HEALING

Routine surgeries are associated with periods of adjustment during recovery that impact physical and mental health. They also frequently involve brain reorganization, as patients learn to adapt to post-surgical restrictions (for example, limited movement). HEALING is a collaborative project across labs in the Institute of Cognitive and Brain Health at Northeastern University. Here we conduct a single-participant "deep-phenotyping" study with intensive longitudinal data leading up to and following outpatient surgery to better understand the changes in mental health, brain structure, and brain function associated with surgery and recovery. The results will shed light on general principles of brain plasticity and provide practical information about sequalae of routine surgery.