David Matuskey, MD
Associate Professor of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Additional Titles
Director, NeuroPET Imaging Program, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
Medical Director, Yale Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Center
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Appointments
Additional Titles
Director, NeuroPET Imaging Program, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
Medical Director, Yale Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Center
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Director, NeuroPET Imaging Program, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
Medical Director, Yale Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Center
Contact Info
About
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Titles
Associate Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
Director, NeuroPET Imaging Program, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging; Medical Director, Yale Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Center
Biography
I am a board certified psychiatrist and neuropsychiatrist with research work that has been translational in nature and focused on elucidating the underlying pathology of brain conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, substance abuse and neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., Parkinson's disease) with an aim to find effective clinical treatments guided by molecular neuroimaging. Studies have included using in vivo PET imaging to investigate the role of neuroreceptors such as dopamine D3, serotonin 1B and 6, MGlur5 and kappa opioid systems, neuroinflammation, and most recently, synaptic density (SV2A) in clinical and nonclinical populations. Ongoing interests include imaging neuropsychiatric and addictive disorders and the demographic, social and environmental factors influencing our brain.
Last Updated on May 21, 2025.
Appointments
Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
Associate Professor on TermPrimaryNeurology
Assistant ProfessorSecondaryPsychiatry
Associate Professor on TermSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- All Institutions
- Bioimaging Sciences
- Center for Brain & Mind Health
- Connecticut Mental Health Center
- Mental Health PET Radioligand Development (MHPRD) Program
- Movement Disorders Division
- MR Core
- Neurology
- NeuroPET Imaging Program
- PET Core
- Psychiatric Symptoms in Neurology Research Program
- Psychiatry
- Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
- Yale Biomedical Imaging Institute
- Yale Cocaine Research Clinic
Education & Training
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Fellow
- Yale University (2010)
- Senior Resident
- Yale University (2009)
- Resident
- University of Connecticut (2008)
- MD
- St Matthew's University School of Medicine (2005)
- BA
- University of South Florida, Psychology (1998)
- BS
- University of South Florida, Biology (1998)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
Addiction Medicine; Autistic Disorder; Essential Tremor; Frontotemporal Dementia; Meditation; Mental Disorders; Molecular Imaging; Neuroimaging; Neuropsychiatry; Parkinson Disease; Social Class
Public Health Interests
Mental Health; Global Health
ORCID
0000-0001-7508-6572
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of David Matuskey's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of David Matuskey's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics David Matuskey is interested in exploring.
Nabeel Nabulsi, PhD
Richard Carson, PhD
Jean-Dominique Gallezot, PhD
Yiyun Huang, PhD
Kelly Cosgrove, PhD
Shannan Henry
99Publications
3,814Citations
Neuroimaging
Parkinson Disease
Mental Disorders
Social Class
Molecular Imaging
Frontotemporal Dementia
Publications
2026
Variance reduction with synaptic density imaging in Parkinson’s disease using direct-4D PET image reconstruction
Gravel P, Gallezot J, Fontaine K, Matuskey D, Carson R. Variance reduction with synaptic density imaging in Parkinson’s disease using direct-4D PET image reconstruction. Physics In Medicine And Biology 2026, 71: 065007. PMID: 41825140, PMCID: PMC13014069, DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ae520a.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsDose Reduction in Dynamic PET Imaging Using Self-Supervised Two-Step Deep Image Prior
Li A, Syed M, Naganawa M, Matuskey D, Carson R, Tang J. Dose Reduction in Dynamic PET Imaging Using Self-Supervised Two-Step Deep Image Prior. IEEE Transactions On Radiation And Plasma Medical Sciences 2026, PP: 1-1. DOI: 10.1109/trpms.2026.3671590.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsDynamic brain PET imagingBrain PET imagingDeep Image PriorNoise reductionDynamic framesSupervised deep learningImage priorsDenoising approachDeep learningAverage noise reductionPET imagingDynamic datasetsTraining datasetImage-basedDeep imagingSuperior tradeoffFine-tuningSignal-to-noisePatient radiation exposureActivity distributionRadiotracer doseDatasetDose reductionNoiseParametric imagesDose reduction for synaptic density PET imaging in Parkinson’s disease
