In Brief

Weatherspoon to represent Le Bonheur in PERC

Le Bonheur’s Neuroscience Institute recently became a member of the Pediatric Epilepsy Research Consortium (PERC), a national collaboration of more than 75 pediatric epilepsy programs and more than 350 pediatric epileptologists, pediatric neurosurgeons, pediatric neuropsychologists and other pediatric epilepsy researchers. As a part of PERC, Le Bonheur Pediatric Neurologist Sarah Weatherspoon, MD, will serve as a member of the Epilepsy Surgery and Epilepsy Surgery Neuromodulation special interest groups. PERC provides a network and infrastructure to facilitate collaborative research in pediatric epilepsy working to improve the care of every child with epilepsy.

Sarah Weatherspoon, MD

Le Bonheur receives NAEC reaccreditation

The Comprehensive Epilepsy Program in Le Bonheur’s Neuroscience Institute recently received another two-year accreditation by The National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) as a level 4 epilepsy center. Le Bonheur has been accredited for maintaining high standards and providing high quality care to children with epilepsy.

Le Bonheur named a Tourette Association Center of Excellence

Le Bonheur’s Movement Disorders and Tourette’s Syndrome Center was recently named a Center of Excellence by the Tourette Association of America. This designation recognizes medical institutions that offer the highest level of care, are undertaking groundbreaking research, are leaders in training and education and provide exceptional community outreach
and advocacy for Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders.

Research: Using MEG to observe the role of dichotic listening in children with academic challenges

Le Bonheur Director of the Magnetoencephalography (MEG) Laboratory Roozbeh Rezaie, PhD, recently received a $25,000 grant from the Urban Child Institute to conduct a study of the brain using MEG to observe the role of dichotic listening and academic challenges in children.Rezaie received this grant in collaboration with the University of Memphis Department of Communication Science and Disorders.

This research study will provide a unique opportunity to further explore the theory that brain activation patterns differ in children with dichotic deficits and how to treat children at risk for lower academic success. This pilot program is significant in Memphis where the prevalence of severe dichotic deficits in schoolchildren is high at 27% of children in both age groups from 7 to 9 years and from 10 to 12 years.

Le Bonheur Director of the Magnetoencephalography (MEG) Laboratory Roozbeh Rezaie, PhD, above left, will use MEG to study brain activation patterns in children with dichotic listening deficits who are at risk for lower academic success.