Browsing by Author "Yoder, Karen"

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    Analysis of Galvanic Skin Response: Potential Relationships to Stimulus Responsivity and Brain Dopamine Signal
    (2014-04-11) Chumin, Evgeny; Albrecht, Daniel; Yoder, Karen
    Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that presents itself with no apparent medical explanation for the pain. Functional alterations of neurotransmitters such as dopamine (DA) have been implicated in fibromyalgia neuropathology. It is not known how central dopamine function in pain is associated with objective peripheral measurements that are thought to be associated with the presence of pain and stress. Galvanic skin response (GSR), is a physiological measure of nervous system activation. GSR could potentially give insight to novel aspects of DA function. In this study, GSR was recorded from fibromyalgia patients (FM) and healthy controls (HC) while they underwent scanning with [18F]-fallypride (FAL) Positron Emission Tomography (PET). FAL is a D2/D3 DA receptor antagonist that is sensitive to changes in DA levels in the brain. Given the involvement of DA in cognitive processes, FAL PET can be used to examine baseline DA activity as well as changes from baseline during cognitive load tasks. Relationships between GSR and working memory load, acute pain, and DA function were studied and compared between FM and HC.
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    Healthy Smiles for Employability Program in Near Eastside Indianapolis
    (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, 2013-04-05) Yoder, Karen
    The Near Eastside (NES) Indianapolis community is subject to several negative social determinants of oral health, including low income, which can impede access to oral health care and put residents at a higher risk for oral health problems. The Indiana University School of Dentistry‘s (IUSD) Healthy Smiles for Employability (HSE) program aims to improve oral health, well-being, and employment outcomes in the NES and neighboring communities by providing dentures to low-income and uninsured residents and connecting them with local agencies that provide job assistance services. Program components of HSE include (1) program organization, (2) community engagement, (3) participant recruitment and enrollment, (4) dental and employment services, and (5) program evaluation. Collaboration with community organizations such John H. C. Boner Center, Wheeler Mission, People’s Health and Dental Center, and others serves as an immense asset to recruit HSE candidates, and provide job advancement and retention services, social services as well as other essential resources to HSE participants. The IUSD HSE Community Research Showcase exhibit will feature interactive components relating employability, oral health, and sharing the experiences of HSE participants.