Li A, Naganawa M, Honhar P, Fontaine K, Gravel P, Matuskey D, Carson R, Tang J. Dose reduction for synaptic density PET imaging in Parkinson’s disease. NeuroImage 2026, 331: 121853. PMID: 41833889, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121853.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsHealthy controlsSubstantia nigraIn vivo quantificationPET imagingDeep imagingPET doseParkinson's diseaseFull-count dataSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AC-UCB-JRecovery of correlationsDose reductionStandard doseNoise realizationsBrainstem nucleiRadiation exposureSynaptic densityRed nucleusMotor scoresDosePD patientsStatistical significanceClinical applicationBinding potentialDynamic PETSocial determinants of brain structure and cognition
Mayeli M, Matuskey D, Initiative F. Social determinants of brain structure and cognition. Social Science & Medicine 2026, 394: 119045. PMID: 41662789, PMCID: PMC13034436, DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119045.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsArea Deprivation IndexMild cognitive impairmentStructural brain differencesCognitive performanceBrain volumeBrain differencesBrain structuresMediation analysisSocial determinantsAssociated with cognitive performanceAssociated with poorer cognitive performanceNeighborhood disadvantageOlder adultsAlzheimer's diseasePoorer cognitive performanceWhite matter volumeWhite matter hyperintensity burdenHigher area deprivation indexCognitive vulnerabilityMatter volumeLanguage performanceCU individualsCognitive impairmentCognitive declineHyperintensity burdenDetection of Parkinson’s disease with neuroimaging modalities using machine learning and artificial intelligence: a systematic review
Ebrahimian Sadabad F, Honhar P, Houshi S, Nejati S, Bagherieh S, Brackett A, Yazdanpanah F, Cayir S, Hosseini M, Tagare H, Matuskey D. Detection of Parkinson’s disease with neuroimaging modalities using machine learning and artificial intelligence: a systematic review. Neurological Sciences 2026, 47: 160. PMID: 41530502, DOI: 10.1007/s10072-025-08768-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsConvolutional neural networkSupport vector machineMachine learningArtificial intelligenceDetection of Parkinson’s diseaseSuperior performanceApplication of machine learningClasses of algorithmsDopamine transporter scanMagnetic resonance imagingML/AI techniquesPositron emission tomographyNeural networkClinically relevant tasksVector machineMedical imagesEnsemble approachFunctional magnetic resonance imagingRandom forestStructural magnetic resonance imagingParkinson's diseaseHealthy controlsRelevant tasksOverall performanceAlgorithmHigher drinking frequency corresponds to lower synaptic density in people with alcohol use disorder
Zakiniaeiz Y, Raval N, Riordan W, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Pittman B, Matuskey D, Angarita G, Bonomi R, McKee S, Hillmer A, Cosgrove K. Higher drinking frequency corresponds to lower synaptic density in people with alcohol use disorder. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2026, 136 PMID: 41528802, PMCID: PMC13038192, DOI: 10.1172/jci199989.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAlcohol use disorderFrontal cortexUse disorderControl participantsSynaptic densityModerate alcohol use disorderMarker of synaptic densityPositron emission tomographyNondisplaceable binding potentialHigher drinking frequencyChronic alcohol useBrain imaging scansDrinking severityExecutive functionDrinking daysBinding potentialYears of ageBPNDDrinking frequencyAlcohol useStriatumCortexDeficitsSynaptic dysfunctionImaging scans
2025
Imaging Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 and Excitatory Neural Activity in Autism
Naples A, Yang Y, Gravel P, Toyonaga T, Sadabad F, Koohsari S, Pittman B, Gallezot J, Pisani L, Finn C, Cramer-Benjamin S, Herman N, Rosenthal L, Franke C, Walicki B, Rodden I, Hillmer A, Esterlis I, Ropchan J, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Wolf J, Carson R, McPartland J, Matuskey D. Imaging Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 and Excitatory Neural Activity in Autism. American Journal Of Psychiatry 2025, 183: 58-69. PMID: 41366835, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20241084.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsMetabotropic glutamate receptor 5Glutamate receptor 5Positron emission tomographyAutistic groupGroup differencesPositron emission tomography outcomes measurementsExcitatory neurotransmissionNeurotypical control participantsAutism spectrum disorderReceptor 5Receptor availabilityAutism phenotypeAutistic adultsBrain areasBrain regionsExcitatory neural activitySpectrum disorderControl participantsSensory sensitivityMGlu5Neural activityVenous input functionsReceptor densityAutismEEG power spectraExceptional brain PET images from the NeuroEXPLORER: scans with targeted radiopharmaceuticals and comparison to HRRT
