Research

Google Scholar Citations: 177 (2025-11-09)

Publications * indicates equal contribution

  • Functional connectivity of the brain across rodents and humans Journal
    Nan Xu, Theodore J. LaGrow, Nmachi Anumba, Azalea Lee, Xiaodi Zhang, Behnaz Yousefi, Yasmine Bassil, Gloria P. Clavijo, Vahid Khalilzad Sharghi, Eric Maltbie, Lisa Meyer-Baese, Maysam Nezafati, Wen-Ju Pan, Shella Keilholz
    Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2022
    Abstract

    Review of resting-state fMRI features across rodents and humans, comparing acquisition, preprocessing, and analysis choices that influence functional connectivity. The paper surveys time-averaged and time-varying metrics (e.g., sliding windows, quasi-periodic and co-activation patterns), links them to structural connectivity, and discusses applications to neurological and psychiatric disorders. It closes with open problems to make rodent-to-human translation more reliable.

  • Relationship between the frequency profile of BOLD fluctuations and calculated metrics of complexity in the Human Connectome Project Journal
    Shella Keilholz, Eric A. Maltbie, Xiaodi Zhang, Behnaz Yousefi, Wen-Ju Pan, Nan Xu, Maysam Nezafati, Theodore J. LaGrow, Ying Guo
    Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2020
    Abstract

    Using Human Connectome Project data, the authors test whether parcel-wise complexity metrics (correlation dimension, approximate entropy, Lyapunov exponent) mainly reflect neural dynamics or are driven by basic BOLD properties. They find these complexity measures are reliable across scans and strongly tied to each region’s frequency profile, indicating that frequency content can confound interpretations of “complexity” in rs-fMRI.

  • Toward a reproducible, scalable framework for processing large neuroimaging datasets Journal
    Erik C. Johnson, Miller Wilt, Luis M. Rodriguez, Raphael Norman-Tenazas, Corban Rivera, Nathan Drenkow, Dean Kleissas, Theodore J. LaGrow, Hannah P. Cowley, Joseph Downs, Jordan K. Matelsky, Marisa J. Hughes, Elizabeth P. Reilly, Brock A. Wester, Eva L. Dyer, Konrad P. Kording, William R. Gray-Roncal
    GigaScience, 2020
    Abstract

    Presents a modular ecosystem of containerized tools and workflows for petascale neuroimaging, enabling reproducible end-to-end processing across modalities like electron microscopy and X-ray microtomography. The framework standardizes storage, execution, and optimization and is demonstrated on synapse-level connectome estimation and large-scale cell density mapping.

  • Sparse Recovery Methods for Cell Detection and Layer Estimation Preprint
    Theodore J. LaGrow, Michael G. Moore, Judy A. Prasad, Alexis Webber, Mark A. Davenport, Eva L. Dyer
    bioRxiv, 2018
    Abstract

    Introduces an automated pipeline for estimating cellular densities and identifying laminar transitions in neuroanatomical images. The method combines patch extraction, cell detection, and sparse approximation for count data using total-variation regularization to robustly recover layer boundaries and density profiles across cortical and retinal samples.

  • Approximating Cellular Densities from High-Resolution Neuroanatomical Imaging Data Conference
    Theodore J. LaGrow, Michael G. Moore, Judy A. Prasad, Mark A. Davenport, Eva L. Dyer
    IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC), 2018
    Abstract

    Proposes ArCaDe, an automated approach to estimate spatially varying cell densities and detect laminar structure in cortical and retinal tissue. By modeling counts with a sparse, TV-regularized estimator and coupling it with patch-wise cell detection, the method recovers cytoarchitectonic transitions without manual annotation.

  • Do You Know Where Your Research Is Being Used? An Exploration of Scientific Literature Using Natural Language Processing Journal
    Theodore J. LaGrow, Jacob Bieker, Boyana Norris
    Oregon Undergraduate Research Journal, 2017
    Abstract

    Demonstrates an NLP pipeline that identifies software and methods referenced in arXiv articles and uses the extracted names to explore usage patterns across research areas. The study argues that automated extraction at scale complements traditional literature surveys for tracking technologies and methods in scientific work.

  • Evidence for white matter intrinsic connectivity networks at rest and during a task: A large-scale study and templates Journal
    Vaibhavi S. Itkyal, Armin Iraji, K. M. Jensen, Theodore J. LaGrow, et al.
    Network Neuroscience, 2025
    Abstract

    Demonstrates robust large-scale intrinsic connectivity networks in white matter at rest and during task, providing templates for future network and clinical studies.

