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Kathryn A. CunninghamView profile

Professor

• Neuropharmacology
• Chemical Biology
• Drug Discovery
• +5 more

Kathryn A. Cunningham is a Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), and Director of the Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics (CAST). She holds the Chauncey Leake Distinguished Lecturer Professorship in Pharmacology. Her academic career includes a BA from the University of St. Thomas (TX) and a PhD from the University of South Carolina. She completed executive leadership training through the ELAM program at Drexel University and earned a Certificate in Business Administration from the University of Houston/UTMB. Her research focuses on the neuropsychopharmacology of abused drugs, particularly cocaine use disorder, and the development of novel serotonergic medications. Key contributions include identifying the roles of serotonin 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors in addiction, and pioneering translational research with medicinal chemists to design therapeutics. She has led NIH-funded projects for 26 years, resulting in 118 peer-reviewed articles, three patents, and over 45 mentored trainees. Her work bridges neuroscience, pharmacology, and clinical practice, aiming to reduce relapse in addiction and obesity-related disorders. Dr. Cunningham's awards include the Astellas Award for Translational Pharmacology, Marian Fischman Memorial Award, and Mentorship Award from the College on Problems of Drug Dependence. She serves as Associate Editor for ACS Chemical Neuroscience and Nature Neuropsychopharmacology . Her research integrates behavioral, molecular, and cellular approaches, collaborating with synthetic chemists and neurobiologists to advance addiction therapies. Research Interests: Serotonin receptor signaling, addiction neuroscience, translational drug discovery Grants: Continuous NIH funding since 1998 Labs: CAST (Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics), UTMB Pharmacology Core Facilities

Carl F. CraverView profile

Professor

• Philosophy of Science
• Philosophy of Mind
• History of Neuroscience
• +3 more

Carl F. Craver is a Professor of Philosophy and Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology at Washington University. He holds a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh and specializes in philosophy of neuroscience, philosophy of science, and history of biology. His work focuses on mechanistic explanation in neuroscience and the integration of interdisciplinary scientific practices. Affiliations: Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology Program, Department of Philosophy Research interests include mechanisms in neuroscience, psychiatric genetics, and neuropsychology. Notable collaborations involve studies on episodic amnesia with Shayna Rosenbaum and psychiatric genetics with Kenneth Kendler. Key publications include Explaining the Brain (2007) and In Search of Mechanisms (2013), which establish frameworks for understanding scientific explanation and discovery. Recent articles explore ventromedial prefrontal cortex functions, coherence in GWAS, and episodic memory’s role in decision-making. His work bridges philosophy with empirical science, emphasizing causal mechanisms and hierarchical organization in biological systems. Collaborations span clinical, genetic, and cognitive domains, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement. Advising and grant work include projects on memory disorders and psychiatric genetics. Labs/teams include partnerships with York University and Virginia Commonwealth University, focusing on hippocampal dysfunction and genetic mechanisms.

• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging
• Psychiatric Disorders
• +7 more

Christopher Rowley is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at McMaster University , focusing on neuroimaging and psychiatric disorders. His research spans neuroscience, medical imaging, and cognitive function analysis. Ph.D. in Physics & Astronomy from McMaster University (2014–2018) Postdoctoral Fellowship in Magnetization Transfer Imaging at McGill University (2018–2023) Rowley specializes in intracortical myelin mapping using MRI, linking myelin abnormalities to conditions like bipolar disorder , Huntington’s disease , and schizophrenia . His work explores how myelin microstructure affects cognitive function , psychosocial outcomes , and aging . His recent publications (2023–2025) emphasize quantitative MRI methods , tract-specific microstructure mapping , and histological validation of neuroimaging metrics. Collaborations include institutions like McGill University and McMaster Experts . Rowley has taught Radiation Biology (MEDPHYS 6U03/4U03) and Physics in Medicine (MEDPHYS 1A03) at McMaster University. His work bridges biomedical physics and clinical neuroscience , with a focus on neurodegenerative diseases and mental health .

