My research focus is on the characteristics and limits of functional neuroplasticity in the adult human brain. I investigate how the brain reorganizes itself in response to injury, and whether or not it is possible to enhance the brain’s potential for reorganization in order to speed rehabilitation using noninvasive electrical or magnetic brain stimulation. A second area of interest for me is on the use of noninvasive brain stimulation to elucidate and enhance mechanisms of cognition in healthy individuals, and the biological, social, and ethical implications of neural enhancement.
I principally treat patients suffering from dementia. I also have expertise in evaluating and treating patients with cognitive deficits following stroke.
I am is deeply involved in issues related to diversity in medicine, inclusion, and health equity. I am one of the Assistant Deans for Diversity and Inclusion at the Perelman School of Medicine and I am the Vice Chair for Diversity and Inclusion in the Department of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania.
Selected Publications
Shah-Basak, P., Harvey, D.Y., Parchure, S., Faseyitan, O., Sacchetti, D., Ahmed, A., Thiam, A., Lohoff, F.W., Hamilton, R.H.: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor polymorphism influences response to single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation at rest. Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface Oct 2020 Notes: Online ahead of print.
Nissim, N.R., Moberg, P.J., Hamilton, R.H. : Efficacy of noninvasive brain stimulation (tDCS or TMS) paired with language therapy in the treatment of primary progressive aphasia: an exploratory meta-analysis. Brain Sciences 10(9): E597, August 2020.
Ling, S., Raine, A., Choy, O., Hamilton, R.
: The effect of prefrontal cortical stimulation on aggressive and antisocial behavior: A double-Blind, stratified, randomized, sham-Controlled, parallel-group trial. Journal of Experimental Criminology 16: 367–387, May 2020.
Markman, T.M., Hamilton, R.H., Marchlinski, F.E., Nazarian, S.: Case series of transcutaneous magnetic stimulation for ventricular tachycardia storm. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) 323(21): 2200-2202, May 2020.
Coronel, J.C., O'Donnell, M.B., Beard, E.C., Hamilton, R.H., Falk, E.B.: Evaluating didactic and exemplar information: Non-invasive brain stimulation reveals message-processing mechanisms. Communication Research Sept 2019.
Harvey, D.Y., DeLoretta, L., Wurzman, R., Sacchetti, D., Ahmed, A., Thiam, A., Lohoff, F., Faseyitan, O., Hamilton, R.H.
: BDNF polymorphism predicts plasticity in motor cortex following continuous theta burst stimulation (published proceedings). Brain Stimulation 12(4), Jul-Aug 2019.
Petrovsky, D.V., Johnson, J.K., Tkacs, N., Mechanic-Hamilton, D., Hamilton, R. H., Cacchione, P.Z. : Musical and cognitive abilities in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Psychology of Music May 2019.
Harvey, D.Y., Mass, J.A., Shah-Basak, P.P. Wurzman, R., Faseyitan, O., Sacchetti, D.L., DeLoretta, L., Hamilton, R.H.: Continuous theta burst stimulation over right pars triangularis facilitates naming abilities in chronic post-stroke aphasia by enhancing phonological access. Brain and Language 192: 25-34, May 2019.
Hosseini, M., McConathey, E.M., Ungrady, M. Grossman, M., Coslett, H.B., Hamilton, R.H.
: Transcranial direct current stimulation mediates improvements in verbal fluency for patients with primary progressive aphasia (published proceedings). Brain Stimulation 12: e69-e70, Mar 2019.
Coughlin, D., Xie, S.X., Liang, M., Williams, A., Peterson, C., Weintraub, D., McMillan, C.T., Wolk, D.A., Akhtar, R., Coslett, H.B., Hamilton, R.H., Siderowf, A., Duda, J.E., Rascovsky, K., Lee, E.B., Grossman, M., Trojanowski, J.Q.: Cognitive and pathological influences of tau pathology in lewy body disorders. Annals of Neurology 85(2): 259-271, Feb 2019.
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Last updated: 01/14/2021
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