Zempel Lab

As a pediatric epileptologist, the goal of the Zempel lab’s research is to improve the localization of neuronal activity through new imaging modalities that are translatable to humans. By studying a model system of partial seizures which has been adapted to the magnetic resonance environment, allowing the measurement of electrical signals concurrent with imaging. Using conventional and newly developed magnetic resonance techniques, Zempel and his colleagues have localized ongoing seizure activity and characterized the damage that occurs with seizures. He is also characterizing and utilizing new magnetic resonance contrast agents with the goal of using such an agent to localize seizure activity to provide a major advance in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy.

A second focus of Zempel’s research is the quantitative characterization of electrical activity directly recorded from the human brain as part of an evaluation for epilepsy surgery. The ready availability of increasing computational power makes analysis of the characteristics of brain activity feasible in the time frame of the surgery evaluation. Such techniques focus on seizure detection, prediction and characterization of the zone of abnormal brain tissue.

Principal investigator

John Zempel, MD, PhD

Professor, Neurology and Pediatrics
Division of Pediatric Neurology
Director, EEG Laboratories, St. Louis Children’s Hospital

• Phone: 314-454-4089

Recent publications

• Proceedings of the 13th International Newborn Brain Conference: Neonatal Neurocritical Care, Seizures, and Continuous EEG monitoring
  January 1, 2022
  Proceedings of the 13th International Newborn Brain Conference: Neonatal Neurocritical Care, Seizures, and Continuous EEG monitoringAbend, N., Adams, E., Al Balushi, A., Alburaki, W., Appendino, J., Barbosa, V. S., Birca, A., Bonifacio, S., Branagan, A., Chang, T., Chowdhury, R., Christou, H., Chu, C., Cilio, M. R., Comani, S., Corsi-Cabrera, M., Croce, P., Cubero-Rego, L., Dawoud, F., de Vries, L., & 86 othersDehaes, M., Devane, D., Duncan, A., El Ters, N., El-Dib, M., Elshibiny, H., Esser, M., Fairchild, K., Finucane, E., Franceschini, M. A., Gallagher, A., Ghosh, A., Glass, H., Venkata, S. K. R. G., Baillet, T. H., Herzberg, E., Hildrey, […]
• Neurophysiological Correlates of Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis
  July 1, 2021
  Neurophysiological Correlates of Fatigue in Multiple SclerosisNewland, P., Chen, L., Sun, P. & Zempel, J., Jul 1 2021, In: Journal for Nurse Practitioners. 17, 7, p. 883-888 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• The role of SPECT and PET in epilepsy
  March 1, 2021
  The role of SPECT and PET in epilepsyPonisio, M. R., Zempel, J. M., Day, B. K., Eisenman, L. N., Miller-Thomas, M. M., Smyth, M. D. & Hogan, R. E., Mar 2021, In: American Journal of Roentgenology. 216, 3, p. 759-768 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
• Jean Holowach Thurston
  January 1, 2021
  Jean Holowach ThurstonGurnett, C. A., Zempel, J. & Noetzel, M. J., Jan 1 2021, Child Neurology: Its Origins, Founders, Growth and Evolution. Elsevier, p. 766-768 3 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
• A Rare Presentation of Congenital TORCH Infection
  April 1, 2020
  A Rare Presentation of Congenital TORCH InfectionHaffner, D. N., O'Connor, S. & Zempel, J., Apr 2020, In: Pediatric Neurology. 105, p. 71-72 2 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review