Current Research and Scholarly Interests
Application of neuroimaging modalities and component process analysis of cognitive, sensory, and motor functions to identify brain structural and functional mechanisms disrupted in diseases affecting the brain: alcoholism, HIV infection, dementia, and normal aging from adolescence through adulthood. Structural and functional MRI, MR spectroscopy, and MR diffusion tensor imaging are applied in animal models of alcoholism in parallel with the human studies. Multi-site research projects examine 1) the development of the adolescent brain and neuropsychological function and how initiation of hazardous drinking and consumption of other drugs of abuse alter the normal trajectory of brain structure and function (National Consortium on Alcohol and NeuroDevelopment in Adolescence: NCANDA.org); 2) the effects of high alcohol exposure on brain structure and function in animal models (Integrated Neuroscience Initiative on Alcoholism: INIA-west.org); 3) potential interaction of alcoholism and dementia.