Division of Neurotherapeutics

Our focus is on neurotherapeutic interventions for severe, treatment-resistant psychiatric illnesses. We focus in particular on major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Our research spans mechanistic studies, clinical trials and device-based interventions employing a variety of techniques, including neuroimaging and electrophysiology. We also provide clinical services and surgical treatments for psychiatric illness.

Our work utilizes functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and deep brain stimulation (DBS) to further understanding of psychiatric illness and treatment.

Research Projects

Transformative Restoration of Affective Networks by Systematic, Function-oriented, Real-time Modeling and Deep Brain Stimulation (TRANSFORM DBS)

This multi-year integrated translational neuro-engineering project proposes to co-develop a new deep brain stimulation (DBS) system that actively senses a patient's brain activity, delivers electrical stimulation, and adjusts that stimulation in real time based on the brain's electrical response. These "closed loop" systems offer tremendous potential for bringing new hope to patients living with severe mental illness, especially particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and addiction.

TRANSFORM DBS will create a new generation of medical devices that actively sense a patient's brain activity, deliver electrical stimulation, then adjust that stimulation in real time based on the brain's electrical response. These "closed loop" systems offer tremendous potential for bringing new hope to patients living with severe mental illness. Learn More

EMOTE-DBS: ON/OFF Stimulation, Reward Motivation, and Impulsivity in Patients with Deep Brain Stimulators

While past studies have been successful in identifying functional and neurochemical correlates of individual differences in reward motivation and impulsivity, assessment of causal mechanisms has remained elusive due to the inherent limitations of human neuroscience methods. Here, we test the causal role of human mesolimbic circuitry in reward motivation and impulsivity by examining a cohort of patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) within the ventral striatum. We examine behavior on and off stimulation across a range of tasks that index different forms of learning and motivation.

The long-term goal of this line of research is to help identify the neural circuitry underlying motivation for positive experiences, so as to better understand the etiopathophysiology of anhedonia and motivational deficits found across numerous psychiatric patient populations.

High Resolution MRI in Cingulotomy and Capsulotomy Patients

The purpose of this study is to examine patterns of connection and activation in brain regions of patients who have received or will receive cingulotomy or capsulotomy for treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The purpose of this investigation is to use high resolution MRI, specifically diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), as well as resting state MRI, to look at the connection patterns in patients who have been treated with cingulotomy or capsulotomy for MDD or OCD, as compared to healthy controls.

Transdiagnostic Treatment of Anxiety and Bipolar I Disorder

Currently in the analysis stage, this project seeks to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy with the Unified Protocol in treating a full range of anxiety and unipolar mood disorders in individuals with BP-I disorder and comorbid anxiety.

Further, the present study uses fcMRI to explore potential biomarkers of individual treatment response to this approach. By applying a transdiagnostic approach to the treatment of patients with bipolar disoder, this study may offer the possibility of treating bipolar disorder and comorbid anxiety by using a single psychosocial treatment protocol, providing a unique opportunity to investigate whether a transdiagnostic approach is also a feasible approach to treating bipolar disorder.

fMRI on the Neural Correlates of the Consciousness of Fear

The purpose of this study is to investigate the neural correlate relating to fear and how activation in these regions covaries with self-report levels of fear and galvanic skin response. In conjunction with fMRI and experimental tasks, this study also looks at the brain anatomy in patients other than the amygdala that contributes to the feeling of fear.

Postdoctoral Fellows

• Ishita Bashu, PhD
• Kristen Ellard, PhD
• Tina Chou, PhD
• Amy T. Peters, PhD

Clinical Research Coordinators

• Anish Kanabar
• Kathryn (Elie) Macadams
• Marta Migó
• Kendra Simpson
• Karianne Sretavan Wong
• Abigail Testo

Publications