# Neurocognitive Recovery following Surgery and General Anesthesia

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2020 · $189,741

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
The proposed K23 program will allow Dr. Phillip E. Vlisides, an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at the
University of Michigan Medical School, to establish an independent program of clinical neuroscience research
that seeks to better understand and improve neurocognitive recovery following surgery and anesthesia. Based
on emerging preliminary data, the central hypothesis is that distinct neurophysiologic patterns in the
perioperative setting will predict postoperative neurocognitive recovery. To test this hypothesis, we propose an
observational study to explore candidate neural biomarkers that may correlate with postoperative
neurocognitive trajectory (Aims 1 and 2) followed by a clinical trial to test a behavioral intervention, cognitive
prehabilitation, for improving postoperative neurocognitive function (Aim 3). Specific Aim 1 is to characterize
perioperative whole-scalp electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns in relation to postoperative recovery. We
hypothesize that posterior EEG alpha power and frontal-parietal connectivity, analyzed in the postanesthesia
care unit, will correlate with postoperative cognitive function. The candidate will learn advanced techniques of
EEG acquisition and analysis that will be critical for designing such neurophysiologic studies in clinical
neuroscience. Specific Aim 2 is to measure perioperative regional cerebral oximetry (rSO2) in relation to
advanced EEG patterns and cognitive recovery. We hypothesize that postoperative cerebral oximetry values
will correlate with cognitive function after major surgery. In addition to the neurophysiologic training described,
the candidate will receive education in cognitive testing and neuropsychology so that he can conduct
sophisticated neurologic phenotyping of surgical patients. Lastly, Specific Aim 3 is to test the efficacy of
cognitive prehabilitation on postoperative neurocognitive function. We hypothesize that preoperative cognitive
prehabilitation (i.e., “brain training”) will improve neurocognitive function in the postoperative period. For this
last aim, the candidate will train in advanced clinical trial design and conduct in order to obtain the necessary
skills to independently lead multicenter trials in the future. With this proposal, the candidate will be trained in
cutting edge neuroscience research methods (e.g., advanced EEG techniques, calibrated cognitive function
testing) and clinical trial design and conduct. He will thus be poised to lead large-scale efforts for better
understanding and improving brain health in surgical patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9979648
- **Project number:** 5K23GM126317-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Phillip Eleas Vlisides
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $189,741
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9979648

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9979648, Neurocognitive Recovery following Surgery and General Anesthesia (5K23GM126317-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9979648. Licensed CC0.

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