Dr. Counter's scientific research focuses on auditory neurophysiology, neurotoxicity of lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg), transcranial magnetic brain stimulation, magnetic resonance imaging, and multiple sclerosis (MS). Currently, he is involved in major research projects on Pb and Hg exposure in Andean populations of Ecuador, where Pb glazing of ceramics and the use of Hg in gold mining operations are common. Over the past decade, he has conducted extensive research work on the neurobiology of the auditory-vestibular systems. Selected Recent Scientific Publications Counter SA, Buchanan LH, Ortega F. Association of hemoglobin levels and brainstem auditory evoked responses in lead-exposed children. Clin Biochem. 2012 Oct;45(15):1197-201 Counter SA, Buchanan LH, Ortega F. Acoustic stapedius muscle reflex in mercury-exposed Andean children and adults. Acta Otolaryngol. 2012 Jan; 132 (1):51-63. Counter SA, Buchanan LH, Ortega F, van der Velde J, Borg E. Assessment of auditory brainstem function in lead-exposed children using stapedius muscle reflexes. J Neurol Sci. 2011 Jul 15;306 (1-2):29-37. Counter SA, Buchanan LH, Ortega F. Neurophysiologic and Neurocognitive Case Profiles of Andean Patients with Chronic Environmental Lead Poisoning. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. 2009;72(19):1150-9. Counter SA, Buchanan LH, Ortega F. Neurocognitive Screening of Lead Exposed Andean Adolescents and Young Adults. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. 2009;72(10):625-32. Counter SA, Buchanan LH, Ortega F. Zinc protoporphyrin levels, blood lead levels and neurocognitive deficits in Andean children with chronic lead exposure. Clin Biochem. 2008 Jan;41(1-2):41-7. Counter SA. Preservation of brainstem neurophysiological function in hydranencephaly. J Neurol Sci. 2007 Dec 15;263(1-2):198-207. Counter SA, Buchanan LH, Ortega F, Rifai N, Shannon MW. Comparative analysis of zinc protoporphyrin and blood lead levels in lead-exposed Andean children. Clin Biochem. 2007 Jul;40(11):787-92. Counter SA. Brainstem mediation of the stapedius muscle reflex in hydranencephaly. Acta Otolaryngol. 2007 May;127(5):498-504. Counter SA, Buchanan, L.H, Ortega, F. Lead concentrations in maternal blood and breast milk and pediatric blood of Andean villagers: 2006 Follow-up investigation. J Occup Environ Medicine 2007; 49. Counter SA, Buchanan, L.H, Ortega, F. Neurocognitive screening of mercury-exposed children of Andean gold miners. Int J Occup Environ Health. 2006; 12: 209-14. Counter SA, Buchanan LH, Ortega F. Mercury levels in urine and hair of children in an Andean gold-mining settlement. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health. 2005; 11: 132-137. Counter SA, Buchanan LH, Ortega F. Neurocognitive impairment in lead-exposed children of Andean lead-glazing workers. Journal of Occupational andEnviromental Medicine. 2005; 47(3). Counter SA, Buchanan LH, Ortega F. Current pediatric and maternal lead levels in blood and breast milk in Andean inhabitants of a lead-glazing enclave. Journal of Occupational and Enviromental Medicine. 2004;46(9): 1967-973. Counter SA, Buchanan LH. Mercury exposure in children: a review. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. 2004; 198(2): 209-230. Counter SA, Zou J, Bjelke B, Klason T. 3D MRI of the in vivo vestibulo-cochlea labyrinth during Gd-DTPA-BMA uptake. Neuroreport. 2003; 14: 1707-1712. Counter SA, Ortega F, Shannon MW, Buchanan LH. Succimer (Meso-2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic Acid [DMSA]) Treatment of Andean children with environmental lead exposure. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health. 2003; 9: 164-168. Counter SA. Neurophysiological anomalies in brainstem responses of mercury-exposed children of Andean gold miners. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2003; 45(1): 87-95. Counter SA. Brainstem neural conduction biomarkers in lead-exposed children of Andean lead-glaze workers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2002; 44(9): 855-864. Counter SA, Buchanan LH, Ortega F, Laurell G. Elevated blood mercury and neuro-otological observations in children of the Ecuadorian gold mines. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health A. 2002; 65: 149-163. Counter SA, and Buchanan LH. Neuro-ototoxicity in Andean adults with chronic lead and noise exposure. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2002; 44(1): 30-38. Counter SA, Buchanan LH, Ortega F. Gender differences in blood lead and hemoglobin levels in Andean adults with chronic lead exposure. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health 2001; 7: 113-118. Counter SA, Bjelke B, Borg E, Klason T, Chen Z, Duan ML. Magnetic resonance imaging of the membranous labyrinth during in vivo gadolinium (Gd-DTPA-BMA) uptake in the normal and lesioned cochlea. NeuroReport 2000; 11: 3979-83. Counter SA, Buchanan LH, Ortega F, Amarasiriwardena C, Hu H. Environmental lead contamination and pediatric lead intoxication in an Andean Ecuadorian village. International Journal Occupational Environmental Health 2000; 6: 169-76. Counter SA, Buchanan LH, Ortega F, Rifai N. Blood lead and hemoglobin levels in Andean children with chronic lead intoxication. Neurotoxicology 2000; 21: 301-8. Counter SA, Olofsson A, Borg E, Bjelke B, Haggstrom A, Grahn HF. Analysis of MRI acoustic noise generated by a 4.7 T experimental system. Acta Oto-Laryngologica 2000; 120: 739-43. Counter, SA, Bjelke, B., Klason, T., Chen, Z., Borg, E. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cochlea, spiral ganglia and eighth nerve of the guinea pig. Neuroreport 1999; 10: 473-479. Counter SA, Buchanan LH, Laurell G, Ortega F. Field screening of blood lead levels in remote Andean villages. Neurotoxicology 1998; 19: 871-878. Counter SA, Buchanan LH, Rosas HD, Ortega F. Neurocognitive effects of chronic lead intoxication in Andean children. Journal of Neurological Sciences 1998; 160: 47-53. Counter SA, Buchanan LH, Laurell G, Ortega F. Blood mercury and auditory neuro-sensory responses in children and adults in the Nambija gold mining area of Ecuador. Neurotoxicology 1998; 19:185-196. Counter SA, Buchanan LH, Laurell G, Ortega F. Normal auditory brainstem and cochlear function in extreme pediatric plumbism. Journal of Neurological Sciences 1997; 52:85-92. Counter SA, Vahter M, Laurell G, Buchanan LH, Ortega F, Skerfving S. High lead exposure and auditory sensory-neural function in Andean children. Environmental Health Perspectives 1997, 105:522-526. Counter SA, Olofsson A, Grahn H, Borg E. Magnetic resonance imaging acoustic noise: sound pressure and frequency analysis. J. Mag. Res. Imag. 1997, 7:606-611. Counter SA, Borg E, Bredberg G, Linde G, Varnio M. Electromagnetic stimulation of the auditory system of deaf patients. Acta Otolaryngologica 1994, 114:501-509. Counter SA, Aldskogius H and Borg E. Cholera toxin B-HRP and wheat germ agglutinin-HRP tracing of tensor tympani muscle motor neurons and processes in rabbits. Acta Otolaryngologica (Stock) 1993; 113:43-47. Counter SA. Neurobiological effects of extensive transcranial electromagnetic stimulation in an animal model. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology 1993. 89:341-348. Counter SA and Klareskov B. Hypoacusis among the polar Eskimos of northwest Greenland. Scand Audiol 1990; 19:149-160. Other Recent Publications Counter SA, "Polar Legacies," Smithsonian magazine, November 2009. Counter SA, "Village of the Blackteeth," Health Science Section, Boston Globe, July 30, 2007. Counter SA, "Music Stirred Her Damaged Brain,"Health Science Section, Boston Globe, March 29, 2005. Counter SA, "Whitening Skin Can Be Deadly,"Boston Globe, December 16, 2003. Counter SA, "The Gold Plague,"Boston Globe, March 25, 2001. Counter SA, "Exploration: A Valuable Component of an Education," The Black Collegian, October 2000 (p 124-130). Counter SA, "Why America needs a memorial to victims of slavery,"The Boston Globe, July 29, 1997 (page A15). Counter SA, North Pole Legacy: Black, White and Eskimo 2001 Invisible Cities Press (220p book). Counter SA and Evans DL.I Sought My Brother; 1981 MIT Press (271p book). Harvard Gazette article concerning Dr. Counter's project on toxic mercury (Hg) exposure in Andean children. [link] Harvard Gazette article concerning Dr. Counter's research on toxic lead (Pb) exposure in Ecuadorean Andean children. [link] Documentary Film Productions by Dr. S. Allen Counter I Shall Molder Before I Shall be Taken The story of the proud heritage of living descendants of African rebel slaves in the Suriname, South American rainforests. (60 min) North Pole Legacy: Black, White and Eskimo The story of the discovery in Greenland of the Amer-Eskimo sons of North Pole explorers, Robert Peary and Matthew Henson. (60 min) Welcome Home, Matthew Henson The story of the reinterment of North Pole explorer Matthew Henson in Arlington National Cemetery. (30 min) Lost Africans of the Andes The story of a displaced enclave of African-descended people living in the mountains and rainforests of Ecuador. (30 min) Pueblo de Plomo The story of widespread lead-poisoning in children living in a ceramics production village of Ecuador. (30 min) Children of the Gold Mines The story of children exposed to toxic mercury from Andean gold mine operations. (30 min) Black Igloo: The Eskimo children of Matthew Henson The story of the Black Eskimo descendants of the co-discoverer of the North Pole, Matthew Henson. The film shows the culture of the Afro-Inuit descendants living today in Greenland, 1000 miles above the Arctic Circle. (30 min) North Pole Promise The story of the commemoration of the 1909 North Pole discovery on the 100th anniversary, April 6th, 2009, by Dr. S. Allen Counter with the Inuit/Eskimo descendants of the discoverers, Robert E. Peary and Matthew A. Henson. The story culminates in the delivery of a Centennial Commemorative Case, containing memorabilia from the 1909 expedition, by a Navy nuclear submarine, USS Annapolis. The project fulfills a promise Dr. Counter made to the Inuit sons of Peary and Henson, Kali and Anaukaq, that he would have their fathers remembered at the North Pole on the anniversary of the discovery.

Dr. S Allen Counter and Professor Dr. Erik Borg in ceremony at the Karolinska Nobel Institute.     In vivo Gd MRI of vestibulo-cochlea labyrinth. Cover NeuroReport. Counter, et al.   High field (4.7T) MRI of mammalian cochlea and eighth cranial nerve. Cover NeuroReport.   Confocal immunoreactivity at efferent synapses on cochlea haircells.       Click on the picture to go to the book.     Dr. Counter examines hearing of Inuit Eskimo hunter.

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