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
Importance of Our Research