Research

The Filbey Lab aims to characterize neural mechanisms related to dopaminergic-reward system dysfunction, such as substance use. We take an interdisciplinary approach and utilize a variety of techniques that include clinical interviews, physiological measures, cognitive testing, neuroimaging (EEG, MRI), neuromodulation (HDtdCS, taVNS) and genetic analysis.

Our projects take a multivariate approach that (1) defines the neural mechanisms that underlie behavioral phenomenology, then, (2) determines the individual variability that modulate these mechanisms. Our studies culminate in >800 well-characterized individuals across various populations across the lifespan.

We have several established U.S. and international collaborations including the Imaging Data in Emerging Adults with Addiction (IDEAA) Consortium (https://www.uwmbrainlab.com/research/ideaa-grant) and ENIGA Addiction (https://www.enigmaaddictionconsortium.com).

Our current studies examine the following topics:

  • The effects of cannabis use and other daily activities on sleep using ambulatory EEG
  • The influence of sociocultural environment on neurobiological mechanisms of cannabis use
  • Enhancement of cognition (i.e., executive functioning) via cognitive training and transauricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS)
  • The trajectory of cannabis effects on motor function using EEG

From left to right: Kristen Platt, Novin Nekoui, Mihir Shah, Tracy Brown, Alessandra Stagni, Carson Burke, Shakti Anand, Thamidu Bulathsinhala, Thomas Vo, Emily Flicker, Sophie Boutouis, Tyler Short and Dr. Francesca Filbey


Importance of Our Research