Linda Larson-Prior

Linda Larson-Prior is a Professor of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, Neurology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Biomedical Informatics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), College of Medicine. She directs the Budding Brain Lab and contributes to the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study. Her research integrates neuroimaging (EEG, fMRI) to study brain-environment interactions across lifespan, focusing on nutrition, sleep, and Parkinson’s disease.

Education: B.A. in Arabic/Anthropology from Ohio State University; M.A. in Physical Anthropology from Case Western Reserve University; Ph.D. in Neurobiology from Kent State University.

Research interests emphasize cognitive development in children and adults, with projects addressing how environmental factors like diet and sleep impact brain function. Her work employs 'connectomics' and multidisciplinary teams to study neural networks in health and disease. Key areas include Parkinson’s motor/cognitive decline, pediatric neurodevelopmental norms, and rural healthcare access challenges.

Her articles explore neuroimaging tools for disease diagnosis (e.g., voice-based Parkinson’s detection via machine learning), telemedicine for underserved populations, and large-scale brain network analysis. Ongoing projects include the HBCD Study’s EEG protocol development and longitudinal studies on infant neurodevelopment.

Labs/Teams: Director of the ACNC Budding Brain Lab; collaborator in Neurocognitive Development Laboratory. Her work bridges clinical research and technology innovation, aiming to improve diagnostic tools and patient care in neurology and pediatric medicine.