Our Research

For our lab’s most recent publications, visit Dr. DuBose’s Google Scholar page.

Our lab studies the connection between heart and brain health in humans. Some examples of our assessments include:

Measures of heart health

We measure heart health using a combination of ultrasound and other specialized devices to measure the structure and function of arteries, which carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. We also assess blood pressure and how the body regulates it during rest and various activities, helping us understand cardiovascular function in real-time.

Measures of brain health

We use two advanced imaging techniques to study blood flow in the brain.

A Transcranial Doppler is a type of ultrasound that allows us to take video recordings of brain blood flow in one of the larger vessels in the brain called the middle cerebral artery. We can study how the brain controls its blood flow while people lie comfortably in bed or during brief challenges like performing small squats or breathing a gas mixture with a greater concentration of carbon dioxide.

MRI allows us to measure brain blood flow in small vessels within the brain. These small vessels are what supply neurons, or the brain’s cells that enable us to think and do, with blood flow and nutrients. MRI also allows us to examine other factors, such as neuron health, pH, and structure.

Surveys and participant characteristics

We collect a variety of information to help characterize our participants as ‘whole people’ using both qualitative (i.e., surveys) and quantitative (i.e., wearable technology) sources.

This helps us to understand how other factors, such as daily life, influence what we study in our lab. This information includes medical health information, reproductive health history, feelings of mood, stress, fatigue, sleep quality, early life experiences, and history of trauma. We also collect objective measures of physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep using wearable technology.