Brittany G. Travers, PhD

Position title: Associate Professor, Kinesiology

PhD, University of Alabama

Contact Information

Waisman Center
1500 Highland Avenue
Room 435
Madison, WI 53705
608.263.0282
btravers@wisc.edu
Website: Motor Brain and Development Lab

Research Statement

My research examines motor development and corresponding brain development in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disorders. We combine neuroimaging measures using Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI] with behavioral measures of motor function and daily living skills. Our research to date suggests that individuals with autism struggle with motor difficulties and that these motor difficulties predict impairments in other domains. Therefore, we are particularly interested in how interventions that target motor ability in ASD may have cascading benefits on an individual’s ability to independently function.

The long term goals of this research are to:

Learn how motor difficulties manifest and change with age in autism and other developmental disorders
Understand the underlying brain mechanisms of motor and core symptoms in autism
Find ways that motor performance can be improved to enhance quality of life of people with autism and other developmental disorders

Selected Publications

Surgent, O., Guerrero-Gonzalez, J., Dean, D. C., 3rd, Adluru, N., Kirk, G. R., Kecskemeti, S. R., Alexander, A. L., Li, J. J., & Travers, B. G. (2024). Microstructural neural correlates of maximal grip strength in autistic children: the role of the cortico-cerebellar network and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder features. Frontiers in integrative neuroscience, 18, 1359099. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2024.1359099
Travers, B. G., Surgent, O., Guerrero-Gonzalez, J., Dean, D. C., 3rd, Adluru, N., Kecskemeti, S. R., Kirk, G. R., Alexander, A. L., Zhu, J., Skaletski, E. C., Naik, S., & Duran, M. (2024). Role of autonomic, nociceptive, and limbic brainstem nuclei in core autism features. Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 17(2), 266–279. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.3096
He, Q., Keding, T. J., Zhang, Q., Miao, J., Russell, J. D., Herringa, R. J., Lu, Q., Travers, B. G., & Li, J. J. (2023). Neurogenetic mechanisms of risk for ADHD: Examining associations of polygenic scores and brain volumes in a population cohort. Journal of neurodevelopmental disorders, 15(1), 30. https://doi.org/10.1186/s11689-023-09498-6
Surgent, O., Guerrero-Gonzalez, J., Dean, D. C., 3rd, Kirk, G. R., Adluru, N., Kecskemeti, S. R., Alexander, A. L., & Travers, B. G. (2023). How we get a grip: Microstructural neural correlates of manual grip strength in children. NeuroImage, 273, 120117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120117
Cabaraux, P., Agrawal, S. K., Cai, H., Calabro, R. S., Casali, C., Damm, L., Doss, S., Habas, C., Horn, A., Ilg, W., Louis, E. D., Mitoma, H., Monaco, V., Petracca, M., Ranavolo, A., Rao, A. K., Ruggieri, S., Schirinzi, T., Serrao, M., Summa, S., … Manto, M. (2023). Consensus Paper: Ataxic Gait. Cerebellum (London, England), 22(3), 394–430. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-022-01373-9
Cabaraux, P., Agrawal, S. K., Cai, H., Calabro, R. S., Casali, C., Damm, L., Doss, S., Habas, C., Horn, A., Ilg, W., Louis, E. D., Mitoma, H., Monaco, V., Petracca, M., Ranavolo, A., Rao, A. K., Ruggieri, S., Schirinzi, T., Serrao, M., Summa, S., … Manto, M. (2023). Correction to: Consensus Paper: Ataxic Gait. Cerebellum (London, England), 22(3), 431–432. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-022-01413-4
DiPiero, M. A., Surgent, O. J., Travers, B. G., Alexander, A. L., Lainhart, J. E., & Dean Iii, D. C. (2023). Gray matter microstructure differences in autistic males: A gray matter based spatial statistics study. NeuroImage. Clinical, 37, 103306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103306
Surgent, O., Riaz, A., Ausderau, K. K., Adluru, N., Kirk, G. R., Guerrero-Gonzalez, J., Skaletski, E. C., Kecskemeti, S. R., Dean Iii, D. C., Weismer, S. E., Alexander, A. L., & Travers, B. G. (2022). Brainstem white matter microstructure is associated with hyporesponsiveness and overall sensory features in autistic children. Molecular autism, 13(1), 48. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-022-00524-3
Mason, A. H., Pickett, K. A., Padilla, A. S., & Travers, B. G. (2022). Combined gait and grasping in autistic and non-autistic youths. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 25(7), 452–461. https://doi.org/10.1080/17518423.2022.2052375