  • Exploration of Spatiotemporal Dynamics in Neurodegenerative Functional Brain Networks Thesis
    Theodore J. LaGrow
    PhD Dissertation, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2025
    PDF
    Abstract

    Dissertation on quasi-periodic patterns and dynamic network biomarkers across the Alzheimer's disease spectrum.

  • Infraslow dynamic patterns in human cortical networks track a spectrum of external to internal attention Journal
    Harrison Watters, Aleah Davis, Abia Fazili, Lauren Daley, Theodore J. LaGrow, Eric H. Schumacher, Shella Keilholz
    Human Brain Mapping, 2025
    Abstract

    Links infraslow cortical dynamics and quasi-periodic patterns to shifts between externally and internally oriented attention states.

  • QPPLab: A generally applicable software package for detecting, analyzing, and visualizing large-scale quasiperiodic spatiotemporal patterns (QPPs) of brain activity Software
    Nan Xu, Behnaz Yousefi, Nmachi Anumba, Theodore J. LaGrow, Xiaodi Zhang, Shella Keilholz
    SoftwareX, 2025
    Abstract

    Introduces QPPLab, an open-source toolbox for robust detection and visualization of quasi-periodic patterns across diverse fMRI datasets.

  • Variation in the distribution of large-scale spatiotemporal patterns of activity across brain states Journal
    Lisa Meyer-Baese, Nmachi Anumba, Thomas Bolt, Lauren Daley, Theodore J. LaGrow, Xiaodi Zhang, Nan Xu, Wen-Ju Pan, Eric H. Schumacher, Shella Keilholz
    Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 2024
    Abstract

    Compares quasi-periodic pattern distributions across multiple brain states, highlighting state- dependent reconfiguration of large-scale dynamics.

  • Voxelwise Intensity Projection for the Spatial Representation of Resting State Functional MRI Networks and Multimodal Deep Learning Conference
    Vaibhavi S. Itkyal, Anees Abrol, Theodore J. LaGrow, Vince D. Calhoun
    IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging (ISBI), 2024
    Abstract

    Proposes a voxelwise projection method to better encode resting-state networks for multimodal deep learning pipelines.

  • Creative tempo: Spatiotemporal dynamics of the default mode network in improvisational musicians Preprint
    Harrison Watters, Abia Fazili, Lauren Daley, Alexander Belden, Theodore J. LaGrow, Thomas Bolt, Psyche Loui, Shella Keilholz
    bioRxiv, 2024
    Abstract

    Examines how default mode network dynamics and QPPs differ in improvisational musicians during creative tasks.

  • Voxel-wise Fusion of Resting fMRI Networks and Gray Matter Volume for Alzheimer’s Disease Classification using Deep Multimodal Learning Preprint
    Vaibhavi S. Itkyal, Anees Abrol, Theodore J. LaGrow, Alex Fedorov, Vince D. Calhoun
    Research Square, 2023
    Abstract

    Uses voxel-wise fusion of functional networks and gray matter volume within a deep learning framework to classify Alzheimer’s disease.

  • Spatial and Spectral Components of the BOLD Global Signal in Rat Resting-State Functional MRI Journal
    Nmachi Anumba, Eric Maltbie, Wen-Ju Pan, Theodore J. LaGrow, Nan Xu, Shella Keilholz
    Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 2023
    Abstract

    Decomposes spatial and spectral contributions to the BOLD global signal in rats, clarifying its neural and non-neural components.

Talks

  • Graph of Thoughts: Structured Reasoning with LLMs Reading Group
    MLBBQ / TReNDS Friday Reading Group, 2025-10-10
    Abstract

    Explores Graph of Thoughts as a framework for non-linear, multi-step LLM reasoning, connecting it to planning, search, and modern structured prompting workflows.

  • Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks (KANs): Redefining Neural Nets? Reading Group
    MLBBQ / TReNDS Friday Reading Group, 2024-12-06
    Abstract

    Breaks down the math and architecture behind KANs, evaluates empirical results, and frames where they challenge or complement conventional deep nets.