Brian KnutsonView profile

Professor

• Affective Neuroscience
• Neuroeconomics
• Neurophenomics
• +7 more

Brian Knutson is a Professor of Psychology at Stanford University , with affiliations at the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Bio-X, and Institute for Human-Centered AI. His research focuses on elucidating the neural basis of emotion and its implications for decision-making and psychopathology. Key Affiliations : Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Bio-X, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment Programs : Symbolic Systems Program Knutson's work spans affective neuroscience, neuroeconomics, and addiction mechanisms. He investigates how biogenic amines modulate emotional experience using methods like psychopharmacology and fMRI. His studies link neural activity in regions like the nucleus accumbens and anterior insula to risky choices, resource sharing, and treatment outcomes in alcohol use disorder. Recent research trends highlight his exploration of MDMA's neural effects in PTSD subthreshold populations, Ketamine's altered states , and neuroforecasting to model market behavior. Collaborative work connects white-matter tracts to relapse prediction and examines cultural variations in neural responses to social rewards. Teaching includes graduate and undergraduate courses in Affective Neuroscience , Brain and Decision Making , and Neurophenomics . His lab trains doctoral students and conducts NIH-funded clinical trials on neuromodulation therapies. Notable findings include: Disentangling distinct neural predictors of risky choices (NAcc vs. insula) Demonstrating MDMA's normalization of negative affect circuits Identifying cultural differences in trust via ideal affect matching Linking anterior insula activity to stimulant relapse

Leanne WilliamsView profile

Professor

• Precision Mental Health
• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• +3 more

Dr. Leanne Williams is the inaugural Vincent V.C. Woo Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Director of the Stanford Center for Precision Mental Health and Wellness at Stanford University School of Medicine. She serves as Associate Chair of Translational Neuroscience within the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and holds a joint appointment as Director of the Precision Medicine Core at the Palo Alto VA Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center. Previously, she was Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry and Director of the Brain Dynamics Center at Sydney Medical School. Dr. Williams completed her PhD with a British Council Scholarship for study at Oxford University. Her academic journey reflects a deep commitment to advancing neuroscience and psychiatry through rigorous research and innovative approaches to mental health care. Dr. Williams has pioneered a precision neuroscience approach for application in psychiatry, grounded in a taxonomy of biotypes for depression and anxiety. Her research integrates neuroimaging, behavioral, and clinical measures with computational approaches to refine and expand precision mental health. She focuses on understanding how circuit disruptions in the brain are shaped by early life experience, daily function, and genetic contributions. Her work spans multiple neural circuits including the default mode network, salience network, and cognitive control circuits, with applications for depression, anxiety, and attention disorders. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on translating neuroscience insights into clinical practice. Key trends include the development of brain circuit biomarkers for depression subtypes, investigation of novel treatments like ketamine and psilocybin, and the application of advanced computational models to personalize mental health care. Her work bridges multiple disciplines including psychiatry, neuroscience, genetics, and artificial intelligence to create a more precise understanding of mental disorders. Dr. Williams has received numerous prestigious awards including: The Perry Award (2025) Educator Award from the Society of Biological Psychiatry (2023) Chairman's Senior Faculty Mentor Award from Stanford School of Medicine (2023) Best Female Scientist Award (top 1000 worldwide, 2022-2024) Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (2017) Ernst Strüngmann Award (2012) Dr. Williams mentors numerous students and researchers, serving as Postdoctoral Faculty Sponsor for Jeesung Ahn, Ellie Beam, and Liangfang Li, and as Doctoral Dissertation Advisor for Divya Rajasekharan. Her research programs are supported by significant funding from the National Institutes of Health, including an $18 million grant to diagnose and treat depression. She has published over 388 scientific papers and authored the first book on Precision Psychiatry, demonstrating her leadership in translating research into practical clinical applications. Dr. Williams directs the PanLab for Personalized and Translational Neuroscience within the Stanford Center for Precision Mental Health and Wellness. She leads multiple research initiatives including the ACE-D project (Accelerating Cognition-guided signatures to Enhance translation in Depression), which aims to develop personalized tools based on individual brain patterns for 4,500 participants. Her BRAINnet initiative creates a collaborative human clinical neuroscience network, and she serves on multiple scientific advisory boards advancing precision mental health approaches globally.

