Allan L. Reiss

Clinical Focus

• Psychiatry
• Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent
• Neurodevelopmental and neurogenetic disorders

Administrative Appointments

• Director, Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research (1997 - present)
• Associate Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (2002 - present)
• Director, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (1997 - 2005)

Honors and Awards

• Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences (2009)
• Ruane Prize, NARSAD (2005)
• George Tarjan Award, American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (2005)
• Alpha Omega Alpha, George Washington University School of Medicine (1981)
• Phi Beta Kappa, Swarthmore College (1977)

Professional Education

Postdoctoral Advisees

Jessica Black , Signe Bray , Brian Haas , Jennifer Hammond , David Hong , Elizabeth Walter

Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations

• Neurology and Neurol Sciences
• Neurosciences
• Psychiatry and Behavioral Science
• Pediatrics
• Molecular and Genetic Medicine

Web Site Links

• My Lab Site

Current Research Interests

Allan L. Reiss, M.D. is the Howard C. Robbins Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research (CIBSR) at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Reiss uses advanced research methods and tools such as neuroimaging, genetic analyses and neurobehavioral assessment to focus on neurodevelopmental and neurogenetic disorders of childhood onset. In particular, he studies how genetic and environmental factors affect brain structure and function, and how this ultimately impacts the development and function of persons with these disorders. Dr. Reiss has worked extensively with individuals affected by neurogenetic disorders that increase risk for serious psychopathology including fragile X syndrome, Turner syndrome, Williams syndrome and velocardiofacial syndrome. A particularly important focus of this work is identifying gene-brain-behavior interactions that have relevance to the development of more specific and effective interventions.

A second major research focus of the CIBSR is on the neuroscience of human resilience. Work in this area includes studies of the brain basis of humor and territorial behavior. These studies are carried out in typically developing children and adults and are designed to advance our understanding of both biological and environmental influences on the development of human resilience.

Dr. Reiss’ laboratory and key collaborations serve as a model for interdisciplinary brain sciences collaboration. Research in the laboratory is carried out, or facilitated by faculty and staff from numerous fields including psychiatry, neurology, psychology, neuroscience, genetics, radiology, computer science, special education and statistics. The CIBSR is dedicated to the concept that direct interaction among individuals from these multiple disciplines will serve as the engine for substantive progress in our field.

Clinical Trials

• Randomized Controlled Study of Donepezil in Fragile X Syndrome Recruiting
• Assessment and Rehabilitation of Cognitive Impairments in Pediatric Survivors of Cancer Recruiting

Publications

• Genetic influences on sociability: heightened amygdala reactivity and event-related responses to positive social stimuli in Williams syndrome. Haas BW, Mills D, Yam A, Hoeft F, Bellugi U, Reiss A. J Neurosci. 2009; 29 (4): 1132-9
• Gender differences in the mesocorticolimbic system during computer game-play. Hoeft F, Watson CL, Kesler SR, Bettinger KE, Reiss AL. J Psychiatr Res. 2008; 42 (4): 253-8
• Morphometric spatial patterns differentiating boys with fragile X syndrome, typically developing boys, and developmentally delayed boys aged 1 to 3 years. Hoeft F, Lightbody AA, Hazlett HC, Patnaik S, Piven J, Reiss AL. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2008; 65 (9): 1087-97
• Anomalous hypothalamic responses to humor in cataplexy. Reiss AL, Hoeft F, Tenforde AS, Chen W, Mobbs D, Mignot EJ. PLoS One. 2008; 3 (5): e2225
• Sex differences in brain activation elicited by humor. Azim E, Mobbs D, Jo B, Menon V, Reiss AL. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005; 102 (45): 16496-501