  • Unraveling Spatiotemporal Brain Patterns: QPPs & cPCA Insights Reading Group
    MLBBQ / TReNDS Friday Reading Group, 2024-09-27
    Abstract

    Deep dive into quasi-periodic patterns and complex PCA in fMRI, highlighting how these tools map large-scale brain dynamics and inform connectivity analyses.

  • Sparks of Plant Consciousness, AGI, and AI Theory: A Cage Match of Ideas Reading Group
    MLBBQ / TReNDS Friday Reading Group, 2023-09-15
    Abstract

    A debate-style session weaving together GPT-4 "Sparks of AGI", theoretical CS views of consciousness, and plant cognition to stress-test claims about intelligence.

  • AlphaFold: Revolutionizing Protein Science with AI Reading Group
    MLBBQ / TReNDS Friday Reading Group, 2022-02-18
    Abstract

    Explains how AlphaFold’s structure predictions reshaped structural biology, why it mattered enough to influence a Nobel, and what it signals for AI in the sciences.

  • ChatGPT & LLM Ethics: History, Architecture, and Debate Reading Group
    MLBBQ / TReNDS Friday Reading Group, 2022-03-03
    Abstract

    Traces the evolution of LLMs, outlines ChatGPT’s architecture at a high level, and hosts a structured debate on bias, deployment risk, and responsible use.

  • Theories of Consciousness: Exploring Four Frameworks Reading Group
    MLBBQ / TReNDS Friday Reading Group, 2022-05-20
    Abstract

    Synthesizes four major theories of consciousness, their predictions, and empirical challenges, with an eye toward how they intersect with AI and brain modeling.

  • Text-to-Image AI Showdown: DALL·E 2 vs. Imagen Reading Group
    MLBBQ / TReNDS Friday Reading Group, 2022-06-17
    Abstract

    Compares DALL·E 2 and Imagen on architecture, data, and evaluation; uses them as a case study in generative models, alignment, and visual creativity.

  • Somato-Cognitive Action Network: A New Homunculus in Motor Cortex Reading Group
    MLBBQ / TReNDS Friday Reading Group, 2022-07-28
    Abstract

    Walks through the Nature paper revealing alternating somato-cognitive networks in motor cortex and the implications for control, mapping, and neuromodulation.

  • GATO: The All-in-One Generalist Agent Reading Group
    MLBBQ / TReNDS Friday Reading Group, 2022-09-16
    Abstract

    Analyzes GATO as an early generalist agent: multi-task training, limitations, and what it taught us about scaling and specialization.

  • Upside-Down Reinforcement Learning Reading Group
    MLBBQ / TReNDS Friday Reading Group, 2021-11-19
    Abstract

    Presents Upside-Down RL as a goal-conditioned, supervised framing of RL and connects it to later return-conditioned and sequence-model approaches.

  • Reinforcement Learning, Part 2: Rainbow DQN Reading Group
    MLBBQ / TReNDS Friday Reading Group, 2021-07-16
    Abstract

    Builds from fundamentals to Rainbow DQN, unpacking each component and why the combined method stabilized and advanced deep value-based RL.

  • Reinforcement Learning, Part 1: Foundations Reading Group
    MLBBQ / TReNDS Friday Reading Group, 2021-07-09
    Abstract

    Introduces the RL loop, MDPs, value functions, and core intuition that grounds later deep RL methods.

  • Approximating Cellular Densities from High-Resolution Neuroanatomical Imaging Data Seminar
    Graduate and Postdoc (GaP) Seminar Series, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 2018-09-26
    Abstract

    Seminar on ArCaDe: automated estimation of cellular densities and laminar structure from neuroanatomical images, bridging sparse recovery and interpretable morphometrics.

  • Approximating Cellular Densities from High-Resolution Neuroanatomical Imaging Data Conference Talk
    40th Annual International Conference of the IEEE EMBC, Honolulu, HI, 2018-07-19
    Abstract

    EMBC presentation introducing ArCaDe as a robust, data-driven framework for mapping cytoarchitecture at scale.

  • Approximating Cellular Densities from High-Resolution Neuroanatomical Imaging Data Seminar
    Biomedical Engineering Seminars, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 2018-04-06
    Abstract

    Research seminar on early ArCaDe results and applications to cortical and retinal tissue.

  • Do You Know Where Your Research Is Being Used? An Exploration of Scientific Literature Using NLP Talk
    7th Annual Oregon Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 2017-05-17
    Abstract

    Undergraduate talk on using NLP to trace software and method usage across scientific literature.