort of patients with focal brain lesions in the world. The Registry began with the work of Arthur Benton and colleagues in the 1950s, and continued under the leadership of Antonio Damasio in the 1970s. Today, under current director Daniel Tranel, the Registry contains neuropsychological and neuroimaging data collected from over 1,000 research participants. Mark Bowren's work uses the Iowa Registry to answer questions about the structure of cognition and its relation to the brain. The short video and press release below give a glimpse into the past, present, and future of the Iowa Registry.

White matter vs. gray matter

The Importance of White Matter

Neuropsychological research has largely focused on the relationship between gray matter (i.e., neuron cell bodies) and behavior. However, some of Mark's work has contributed to the growing recognition of the importance of long-range white matter (i.e., the axons that form the connections between neurons). Mark's work calls attention to the utility of white matter for predicting domain-general cognitive deficits.

The Brain's White Matter Hubs Take Center StageWhite matter damage may affect cognitive outcomes more than gray matter damage.

Damage to white matter is linked to worse cognitive outcomes after brain injuryA new University of Iowa study challenges the idea that gray matter (the neurons that form the cerebral cortex) is more important than white matter (the myelin covered axons that physically connect neuronal regions) when it comes to cognitive health and function. The findings may help neurologists better predict the long-term effects of strokes and other forms of traumatic brain injury.

Other Work Covered in the Media

Findings Rewrite the Thalamus's Role in ConsciousnessWith a finding that will “rewrite neuroanatomy textbooks,” University of Iowa neurologist Aaron Boes, MD, PhD, and his colleagues show that the thalamus is not a critical part of the brain pathway involved in keeping humans awake and conscious.

Opinion: Science communication lacks much-needed clarity, but it can be improved

Spouses and houses: Impaired internal consistency during social decision-makingUI researchers suggest that brain damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) may lead to inconsistency between one's thoughts and actions in real-world decision-making.