Relationships between neural structures and challenging behaviours after severe brain injury

Severe acquired brain injuries can lead to a range of challenging behaviours, including aggression, impulsivity, disinhibition, and difficulties with social judgment and emotional regulation. These changes can be particularly challenging during rehabilitation. Recent research suggests that brain imaging have been able to predict certain behaviours, identify individuals at risk for aggression, and determine treatment responses to rehabilitation by analysing patterns of brain activity and structure and correlating them with future behavioural outcomes. This PhD program will seek to clarify the relationship between cortical and subcortical structures, clinical management, and cognitive and behavioural assessments in a sample of adults who survived severe or catastrophic brain injury. Working embedded in the Department of Neuroscience at Alfred Health, this clinical PhD will teach skills in image acquisition and mapping, evaluation of behavioural support strategy use, and cognitive assessment. Findings are expected to ensure better prediction and understanding of long-term behavioural challenges, and guide both management and risk decision-making.