News from the Lab

Anticevic Lab receives the NIH 2012 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award

Recent trends show an increase in the length of the traditional scientific training period with a concomitant increase in the age at which scientists establish independent research careers. Although traditional post-doctoral training is likely to be appropriate for the large majority of new Ph.D.s and M.D.s, there is a pool of talented junior scientists who have the intellect, scientific creativity, drive and maturity to flourish independently without the need for traditional post-doctoral training. Reducing the amount of time these scientists spend in training would provide them the opportunity to start highly innovative research programs as early in their careers as possible. It would also allow host institutions to invigorate their scientific communities by integrating the fresh perspectives brought by the junior investigators.

PROJECT: Characterizing Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia via Computational Modeling and Pharmacological Neuroimaging

Anticevic Lab is awarded a 5-year grant to better characterize the neural mechanisms behind cognitive impairment in schizophrenia via the combination of pharmacological neuroimaging, computational modeling and non-invasive neuroimaging of clinical populations. The pharmacological work is done collaboratively with Dr. John H. Krystal and Dr. Peter T. Morgan. Computational modeling is being developed collaboratively with Dr. Xiao-Jing Wang and John D. Murray. Read the Yale Press Release. Read the NIH Press Release. See the full list of 2012 EIA Recipients. Learn more about the NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (DP5). Read the WashU Press Release.


Connectivity Study Focused on Prefrontal Cortex to Appear on Biological Psychiatry Cover

Manuscript: Anticevic, A., Brumbaugh, M.S., Winkler, A.M., Lombardo, L.E., Barrett, J., Corlett, P.R., Kober, H., Gruber, J., Repovs, G., Cole, M.W., Krystal, J.H., Pearlson, G.D., & Glahn, D.C. (2013). Global prefrontal and fronto-amygdala dysconnectivity in bipolar I disorder with psychosis history. Biological Psychiatry. 73(6):565-73. [LINK] 

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Pathophysiological models of bipolar disorder postulate that mood dysregulation arises from fronto-limbic dysfunction, marked by reduced prefrontal cortex (PFC) inhibitory control. This might occur due to both disruptions within PFC networks and abnormal inhibition over subcortical structures involved in emotional processing. However, no study has examined global PFC dysconnectivity in bipolar disorder and tested whether regions with within-PFC dysconnectivity also exhibit fronto-limbic connectivity deficits. Furthermore, no study has investigated whether such connectivity disruptions differ for bipolar patients with psychosis history, who might exhibit a more severe clinical course. METHODS: We collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging at 3T in 68 remitted bipolar I patients (34 with psychosis history) and 51 demographically matched healthy participants. We employed a recently developed global brain connectivity method, restricted to PFC (rGBC). We also independently tested connectivity between anatomically defined amygdala and PFC. RESULTS: Bipolar patients exhibited reduced medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) rGBC, increased amygdala-mPFC connectivity, and reduced connectivity between amygdala and dorsolateral PFC. All effects were driven by psychosis history. Moreover, the magnitude of observed effects was significantly associated with lifetime psychotic symptom severity. CONCLUSIONS: This convergence between rGBC, seed-based amygdala findings, and symptom severity analyses highlights that mPFC, a core emotion regulation region, exhibits both within-PFC dysconnectivity and connectivity abnormalities with limbic structures in bipolar illness. Furthermore, lateral PFC dysconnectivity in patients with psychosis history converges with published work in schizophrenia, indicating possible shared risk factors. Observed dysconnectivity in remitted patients suggests a bipolar trait characteristic and might constitute a risk factor for phasic features of the disorder.




ICANA-3 Conference held at Yale University

alt textTHE 3rd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON APPLICATIONS OF NEUROIMAGING TO ALCOHOLISM (ICANA-3)  was held on the Medical Campus of Yale University in New Haven, CT, USA, on February 15-18, 2013. ICANA is supported by the NIAAA Center for the Translational Neuroscience of Alcoholism (CTNA) and a donation from Siemens. Cutting edge functional and molecular neuroimaging and clinical correlates were highlighted. Sessions combined focus on neuroimaging methodology and clinical applications.

Yale and CTNA host 3rd International Conference on Applications of Neuroimaging to Alcoholism (ICANA-3)

Dr. Alan Anticevic co-organized ICANA-3 with Dr. John Krystal, which brought together neuroimagers with diverse technical and clinical expertise to consider methodological applications to alcoholism. A distinctive feature of the design of this meeting is its focus on multi-modality imaging (sMRI, DTI, fMRI, MRS, PET, SPECT), promoting interdisciplinary crosstalk with clinical applications. As with past conferences, ICANA-3 highlights “hot” issues in the field for special focus and emerging technologies within each neuroimaging modality. Plenary lectures were given by Dr. David Van Essen, Dr. Nora Volkow and Dr. Alan Koretsky. Complete conference program can be found here.




Dr. Anticevic met with NIH Director - Dr. Francis Collins

alt textDr. Anticevic is officially awarded the 5 year $1.25M grant to support research focused on characterizing cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.
2nd Annual NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (DP5) Symposium

Dr. Anticevic is officially awarded the 5 year $1.25M grant to support research focused on characterizing cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. For more details and pictures from the 2012 EIA Symposium go here.





Dr. Anticevic wins the 2013 International Congress on Schizophrenia Research Young Investigator Award

The INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH is a biennial meeting where scientists representing the broad range of disciplines involved with discovery in schizophrenia gather to exchange data, techniques, and ideas. Many scientists are current contributors to the scientific literature. Participation in the poster, oral and symposia sessions is active.

Dr. Anticevic to present at The INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH

The INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH is a biennial meeting where scientists representing the broad range of disciplines involved with discovery in schizophrenia gather to exchange data, techniques, and ideas. Anticevic Lab will present a talk titled:"Elucidating Mechanisms of Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia via Pharmacological Neuroimaging and Computational Modeling"


Anticevic Lab interviewed by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Data source: Alan Anticevic, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine. Illustration by James Hilston, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mysteries of the Mind: Researchers take aim at schizophrenia's thinking problems

Some research suggests that people with [schizophrenia] have a particular network in their brains that is too noisy. Alan Anticevic, a research scientist at Yale University, said that the better people can suppress their default network, the more they can focus on a demanding task. While even some people without mental illness have trouble accomplishing this switch, those with schizophrenia seem to have a particularly difficult time, he said. Read more

Relevant publication:
Anticevic, A., Cole, M.W., Murray, J. D., Corlett, P.R., Wang, X-J., & Krystal, J.H. (2012). The role of default network deactivation in cognition and disease. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 16(12):584-92.


Dozen young Yale scientists honored for promising mental health research

Anticevic Lab awarded the NARSAD 2012 YI Award

Anticevic Lab awarded the NARSAD 2012 YI Award

Twelve Yale investigators were among 202 researchers to receive Young Investigator Grants from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (formerly NARSAD). The $11.9 million program helps support researchers with promising ideas about how to understand and treat mental illness. Receiving up to $60,000 over two years, the investigators pursue brain and behavior research related to depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and anxiety disorders like obsessive-compulsive and post-traumatic stress disorders. “The NARSAD Young Investigator Grants have led to groundbreaking and important new research that has improved the lives of people living with mental illness through enhanced treatments and therapies and a better understanding of the causes of mental illness,” said Benita Shobe, president and CEO of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. NARSAD Young Investigator Grants have proven to be catalysts for additional funding once the Young Investigators have “proof of concept” for their hypotheses. Read more