Katie Travis
My research interests are broadly focused on understanding the neurobiology of language development in children born full and preterm.
I am currently the Principal Investigator of a clinical trial that will examine whether increasing the amount of maternal speech input preterm infants are exposed to while they are in the NICU is an effective treatment for improving their neural, clinical and language outcomes.
Supervisors: Heidi M. Feldman (Stanford), Jeff Elman (UCSD), and Eric Halgren (UCSD)
I am currently the Principal Investigator of a clinical trial that will examine whether increasing the amount of maternal speech input preterm infants are exposed to while they are in the NICU is an effective treatment for improving their neural, clinical and language outcomes.
Supervisors: Heidi M. Feldman (Stanford), Jeff Elman (UCSD), and Eric Halgren (UCSD)
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Papers by Katie Travis
Adverse outcomes, particularly in children born before 32 weeks of gestation, have
been attributed in large part to white matter injuries, often found in periventricular regions
using conventional imaging. To date, tractography studies of white matter pathways in children
and adolescents born preterm have evaluated only a limited number of tracts simultaneously.
The current study compares diffusion properties along 18major cerebral white
matter pathways in children and adolescents born preterm(n = 27) and full term (n = 19),
using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging and tractography. We found that compared to
the full term group, the preterm group had significantly decreased FA in segments of the bilateral
uncinate fasciculus and anterior segments of the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus.
Additionally, the preterm group had significantly increased FA in segments of the right and left
anterior thalamic radiations, posterior segments of the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus,
and the right and left inferior longitudinal fasciculus. Increased FA in the preterm group was
generally associated with decreased radial diffusivity. These findings indicate that prematurity-
related white matter differences in later childhood and adolescence do not affect all tracts
in the periventricular zone and can involve both decreased and increased FA. Differences in
the patterns of radial diffusivity and axial diffusivity suggest that the tissue properties underlying
group FA differences may vary within and across white matter tracts. Distinctive diffusion
properties may relate to variations in the timing of injury in the neonatal period, extent of white
matter dysmaturity and/or compensatory processes in childhood.
ventricles and reduced white matter volume in the cerebrum but no apparent injury to the cerebellum. Subjects (ages 12-17 years,
gestational age 26-32 weeks, birth weight 825-2211 g) were compared to a normative sample of 19 full-term controls (9-17 years,
mean gestational age 39 weeks, mean birth weight 3154 g). Tract profiles for each of the cerebellar peduncles were generated
by calculating fractional anisotropy at 30 points along the central portion of each tract. One or more case subjects exhibited
higher fractional anisotropy beyond the 90th percentile in the inferior, middle, and superior cerebellar peduncles. Findings
demonstrate that differences in cerebellar white matter microstructure can be detected in the absence of macrostructural
cerebellar abnormalities.
Adverse outcomes, particularly in children born before 32 weeks of gestation, have
been attributed in large part to white matter injuries, often found in periventricular regions
using conventional imaging. To date, tractography studies of white matter pathways in children
and adolescents born preterm have evaluated only a limited number of tracts simultaneously.
The current study compares diffusion properties along 18major cerebral white
matter pathways in children and adolescents born preterm(n = 27) and full term (n = 19),
using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging and tractography. We found that compared to
the full term group, the preterm group had significantly decreased FA in segments of the bilateral
uncinate fasciculus and anterior segments of the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus.
Additionally, the preterm group had significantly increased FA in segments of the right and left
anterior thalamic radiations, posterior segments of the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus,
and the right and left inferior longitudinal fasciculus. Increased FA in the preterm group was
generally associated with decreased radial diffusivity. These findings indicate that prematurity-
related white matter differences in later childhood and adolescence do not affect all tracts
in the periventricular zone and can involve both decreased and increased FA. Differences in
the patterns of radial diffusivity and axial diffusivity suggest that the tissue properties underlying
group FA differences may vary within and across white matter tracts. Distinctive diffusion
properties may relate to variations in the timing of injury in the neonatal period, extent of white
matter dysmaturity and/or compensatory processes in childhood.
ventricles and reduced white matter volume in the cerebrum but no apparent injury to the cerebellum. Subjects (ages 12-17 years,
gestational age 26-32 weeks, birth weight 825-2211 g) were compared to a normative sample of 19 full-term controls (9-17 years,
mean gestational age 39 weeks, mean birth weight 3154 g). Tract profiles for each of the cerebellar peduncles were generated
by calculating fractional anisotropy at 30 points along the central portion of each tract. One or more case subjects exhibited
higher fractional anisotropy beyond the 90th percentile in the inferior, middle, and superior cerebellar peduncles. Findings
demonstrate that differences in cerebellar white matter microstructure can be detected in the absence of macrostructural
cerebellar abnormalities.