Office: 172-K Florida Gym, PO Box 118205
Gainesville, FL 32611
Bio
Dr. Wilkes completed his bachelor’s degree in Neurobiological Sciences, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in Psychology at the University of Florida. His master’s thesis focused on oculomotor and vestibulo-ocular reflex function in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). His doctoral dissertation focused on the neural circuitry mediating repetitive behavior in individuals ASD and an animal model of repetitive behavior, utilizing magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor imaging.
Dr. Wilkes’ current work focuses on sensorimotor systems involved in disorders of the brain, particularly basal ganglia and cerebellar networks. He utilizes magnetic resonance imaging to characterize neural circuit structure and function in transgenic mouse models of DYT1 dystonia. He has also generated work using accelerometry to quantify the effects of deep-brain stimulation on tremor in patients with essential tremor.
Research Interests
Dr. Wilkes is interested in sensorimotor networks and their complex role brain disorders, utilizing a bidirectional translational research approach with multimodal neuroimaging techniques.
Selected Publications
Wilkes, B.J., Desimone, J.C., Liu, Y., Chu, W.T., Coombes, S., Li, Y., and Vaillancourt, D.E. (2021). Cell-specific effects of Dyt1 knock-out on sensory processing, network-level connectivity, and motor deficits. Experimental Neurology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113783.
Caffal, Z.F., Wilkes, B.J., Hernandez-Martinez, R., Rittiner, J., Fox, J.T., Shen, M., Shipman, M.K., Wan, K., Titus, S.A., Li, Z., Boxer, M.B., Hall, M.D., Vaillancourt, D.E., and Calakos, N. (2020). HIV Protease Inhibitors Activate the Integrated Stress Response and Correct Diverse Dystonia Phenotypes in Mouse Models. Annals of Neurology, 88: S175-176.
Wilkes, B.J., Wagle Shukla, A., Casamento-Moran, A., Hess, C.W., Christou, E.A., Okun, M.S., and Vaillancourt, D.E. (2020). Effects of Ventral Intermediate Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation Across Multiple Effectors in Essential Tremor. Clinical Neurophysiology, 131(1): 167-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2019.10.019
Wilkes, B.J. and Lewis, M.H. (2018). The neural circuitry of restricted repetitive behavior: Magnetic resonance imaging in neurodevelopmental disorders and animal models. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 92, 152-171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.05.022