معرفی
Rachel Alison Adcock is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neurobiology, and Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University. She is also a Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, an Affiliate of the Center for Brain Imaging and Analysis, and a Member of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience since 2007.
- Ph.D. and M.D. in Neurobiology from Yale University (1999)
- Undergraduate degree in psychology from Emory University
- Psychiatry residency training at Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute at UC-San Francisco
- Postdoctoral research at UC-SF, San Francisco VA Medical Center, and Stanford
Dr. Adcock's research program focuses on understanding how brain systems for motivation support learning and using mechanistic understanding of how behavior changes biology to develop new therapies for early interventions for mental illness. Her work integrates cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and neurobiology to investigate how motivational states influence memory formation, decision-making processes, and risk perception. She employs advanced neuroimaging techniques, particularly real-time fMRI neurofeedback, to explore dopaminergic networks and their role in cognitive processes.
Her recent publications (2021-2025) demonstrate a strong concentration on motivational states, memory formation, risk perception (particularly related to the pandemic), event segmentation, and the neural mechanisms underlying learning and decision making. Several studies examine how instructed motivational states bias reinforcement learning and memory formation, while others investigate curiosity dynamics and information seeking. Her work also addresses practical applications, such as improving risk perception during the pandemic through interactive tools.
- Sloan Research Fellowship-Neuroscience from Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (2008)
- NARSAD awards
- 2012 National Academy of Sciences Seymour Benzer Lectureship
- 2015 ABAI BF Skinner Lectureship
Dr. Adcock has secured substantial funding for her research, serving as principal investigator or co-investigator on numerous grants from NIDA, NIMH, NSF, and private foundations. Her current grants include the Neurobiology Training Program (2024-2029), Duke-NCCU Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Training Program in Child Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Conditions (2024-2029), and Duke University Psychiatry Physician-Scientist Residency Training Program (2024-2029). These projects support doctoral and postdoctoral training in neuroscience, psychiatry, and related fields, reflecting her commitment to mentoring the next generation of researchers.
Dr. Adcock leads the Motivated Memory Lab at Duke University, where she and her team investigate the neural mechanisms underlying motivation, memory, and decision making. Her lab has made significant contributions to understanding how dopaminergic systems support learning and memory formation, particularly through the use of real-time fMRI neurofeedback techniques. The lab's work bridges basic cognitive neuroscience with clinical applications, particularly in the areas of mental health interventions and risk perception.