• Latent Variable Modelling
• Structural Equation Models
• Latent Growth Curve Models
• +4 more

Nicholas Shryane is a Lecturer in Social Statistics at the School of Social Sciences, University of Manchester, and a member of the Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research. He has been at the University since 2004, previously working as an applied/occupational psychologist at City and Hull Universities. His research focuses on latent variable modeling to understand psychosocial systems, mental health, and social enfranchisment. He specializes in statistical methods including Structural Equation Models, Latent Growth Curve Models, and Mixed Multinomial Logit Models. His work addresses topics like mental health correlates, socioeconomic impacts, and climate change attitudes. He has supervised at least one PhD student, J. Whillans, on temporal organization in independent singles' lifestyles. Recent publications span structural brain correlates of depression, climate change risk perceptions linked to income, and evaluations of online mental health forums. He collaborates on interdisciplinary projects related to ethnicity, migration, and lifelong health. His research contributes to UN SDGs on health, well-being, and sustainable communities.

Anna FisherView profile

Associate Professor

• Cognitive Science
• Developmental Psychology
• Learning Science
• +4 more

Anna Fisher is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, affiliated with the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Her research focuses on cognitive development, particularly how children learn, generalize knowledge, and the role of selective sustained attention in academic settings. She explores uniquely human cognitive abilities like category-based reasoning and applies insights to improve educational practices. Her expertise spans cognitive science, developmental psychology, and learning science. Key research themes include semantic development, inductive generalization, and the interplay between attention and learning. Recent work examines classroom environments' impact on attention allocation and the use of gamification and neuroimaging (fNIRS) to assess executive function in young children. Publications highlight contributions to understanding attention dynamics, semantic networks, and educational interventions. Her Cognitive Development Lab develops paradigms like the TrackIt task to measure sustained attention and investigates exergame effects on cognitive skills. Findings emphasize optimizing visual environments and book design to enhance children's comprehension and focus. Current projects explore longitudinal neurodevelopmental pathways using multimethod approaches and validate remote assessment tools for semantic differentiation. Her work bridges theoretical cognitive science with practical educational applications, aiming to refine learning strategies for young learners.

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neural Mechanisms
• +4 more

Earl K. Miller is the Picower Professor of Neuroscience at MIT, with appointments in The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory and the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. He holds a B.A. from Kent State University and M.A./Ph.D. from Princeton University. His research focuses on neural mechanisms underlying cognition, including working memory, attention, and executive control. Miller's work integrates experimental and computational approaches to understand cognitive processes and disorders like autism and schizophrenia. Education: B.A., Kent State University M.A./Ph.D., Princeton University Research interests emphasize prefrontal cortex function, 'mixed selectivity' neurons, and neural dynamics. His lab explores how cortical networks support goal-directed behavior through techniques like neurophysiology and computational modeling. Notable contributions include theories on rule learning and the role of brain wave frequencies in cognition. Awards include the Goldman-Rakic Prize (2016), George A. Miller Prize (2019), and an honorary Doctor of Science (2020). He also funds scholarships for first-generation college students at Kent State. Teaching includes MIT's Cognitive Neuroscience (9.10) and Systems Neuroscience (9.011) courses. His lab collaborates on projects like neural oscillations and anesthesia's effects on cortical dynamics.

• Neurosciences
• Psychology
• Cognitive Sciences
• +3 more

Kyoko Tossell is a Researcher in the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College London, affiliated with the Faculty of Natural Sciences. She holds a PhD from University College London. Her research focuses on neurosciences, psychology, cognitive sciences, clinical sciences, oncology, and biochemistry. Dr. Tossell’s work explores sleep regulation mechanisms, neuronal gene expression dynamics, and neuropsychiatric disorder pathophysiology. She investigates somatostatin neurons’ role in sleep initiation, NMDA receptor functions in sleep stages, and cohesin’s role in chromatin-dependent gene expression. Her studies also address dopamine dysregulation in schizophrenia using ketamine models. Her publications highlight advanced techniques like neuroimaging and in situ analysis to study neuronal circuits and molecular markers. Key themes include sleep deprivation effects on neural circuits, MAPK signaling in reward processing, and ketamine-induced dopamine synthesis changes. Tossell’s interdisciplinary approach bridges molecular biology with clinical neuroscience, contributing to understanding sleep disorders, psychiatric conditions, and neurodegenerative mechanisms. No scientific awards or grants are explicitly listed in the provided text. Her work involves collaborations across disciplines, though specific labs or teams are not detailed here.