Volpi T, Toyonaga T, Khattar N, Gallezot J, Naganawa M, Vanderlinden G, Honhar P, Zeng T, Fontaine K, Mulnix T, Hu L, Sun X, Henry S, Matuskey D, Radhakrishnan R, Guo L, Hu Y, Zhang J, Zheng X, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Badawi R, Cherry S, Hillmer A, Jones T, Liu C, Morris E, Qi J, Li H, Carson R. Exceptional brain PET images from the NeuroEXPLORER: scans with targeted radiopharmaceuticals and comparison to HRRT. European Journal Of Nuclear Medicine And Molecular Imaging 2025, 53: 2110-2121. PMID: 41177836, PMCID: PMC12860869, DOI: 10.1007/s00259-025-07605-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsStandardized uptake valueTargeted radiopharmaceuticalsDopamine systemMultiple cortical areasSerotonin transporterRaphe nucleusMeasurement of tracer uptakeBrain regionsBrain structuresSubcortical nucleiPositron emission tomographyCortical areasSynaptic densityPET researchFocal uptakePaired scansUptake valueTracer uptakePET systemGray matterEarly imagesEmission tomographyHealthy individualsTracer deliveryNeuroExplorerMeasuring Dopamine Transporter Availability and Synaptic Density in Parkinson's Disease: A Dual‐Tracer Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Study
Sadabad F, Volpi T, Honhar P, Tinaz S, Dias M, Toyonaga T, Naganawa M, Gallezot J, Yang Y, Ibrahim W, Pittman B, Cayir S, Radhakrishnan R, Angarita G, Holmes S, Comley R, Carson R, Finnema S, Matuskey D. Measuring Dopamine Transporter Availability and Synaptic Density in Parkinson's Disease: A Dual‐Tracer Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Study. Movement Disorders 2025, 40: 2678-2687. PMID: 41040062, DOI: 10.1002/mds.70041.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsC-UCB-JDopamine transporterHealthy controlsVentral striatumDisease stageSubstantia nigraSynaptic densityParkinson's diseaseDopamine transporter availabilityPositron emission tomography imaging studiesSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AAssessment of synaptic densityDopaminergic denervationBetween-group differencesTransporter availabilityBinding potentialNigrostriatal regionDisease durationDual-tracerImaging studiesPatientsPET imagingPresynaptic degenerationPD patientsDopamineCarotid Artery Image-Derived Blood Time-Activity Curves on the NeuroEXPLORER: Initial Multitracer Validation Against Arterial Sampling.
Volpi T, Gallezot J, Henry S, Dias M, Khattar N, Toyonaga T, Fontaine K, Mulnix T, Zhang J, Guo L, Gravel P, Radhakrishnan R, Hillmer A, Matuskey D, Carson R. Carotid Artery Image-Derived Blood Time-Activity Curves on the NeuroEXPLORER: Initial Multitracer Validation Against Arterial Sampling. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2025, 66: 1993-2001. PMID: 41043999, PMCID: PMC12676648, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.125.270414.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsArea under the curveCommon carotidTime-activity curvesLate area under the curveMethods:Carotid arteryRegions-of-interestResults:Blood samplesPartial volume effectsImage-derived input functionArterial blood samplesArterial input functionAlternative to arterial blood samplingBlood time-activity curvesPET kinetic modelingGold standardInput functionBackground activityArterial samplesCarotidBrain-dedicated PET scannersBrain PET
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Brain Connections & HIV Status
IRB ID2000033582RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2027Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 80 yearsMeditation and Synaptic Density
IRB ID2000030601RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date08/31/2024Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge28 years - 70 yearsM1 Schizophrenia PET Study
IRB ID2000031171RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date04/30/2023Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 55 yearsImaging cortisol metabolism in liver, adipose tissue and brain with a novel PET radioligand
IRB ID2000029576RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/30/2024Recruiting ParticipantsEligibility for Participation in Neuroimaging Studies
IRB ID2000027842RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2023Recruiting Participants
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Honors
honor NARSAD Young Investigator Award
08/07/2018National AwardBrain & Behavior Research FoundationDetailsUnited Stateshonor Michael Kuhar Travel Award
08/23/2011International AwardInternational Drug and Alcohol Research SocietyDetailsUnited Stateshonor NIDA-ISAM Travel Fellowship
01/01/2011International AwardNIDA-ISAMDetailsUnited Stateshonor NARSAD Young Investigator Award
08/01/2010National AwardBrain & Behavior Research FoundationDetailsUnited States
News
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News
- April 09, 2026
Diagnosing Dementia: Neuroimaging Technique Could Speed Detection
- January 20, 2026
Yale Study: Higher Drinking Frequency Corresponds to Lower Synaptic Density in People with Alcohol Use Disorder
- December 19, 2025
Researchers Discover Molecular Difference in Autistic Brains
- November 24, 2025
Brain Markers Could Yield Early Clues into Parkinson’s Disease
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New Haven, CT 06519