David A. Kareken

David A. Kareken is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology and Psychology at Indiana University School of Medicine. His research focuses on neuroimaging studies of addiction, olfactory processing, and neurodegenerative diseases. He uses advanced techniques like fMRI and PET to investigate brain reward circuits, dopamine dynamics, and neural responses to alcohol and odor stimuli.

Key research areas include: (1) Alcoholism neurobiology, particularly dopamine receptor availability and cue reactivity; (2) Olfactory system functioning in health and addiction; (3) Neuroimaging biomarkers for neurodegenerative conditions like Huntington disease and tauopathies. His work bridges molecular neuroimaging with behavioral neuroscience, often involving genetic polymorphism analysis.

Prominent publications explore alcohol's effects on striatal activity, familial alcoholism risk factors, and olfactory-cognitive interactions. His studies frequently involve collaboration with radiology, psychiatry, and genetics researchers at Indiana University.

Current affiliations include the IU School of Medicine's Neuroscience department and associated research institutes. His work has implications for understanding addiction mechanisms, neuropharmacological interventions, and early detection of neurodegenerative disorders.