Avi AdhikariView profile

Associate Professor

• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Anxiety Disorders
• Neural Circuits
• +3 more

Avi Adhikari is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles , affiliated with the Department of Psychology. His research investigates the neural circuits underlying emotional behaviors such as fear and anxiety, with a focus on interactions between brain regions and their role in hormonal, physiological, and behavioral adaptations. Education: Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Columbia University Research Focus : Using techniques like optogenetics, calcium imaging, and electrophysiology, Dr. Adhikari's lab explores how brain networks coordinate threat-induced defensive actions, aiming to uncover mechanisms for panic disorders and eating disorders caused by dysregulation of food-seeking circuits. His work has identified neural pathways controlling anxiety symptoms and escape behaviors. Publications : Recent studies highlight the basomedial amygdala's role in anxiety, distributed circuits in emotional states, and hippocampal-prefrontal synchronization during fear responses. These emphasize his contributions to understanding neural dynamics in emotional and motivational systems. Scientific Awards : No explicitly mentioned awards. Advising & Grants : The lab trains next-generation scientists in neuroscience but provides no specific details on students or grants. Labs & Teams : Leads the Avi Adhikari Lab at UCLA, focusing on breakthrough discoveries in anxiety and fear through interdisciplinary approaches.

Jesse RissmanView profile

Professor

• Cognitive Psychology
• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Memory Encoding
• +3 more

Jesse Rissman is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles . His research focuses on the interplay between goal-directed attention and memory across short and long timescales. Primary Area: Cognitive Psychology Secondary Area: Behavioral Neuroscience He employs advanced fMRI techniques to analyze neural systems in human memory, emphasizing dynamic brain region interactions and distributed activity patterns. His work includes studying value-directed memory encoding, virtual reality applications in memory retention, and the neural basis of episodic retrieval. Recent publications highlight methodologies like behavioral representational similarity analysis, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and multivoxel pattern classification. These studies explore memory differentiation, brain network modularity, and hippocampal roles in associative retrieval. For detailed information, visit the Rissman Memory Lab website.

Sergio Della SalaView profile

Professor

• Cognitive Neuropsychology
• Amnesia
• Visuo-Spatial Neglect
• +5 more

Professor Sergio Della Sala holds a chair in Psychology at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences. He previously served as Professor of Neuropsychology at the University of Aberdeen (1994–2004) and held senior roles in Italy, including at the University of Milan. His research focuses on cognitive neuropsychology, particularly amnesia, visuo-spatial neglect, apraxia, and Alzheimer’s disease. He has authored/co-authored numerous books, including Cases of Amnesia and Neuroscience in Education: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly . Education: MD (University of Milan, 1980), Post-doctoral degree in Psychobiology (University of Milan, 1989), and visiting positions at Cambridge University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the British Psychology Society. His awards include the Tam Dalyell Prize for public engagement with science. Research interests span memory disorders, cognitive deficits in neurodegenerative diseases, and neuropsychological testing. He has supervised over 10 PhD students and led projects funded by Alzheimer Scotland, the Wellcome Trust, and others. Key contributions include the VATA-ADL test for anosognosia and investigations into long-term forgetting. He also advocates for scientific integrity and critiques misuse of neuroscience in education. Current roles include editorship of Cortex and leadership in organizations like the British Neuropsychological Society. His work bridges clinical practice and theoretical neuroscience, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration.

