Adjunct Faculty
Adjunct faculty typically have an academic or research appointment at another institution and contribute or collaborate with one or more School of Medicine faculty members or programs.
Adjunct rank detailsAlecia Dager, PhD
Assistant Professor (Adjunct) of PsychiatryDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Assistant Professor (Adjunct) of Psychiatry
Biography
Dr. Dager completed her Ph.D. in experimental psychology at the University of California San Diego, focusing on the influence of heavy marijuana use on brain functioning during adolescent neurodevelopment. She joined the faculty at Yale in 2008, serving as the Administrative Director of the Center for the Translational Neuroscience of Alcoholism. She subsequently moved to the Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, where she leads multimodal magnetic resonance imaging studies to characterize the neural precursors and consequences of substance involvement during adolescence and young adulthood.
Last Updated on October 07, 2024.
Appointments
Psychiatry
Assistant Professor AdjunctPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center
- Psychiatry
Education & Training
- PhD
- University of California, San Diego (2006)
- BA
- University of California, San Diego (2000)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
Adolescent Development; Adolescent Psychiatry; Alcohol Drinking; Alcoholism; Brain; Cognition; Functional Neuroimaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Marijuana Abuse; Marijuana Smoking; Marijuana Use; Neuroimaging; Psychiatry
ORCID
0000-0002-9693-9279
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Alecia Dager's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Alecia Dager's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Alecia Dager is interested in exploring.
Keith Hawkins, PsyD
Michael Stevens, PhD
Godfrey Pearlson, MA, MBBS
David Glahn, PhD
Patricia Simon, PhD
Ralitza Gueorguieva, PhD
30Publications
806Citations
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Alcohol Drinking
Brain
Alcoholism
Functional Neuroimaging
Marijuana Smoking
Publications
2025
A Digital Therapeutic Intervention for Inpatients With Elevated Suicide Risk
Bryan C, Simon P, Wilkinson S, Allen M, Perez J, Adler C, Moon K, Astorino L, Carpenter K, Misquitta L, Brownlowe K, Khazem L, Hay J, Starkey A, Tartaglia J, Winston H, Simpson S, Dager A, Feuerstein S. A Digital Therapeutic Intervention for Inpatients With Elevated Suicide Risk. JAMA Network Open 2025, 8: e2525809. PMID: 40779267, PMCID: PMC12334960, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.25809.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCognitive behavioral therapyActual suicide attemptsElevated suicide riskSuicidal ideationSuicide attemptsSuicide riskFollow-up suicide attemptsTrajectories of suicidal ideationRate of suicide attemptsRecurrent suicide attemptsSuicide risk assessmentSuicide attempt ratePsychiatric inpatient unitBehavioral therapySuicidal behaviorTherapeutic interventionsSupportive listeningIdeationTherapeutic groupsClinical improvementRandomized clinical trialsOutpatient treatmentAttempt rateSuicideSuicide prevention
2024
Relating depressive and manic symptomatology to 1H-MRS spectra
Choquette A, Dager A, Marjańska M, Zatony M, Pearlson G, Glahn D, Knowles E. Relating depressive and manic symptomatology to 1H-MRS spectra. Journal Of Affective Disorders Reports 2024, 16: 100774. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2024.100774.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsAnterior cingulate cortexN-acetylaspartateRight anterior cingulate cortexAssociated with maniaDepressive symptom scalesSymptom Rating ScaleProfiles of associationDisorder symptomatologyManic symptomsReduced N-acetylaspartateCingulate cortexAffective disordersNeurochemical levelsSymptom ScaleManiaCholine-containing compoundsDichotomous diagnosisMagnetic resonance spectroscopyRating ScalePotential in vivo biomarkersHippocampusIllness etiologyMagnetic resonance spectroscopy dataTotal cholineFollow-up
2023
Brain Networks and Adolescent Alcohol Use
Yip S, Lichenstein S, Liang Q, Chaarani B, Dager A, Pearlson G, Banaschewski T, Bokde A, Desrivières S, Flor H, Grigis A, Gowland P, Heinz A, Brühl R, Martinot J, Martinot M, Artiges E, Nees F, Orfanos D, Paus T, Poustka L, Hohmann S, Millenet S, Fröhner J, Smolka M, Vaidya N, Walter H, Whelan R, Schumann G, Garavan H. Brain Networks and Adolescent Alcohol Use. JAMA Psychiatry 2023, 80: 1131-1141. PMID: 37647053, PMCID: PMC10469292, DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.2949.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAlcohol Use Disorders Identification TestAlcohol use riskAlcohol misuseUse riskAlcohol use disorderMale adolescentsDisorders Identification TestSingle-site studyIntervention effortsWhole-brain patternsMean ageAlcohol use dataLeading causeMagnetic resonance imaging dataMAIN OUTCOMEReward-related processesHigh riskSeparate cohortUse disordersAlcohol consumptionCurrent severityAdolescent neurodevelopmentAlcohol use behaviorsAlcohol useAUDIT scores
2018
Relationship between fMRI response during a nonverbal memory task and marijuana use in college students