Guerrero-Gonzalez, J., Surgent, O., Adluru, N., Kirk, G. R., Dean Iii, D. C., Kecskemeti, S. R., Alexander, A. L., & Travers, B. G. (2022). Improving Imaging of the Brainstem and Cerebellum in Autistic Children: Transformation-Based High-Resolution Diffusion MRI (TiDi-Fused) in the Human Brainstem. Frontiers in integrative neuroscience, 16, 804743. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2022.804743
Travers, B. G., Lee, L., Klans, N., Engeldinger, A., Taylor, D., Ausderau, K., Skaletski, E. C., & Brown, J. (2022). Associations Among Daily Living Skills, Motor, and Sensory Difficulties in Autistic and Nonautistic Children. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 76(2), 7602205020. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2022.045955
Kecskemeti, S., Freeman, A., Travers, B. G., & Alexander, A. L. (2021). FreeSurfer based cortical mapping and T1-relaxometry with MPnRAGE: Test-retest reliability with and without retrospective motion correction. NeuroImage, 242, 118447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118447
Zhang, Y., Lu, Q., Ye, Y., Huang, K., Liu, W., Wu, Y., Zhong, X., Li, B., Yu, Z., Travers, B. G., Werling, D. M., Li, J. J., & Zhao, H. (2021). SUPERGNOVA: local genetic correlation analysis reveals heterogeneous etiologic sharing of complex traits. Genome biology, 22(1), 262. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-021-02478-w
Surgent, O., Dean, D. C., Alexander, A. L., Dadalko, O. I., Guerrero-Gonzalez, J., Taylor, D., Skaletski, E., & Travers, B. G. (2021). Neurobiological and behavioural outcomes of biofeedback-based training in autism: a randomized controlled trial. Brain communications, 3(3), fcab112. https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcab112
Surgent, O. J., Walczak, M., Zarzycki, O., Ausderau, K., & Travers, B. G. (2021). IQ and Sensory Symptom Severity Best Predict Motor Ability in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 51(1), 243–254. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04536-x
Kirkorian, H. L., Travers, B. G., Jiang, M. J., Choi, K., Rosengren, K. S., Pavalko, P., & Tolkin, E. (2020). Drawing across media: A cross-sectional experiment on preschoolers’ drawings produced using traditional versus electronic mediums. Developmental psychology, 56(1), 28–39. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000825
Ardalan A, Assadi AH, Surgent OJ, Travers BG. (2019). Whole-Body Movement during Videogame Play Distinguishes Youth with Autism from Youth with Typical Development. Science Reports, 27;9(1):20094. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-56362-6.
Green, R. R., Bigler, E. D., Froehlich, A., Prigge, M., Zielinski, B. A., Travers, B. G., Anderson, J. S., Alexander, A., Lange, N., & Lainhart, J. E. (2019). Beery VMI and Brain Volumetric Relations in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of pediatric neuropsychology, 5(3), 77–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40817-019-00069-z
Surgent, O. J., Dadalko, O. I., Pickett, K. A., & Travers, B. G. (2019). Balance and the brain: A review of structural brain correlates of postural balance and balance training in humans. Gait & posture, 71, 245–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2019.05.011
Prigge MBD, Bigler ED, Travers BG, Froehlich A, Abildskov T, Anderson JS, Alexander AL, Lange N, Lainhart JE, Zielinski BA. (2018). Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) in Relation to Longitudinal Cortical Thickness Changes in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(10):3319-3329. doi: 10.1007/s10803-018-3566-1.
Engel C, Lillie K, Zurawski S, Travers BG. (2018). Curriculum-Based Handwriting Programs: A Systematic Review With Effect Sizes. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72(3):7203205010p1-7203205010p8.
Fisher A, Engel C, Geist R, Lillie K, Lutman S, Travers BG. (2018). Brief Report: Postural Balance and Daily Living Skills in Children and Adolescents with Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(9):3210-3215. doi: 10.1007/s10803-018-3558-1.
McLaughlin K, Travers BG, Dadalko OI, Dean DC 3rd, Tromp D, Adluru N, Destiche D, Freeman A, Prigge MD, Froehlich A, Duffield TC, Zielinski BA, Bigler ED, Lange N, Anderson JS, Alexander AL, Lainhart JE. (2018). Longitudinal development of thalamic and internal capsule microstructure in autism spectrum disorder. Autism Research, 11(3):450-462.
Travers BG, Mason AH, Mrotek LA, Ellertson A, Dean DC 3rd, Engel C, Gomez A, Dadalko OI, McLaughlin K. (2018). Biofeedback-Based, Videogame Balance Training in Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(1):163-175.
Lalani SJ, Duffield TC, Trontel HG, Bigler ED, Abildskov TJ, Froehlich A, Prigge MBD, Travers BG, Anderson JS, Zielinski BA, Alexander A, Lange N, Lainhart JE. (2017). Auditory attention in autism spectrum disorder: An exploration of volumetric magnetic resonance imaging findings. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 26:1-16.