Paul HoffmanView profile

Professor

• Semantic Cognition
• Cognitive Neuropsychology
• Neuroimaging
• +5 more

Paul Hoffman is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Edinburgh's School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences. He holds a PhD in Cognitive Neuropsychology from the University of Manchester (2008) and has held roles including Visiting Scholar at Stanford University (2013) and Research Fellow at the Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology. His research focuses on semantic cognition, exploring conceptual knowledge, executive control, and neural mechanisms using neuroimaging, computational models, and TMS. He has been awarded the BNS Elizabeth Warrington Prize (2013). Teaching responsibilities include organizing the Critical Analysis undergraduate course and Specialist Techniques in Cognitive Neuroscience postgraduate course. He actively supervises PhD students (current: 7; past: 3), co-edited a Neuropsychologia special issue, and serves on academic committees. His research highlights aging effects on semantic networks, collaborative learning in older adults, and neural substrates of discourse coherence. He is affiliated with the Edinburgh Centre for Cognitive Ageing and regularly contributes to interdisciplinary discussions on semantic cognition. Key research areas include semantic dementia, executive control deficits, and semantic diversity metrics. He uses fMRI, TMS, and computational linguistics to investigate semantic processing across age groups and patient populations. Collaborative work spans neuropsychological studies, neuroimaging meta-analyses, and clinical applications of semantic knowledge assessment.

Silvia BungeView profile

Professor

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Brain Plasticity
• +3 more

Silvia Bunge is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. She earned her Ph.D. from Stanford University and specializes in Cognitive Neuroscience, focusing on the development and plasticity of higher cognitive functions in humans, including reasoning, learning, memory, and goal-directed behavior. Her research also explores how education and environmental factors influence cognitive development across childhood and adolescence. Her laboratory, the Building Blocks of Cognition Laboratory, investigates core cognitive processes through behavioral, eye-tracking, and neuroimaging experiments. Key studies include longitudinal investigations of neural changes underlying cognitive development (ages 6–19) and the effects of experience-dependent plasticity in brain function. Recent work emphasizes the role of brain structure (e.g., sulcal morphology) in reasoning ability and executive functions. Bunge teaches undergraduate and graduate courses, including Psych 125: The Developing Brain and Psych 240B: Developmental Proseminar . She is actively involved in mentoring and has co-authored a foundational textbook, Fundamentals of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience . Current projects include the Illuminating the Brain Consortium, leveraging functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to study neural bases of cognition in early childhood and diverse populations. Her research highlights the interplay between genetic and environmental factors in shaping cognitive trajectories, emphasizing the importance of education and home environments. Ongoing studies explore how schooling impacts cognitive control and brain activation in children, with a focus on neurodevelopmental disparities linked to socioeconomic status.

Laura DenardoView profile

Assistant Professor

• Neuroscience
• Cortical Circuits
• Medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC)
• +4 more

Laura Denardo, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA. She holds a dual BA in Molecular and Cell Biology and Art Practice from UC Berkeley (2007) and a PhD in Neurosciences from UC San Diego (2013). Her postdoctoral work at Stanford University with Dr. Liqun Luo focused on cortical microcircuits and the development of the TRAP2 tool for activity-dependent genetic labeling. Her research investigates medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) circuit organization and function in health and psychiatric disorders. Research Interests : The DeNardo lab studies how mPFC circuits mediate adaptive behaviors like fear memory and avoidance. They explore developmental mechanisms of mPFC circuits and their vulnerability to disorders like anxiety and autism. Techniques include viral-genetic tools, transgenic mice, and whole-brain imaging. Recent Article Trends : Recent work highlights mPFC circuit dynamics in threat avoidance, hypothalamic aggression circuits, and microglial roles in synaptic development. Her 2025 studies reveal developmental changes in fear memory networks and top-down circuit architectures. Awards : 2024 Vallee Scholar Award 2021 Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship 2019 BBRF Young Investigator Award 2017 McKnight Endowment Fellowship Lab & Grants : The DeNardo lab opened at UCLA in 2019. Current grants include NIH awards (NIMH, NINDS) and foundation support. They collaborate on projects linking mPFC dysfunction to psychiatric diseases.