By Parvi Anand
This past Friday, Lovett students had the opportunity to hear from guest speaker Mr. Mark Vernon, who visited campus to speak with Dr. Myers’ AP Psychology class. During his visit, Mr. Vernon also spoke with Mrs. Vernon’s anatomy class and Dr. Lamar’s neuroscience class, giving students a firsthand look at how neuroscience research is helping veterans recover from neurological and psychological injuries.
Many students may not realize that Mr. Vernon is also the partner of my favorite Lovett science teacher, Mrs. Vernon, who teaches chemistry, genetics, and anatomy! As someone who has taken three of her classes, it was especially exciting for me to see Mr. Vernon visit campus and share his work.
Mr. Vernon works with the Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation (CVNR) at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Decatur, where he contributes to neuroimaging research projects focused on veteran health. His work combines several scientific disciplines, including physics, information technology, anatomy, and biology, to understand the brain better.
Although Mr. Vernon now works in neuroscience, his career began in a very different field.
“You started in physics and IT, then moved into neurology. What made you switch fields?” students asked during the discussion. “It was a little bit of circumstances,” Mr. Vernon explained. “There are certain things you like to do that utilize skills learned in physics and IT, and a lot of that centers around problem solving.”
After finishing work on a Department of Energy grant at Georgia State University, Mr. Vernon began searching for his next opportunity. Through a connection, he learned about research being conducted with veterans at the CVNR. “A friend knew someone who was looking for someone with a physics and IT background,” Mr. Vernon said. “It really boils down to not being afraid to say, ‘I know a lot about physics and IT, but I don’t know much about this yet.’”
At the CVNR, Mr. Vernon works on neuroimaging projects at the Atlanta VA that study the brain using advanced technologies such as MRI and functional MRI scans. These tools allow researchers to observe both the structure of the brain and how it functions in real time.
“Most commonly, veterans come to us with PTSD,” Mr. Vernon said. Using neurofeedback techniques, Mr. Vernon and his colleagues can help patients learn to regulate the activity of emotional centers of the brain, such as the amygdala. During treatment sessions, patients are shown when this part of the brain becomes highly active and are taught mental strategies to calm their responses.
One veteran discovered that thinking about a meaningful memory helped regulate his brain activity. “He found that thinking about dancing with his wife helped him regulate his amygdala activation,” Mr. Vernon said. “It’s something he could take outside the clinic and use in real life.”
Another patient experimented with visualization techniques to manage his brain activity. “He was a big anime fan,” Mr. Vernon said. “At first, he imagined focusing on a ball of energy and making it as small as possible. After about five sessions he switched strategies and started focusing on the alphabet. For him, engaging other parts of the brain helped ramp down the emotional center involved in PTSD.”
During the visit, Mr. Vernon also explained the physics behind MRI technology. MRI machines use powerful magnetic fields to interact with protons in the body’s water molecules, allowing researchers to create detailed images of the brain. Functional MRI can even capture changes in blood oxygen levels, producing snapshots of brain activity every few seconds.
The technology is both complex and expensive. According to Mr. Vernon, MRI machines cost well into the millions of dollars, and each research scan can cost around $980.
Despite the cost, these technologies are opening new possibilities for treatment. Mr. Vernon said he is particularly excited about emerging methods that help the brain heal without relying heavily on medication.
“Neuromodulation in general is something I’m really excited about,” Mr. Vernon said. “Things you can do without opioids or pharmaceuticals that can give lasting relief to veterans.”
These treatments include techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, which uses magnetic fields to stimulate neurons in the brain, and other forms of neurofeedback that train the brain to regulate itself.
Before concluding his visit, Mr. Vernon also shared resources for students interested in neuroscience and research, including books, online datasets, and volunteer opportunities through the VA’s Center for Development and Civic Engagement for students ages 14 and older.
He left the class with one last important message: “Problem solving is really what connects it all,” Mr. Vernon said. “Sometimes you just have to be willing to learn something new.”
