A division of the Neuroimaging Research Branch
Section Chief
Contact
Location:
Biomedical Research Center
251 Bayview Blvd
Suite 200, Room 07A711A
Baltimore, MD 21224
Phone: 443-740-2650
Fax: 443-740-2753
Email: estein@mail.nih.gov
About the Lab
The Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience of Addiction Section pursues the following objectives:
- To apply multimodal imaging technologies (DTI, fMRI, PET, MRS, EEG) to understand the neurobiological substrates of human drug abuse. Specifically, we are examining the effects of nicotine, cocaine, marijuana and ecstasy on, among other constructs, response inhibition, reward processes, decision making, attention, and working memory.
- To understand the neurobiological substrates and behavioral consequences of drug related cues.
- To develop real time fMRI biofeedback to understand the localization of and circumstances under which regional brain signals can come under individual control. Since craving intensity is related to drug seeking and taking, our goal is to develop behavioral strategies, with the aid of such biofeedback, to train subjects to better control drug cravings and reduce recidivism.
- To apply functional connectivity analysis methods to determine the neuronal circuitry critically altered in drug dependence.
- To apply advanced structural imaging and analysis techniques (e.g. DTI, DBM) to understand the consequences of long term drug use on brain structures.
- To understand drug use comorbidity in patients with Schizophrenia.