Travers BG, Bigler ED, Duffield TC, Prigge MDB, Froehlich AL, Lange N, Alexander AL, Lainhart JE. (2017). Longitudinal development of manual motor ability in autism spectrum disorder from childhood to mid-adulthood relates to adaptive daily living skills. Developmental Science, 20(4).
Dean DC 3rd, Lange N, Travers BG, Prigge MB, Matsunami N, Kellett KA, Freeman A, Kane KL, Adluru N, Tromp DP, Destiche DJ, Samsin D, Zielinski BA, Fletcher PT, Anderson JS, Froehlich AL, Leppert MF, Bigler ED, Lainhart JE, Alexander AL. (2017). Multivariate characterization of white matter heterogeneity in autism spectrum disorder. NeuroImage: Clinical, 6;14:54-66.
Dean DC 3rd, Travers BG, Adluru N, Tromp do PM, Destiche DJ, Samsin D, Prigge MB, Zielinski BA, Fletcher PT, Anderson JS, Froehlich AL, Bigler ED, Lange N, Lainhart JE, Alexander AL. (2016) Investigating the Microstructural Correlation of White Matter in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Brain Connectivity, 6(5):415-33.
Green RR, Bigler ED, Froehlich A, Prigge MB, Travers BG, Cariello AN, Anderson JS, Zielinski BA, Alexander A, Lange N, Lainhart JE. (2016). Beery VMI performance in autism spectrum disorder. Child Neuropsychology, 22(7):795-817.
Dean DC 3rd, O’Muircheartaigh J, Dirks H, Travers BG, Adluru N, Alexander AL, Deoni SCL. (2016). Mapping an index of the myelin g-ratio in infants using magnetic resonance imaging. Neuroimage, 15;132:225-237.
Jantz PB, Bigler ED, Froehlich AL, Prigge MB, Cariello AN, Travers BG, Anderson J, Zielinski BA, Alexander AL, Lange N, Lainhart JE. (2015) Wide range achievement test in autism spectrum disorder: test-retest stability. Psychological Reports, 116(3):674-84.
Travers BG, Bigler ED, Tromp do PM, Adluru N, Destiche D, Samsin D, Froehlich A, Prigge MD, Duffield TC, Lange N, Alexander AL, Lainhart JE. (2015). Brainstem White Matter Predicts Individual Differences in Manual Motor Difficulties and Symptom Severity in Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(9):3030-40.
Travers BG, Tromp do PM, Adluru N, Lange N, Destiche D, Ennis C, Nielsen JA, Froehlich AL, Prigge MB, Fletcher PT, Anderson JS, Zielinski BA, Bigler ED, Lainhart JE, Alexander AL. (2015). Atypical development of white matter microstructure of the corpus callosum in males with autism: a longitudinal investigation. Molecular Autism, 11;6:15.
Trontel HG, Duffield TC, Bigler ED, Abildskov TJ, Froehlich A, Prigge MB, Travers BG, Anderson JS, Zielinski BA, Alexander AL, Lange N, Lainhart JE. (2015). Mesial temporal lobe and memory function in autism spectrum disorder: an exploration of volumetric findings. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 37(2):178-92.
Travers BG, Kana RK, Klinger LG, Klein CL, Klinger MR. (2015). Motor learning in individuals with autism spectrum disorder: activation in superior parietal lobule related to learning and repetitive behaviors. Autism Research, 8(1):38-51.
Mussey JL, Travers BG, Klinger LG, Klinger MR. (2015). Decision-making skills in ASD: performance on the Iowa Gambling Task. Autism Research, 8(1):105-14.
Lange N, Travers BG, Bigler ED, Prigge MB, Froehlich AL, Nielsen JA, Cariello AN, Zielinski BA, Anderson JS, Fletcher PT, Alexander AA, Lainhart JE. (2015). Longitudinal volumetric brain changes in autism spectrum disorder ages 6-35 years. Autism Research, 8(1):82-93
Converse AK, Ahlers EO, Travers BG, Davidson RJ. (2014) Tai chi training reduces self-report of inattention in healthy young adults. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 27;8:13.
Travers BG, Bigler ED, Tromp DPM, Adluru N, Froehlich AL, Ennis C, Lange N, Nielsen JA, Prigge MB, Alexander AL, Lainhart JE. (2014) Longitudinal processing speed impairments in males with autism and the effects of white matter microstructureLongitudinal processing speed impairments in males with autism and the effects of white matter microstructure. Neuropsychologia. Neuropsychologia, 53, 137-145.
Zielinski BA, Prigge MB, Nielsen JA, Froehlich AL, Abildskov TJ, Anderson JS, Fletcher PT, Zygmunt KM, Travers BG, Lange N, Alexander AL, Bigler ED, Lainhart JE. (2014) Longitudinal changes in cortical thickness in autism and typical development. Brain. 137(Pt 6):1799-812.
Trontel HG, Duffield TC, Bigler ED, Froehlich A, Prigge MB, Nielsen JA, Cooperrider JR, Cariello AN, Travers BG, Anderson JS, Zielinski BA, Alexander A, Lange N, Lainhart JE. (2013) Fusiform correlates of facial memory in autism. Behavioral Sciences. 3(3):348-71. doi: 10.3390/bs3030348.
Travers BG, Adluru N, Ennis C, Tromp do PM, Destiche D, Doran S, Bigler ED, Lange N, Lainhart JE, Alexander AL. (2012) Diffusion tensor imaging in autism spectrum disorder: a review. Autism Research. 5(5):289-313.