Krista M. Lisdahl

Dr. Krista M. Lisdahl is a Professor and Co-Director of Clinical Training in the Psychology Department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), within the College of Letters & Science. She directs the Brain Imaging and Neuropsychology (BraIN) Laboratory, focusing on neurocognitive consequences of substance use during adolescence and emerging adulthood, particularly examining marijuana, alcohol, nicotine, and ecstasy effects on brain structure/function. She holds leadership roles in large-scale neuroimaging initiatives like the ABCD Study (tracking 10,000 youth) and the IDEAA Consortium. Her research integrates structural MRI, fMRI, DTI, and imaging genetics to explore individual differences influenced by lifestyle factors like exercise and adiposity.

Education: Ph.D., University of Cincinnati, 2005. Research emphasizes predictors of substance use onset in youth and moderating effects of genetics, gender, and physical activity. Current projects include NIDA-funded studies on marijuana’s impact on frontolimbic connectivity and cardiorespiratory health’s role in substance effects. She mentors graduate students in clinical neuropsychology, emphasizing grant writing and multi-site collaboration.

Dr. Lisdahl chairs the APA Women in Neuropsychology Subcommittee. Teaching focuses on neuropsychology, psychopharmacology, and research methods. Students gain exposure to large-scale projects and publish in peer-reviewed journals, presenting at conferences. Her lab collaborates with schools to study standing desks’ impact on children’s cognition and behavior.