Dager AD, Tice MR, Book GA, Tennen H, Raskin SA, Austad CS, Wood RM, Fallahi CR, Hawkins KA, Pearlson GD. Relationship between fMRI response during a nonverbal memory task and marijuana use in college students. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2018, 188: 71-78. PMID: 29754029, PMCID: PMC6756147, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.03.025.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsInferior frontal gyrusMJ usersFMRI responsesCollege studentsMemory taskMJ useFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) responsesNonverbal memory tasksLower fMRI responseRecognition memoryNeural correlatesMagnetic resonance imaging responseFrontal gyrusVisual encodingRecognition taskOccupational functioningAge 18Memory dysfunctionMarijuana useAcademic performanceLeft hippocampusHippocampal dysfunctionGroup differencesRight hippocampusTaskLongitudinal Effects of Alcohol Consumption on the Hippocampus and Parahippocampus in College Students
Meda SA, Hawkins KA, Dager AD, Tennen H, Khadka S, Austad CS, Wood RM, Raskin S, Fallahi CR, Pearlson GD. Longitudinal Effects of Alcohol Consumption on the Hippocampus and Parahippocampus in College Students. Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience And Neuroimaging 2018, 3: 610-617. PMID: 29680476, PMCID: PMC6062479, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2018.02.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAlcohol consumptionAlcohol use indicesHippocampal volume declineBrain magnetic resonanceLongitudinal effectsMemory scoresCalifornia Verbal Learning Test-IIAlcohol-induced memory blackoutsPara-hippocampusHippocampal volumeMemory blackoutsLongitudinal brainVolume declineDrinking indicesLongitudinal pipelinePoorer memory performancePoorer memory scoresHippocampusTest IICross-sectional literatureDrinking-related measuresBrainAlcohol researchMagnetic resonanceScores
2017
The effect of high-dose atorvastatin on neural activity and cognitive function
Taylor BA, Dager AD, Panza GA, Zaleski AL, Meda S, Book G, Stevens MC, Tartar S, White CM, Polk DM, Pearlson GD, Thompson PD. The effect of high-dose atorvastatin on neural activity and cognitive function. American Heart Journal 2017, 197: 166-174. PMID: 29447778, PMCID: PMC6083849, DOI: 10.1016/j.ahj.2017.10.027.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsFunctional magnetic resonance imagingGreater activationStroop color-word scoresHopkins Verbal Learning Test-RevisedFigural memory tasksStandard neuropsychological assessmentColor-Word scoreStandard neuropsychological testsBrain activation patternsNeuropsychological test scoresSternberg taskBrain neural activationMemory taskFMRI taskTask versionsNeuropsychological testsNeural activationNeuropsychological assessmentCognitive testingEffect of statinsCognitive functionSignificant group-time interactionNeural activityBilateral precuneusClock TestHeavy Drinking in College Students Is Associated with Accelerated Gray Matter Volumetric Decline over a 2 Year Period
Meda SA, Dager AD, Hawkins KA, Tennen H, Raskin S, Wood RM, Austad CS, Fallahi CR, Pearlson GD. Heavy Drinking in College Students Is Associated with Accelerated Gray Matter Volumetric Decline over a 2 Year Period. Frontiers In Behavioral Neuroscience 2017, 11: 176. PMID: 29033801, PMCID: PMC5627037, DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00176.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsAbstainers/light drinkersHeavy drinking groupBrain regionsLight drinkersDrinking groupHeavy drinkingSignificant public health issueSignificant GMV decreaseGray matter changesYear followup periodHarmful alcohol usePublic health issueMedial frontal gyrusLongitudinal effectsFollowup periodGMV decreaseMean agePoints 24 monthsBrain MRIMatter changesNeurodevelopmental periodAlcohol consumptionAnterior cingulateTissue lossHeavy drinkersLongitudinal influence of alcohol and marijuana use on academic performance in college students
Meda SA, Gueorguieva RV, Pittman B, Rosen RR, Aslanzadeh F, Tennen H, Leen S, Hawkins K, Raskin S, Wood RM, Austad CS, Dager A, Fallahi C, Pearlson GD. Longitudinal influence of alcohol and marijuana use on academic performance in college students. PLOS ONE 2017, 12: e0172213. PMID: 28273162, PMCID: PMC5342177, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172213.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricEffects of Drinking Patterns on Prospective Memory Performance in College Students
Zamroziewicz M, Raskin SA, Tennen H, Austad CS, Wood RM, Fallahi CR, Dager AD, Sawyer B, Leen S, Pearlson GD. Effects of Drinking Patterns on Prospective Memory Performance in College Students. Neuropsychology 2017, 31: 191-199. PMID: 27841457, PMCID: PMC5280574, DOI: 10.1037/neu0000313.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAlcohol Effects QuestionnaireProspective memoryAlcohol-induced amnesiaPM taskRetrospective memoryTimeline Follow-BackCollege studentsMemory testingEvent-based PM taskTime-based PM taskMeasures of PMTime-based prospective memoryAlcohol useFourth-year college studentsYear college studentsPM itemsRM taskHeavy drinkersConsequences ScaleEffects of alcoholParticipants' abilityMental Disorders-Fourth EditionRM performanceHeavy alcohol useTraditional college students
2016
Neurobiological signatures associated with alcohol and drug use in the human adolescent brain
Silveri MM, Dager AD, Cohen-Gilbert JE, Sneider JT. Neurobiological signatures associated with alcohol and drug use in the human adolescent brain. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 2016, 70: 244-259. PMID: 27377691, PMCID: PMC5494836, DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.06.042.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAdolescent brain developmentBrain developmentNeurobiological signatureHuman adolescent brainSubstance useInitiation of alcoholInitiation of useQuantity of useAdolescent brainAdolescent alcoholProspective InvestigationDrug usersFrontal lobeDrug useCommon alterationsMR studiesBody of workBrainSecond decadeAlterationsImportant directionMR modalitiesInitiation
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