Alecia Dager, PhD
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Appointments
Psychiatry
Primary
Contact Info
Psychiatry
Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, 200 Retreat Ave., Whitehall Building
Hartford, CT 06106
United States
About
Titles
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.
Appointments
Psychiatry
Assistant Professor AdjunctPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- PhD
- University of California, San Diego (2006)
- BA
- University of California, San Diego (2000)
Research
Overview
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Adolescent Development; Adolescent Psychiatry; Alcohol Drinking; Alcoholism; Brain; Cognition; Functional Neuroimaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Marijuana Abuse; Marijuana Smoking; Marijuana Use; Neuroimaging; Psychiatry
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.
Michael Stevens, PhD
David Glahn, PhD
Godfrey Pearlson, MA, MBBS
19Publications
351Citations
Alcohol Drinking
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Alcoholism
Brain
Functional Neuroimaging
Publications
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
2014
Shared Genetic Factors Influence Amygdala Volumes and Risk for Alcoholism
Dager AD, McKay DR, Kent JW, Curran JE, Knowles E, Sprooten E, Göring H, Dyer TD, Pearlson GD, Olvera RL, Fox PT, Lovallo WR, Duggirala R, Almasy L, Blangero J, Glahn DC. Shared Genetic Factors Influence Amygdala Volumes and Risk for Alcoholism. Neuropsychopharmacology 2014, 40: 412-420. PMID: 25079289, PMCID: PMC4443955, DOI: 10.1038/npp.2014.187.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAmygdala volumeSubcortical volumesFamily historyLifetime AUDAlcohol-related damageGenetic factorsSmaller amygdala volumesPre-existing deficitsAUD riskSuch family historyStructural brain imagesBrain shrinkageDorsal striatumAlcohol abuseNeurotoxic damageVentral striatumSubcortical structuresCommon genetic factorsShared genetic factorsCommon genetic featuresUnrelated controlsMexican-American individualsGenetic featuresStriatumRiskFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) response to alcohol pictures predicts subsequent transition to heavy drinking in college students
Dager AD, Anderson BM, Rosen R, Khadka S, Sawyer B, Jiantonio‐Kelly R, Austad CS, Raskin SA, Tennen H, Wood RM, Fallahi CR, Pearlson GD. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) response to alcohol pictures predicts subsequent transition to heavy drinking in college students. Addiction 2014, 109: 585-595. PMID: 24304235, PMCID: PMC3951577, DOI: 10.1111/add.12437.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAlcohol DrinkingAlcoholic BeveragesAlcoholismAlcohol-Related DisordersBinge DrinkingBrainBrain MappingCaudate NucleusCerebral CortexCuesFactor Analysis, StatisticalFemaleFunctional NeuroimagingGyrus CinguliHumansLongitudinal StudiesMagnetic Resonance ImagingMalePhotic StimulationPrefrontal CortexRisk FactorsStudentsUniversitiesYoung AdultConceptsHeavy drinkersAlcohol-related problemsBOLD responseFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) responseBlood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) responseLevel-dependent responsesSingle brain networkSubsequent heavy drinkingPictures of alcoholBaseline factorsRisk factorsModerate drinkersBilateral caudateAnterior cingulateGreater riskOrbitofrontal cortexHeavy drinkingYoung adultsDrinkersDrinking amountGroup differencesBaselineAlcohol cuesLongitudinal studyNeural responsesOn the Mismeasurement of Impulsivity: Trait, Behavioral, and Neural Models in Alcohol Research among Adolescents and Young Adults
King K, Patock-Peckham J, Dager A, Thimm K, Gates J. On the Mismeasurement of Impulsivity: Trait, Behavioral, and Neural Models in Alcohol Research among Adolescents and Young Adults. Current Addiction Reports 2014, 1: 19-32. DOI: 10.1007/s40429-013-0005-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsBehavioral impulsivityTrait modelNeural modelDefinition of impulsivityShared theoretical frameworkTwo-factor modelAlcohol use riskAlcohol researchEmotion dysregulationEffortful controlImpulsigenic traitsImpulsive choiceMotivational driveDevelopmental researchImpulsivityPsychosocial traitsDevelopmental modelYoung adulthoodBehavioral researchAlcohol useGeneral underrepresentationYoung adultsEmpirical connectionUse riskBehavioral model- King, K.M., Patok-Peckham, J.A., Dager, A.D., Thimm, K., & Gates, J.R. (2014). On the mis-measurement of impulsivity: Trait, behavioral, and neural models in alcohol research among adolescents and young adults. Current Addiction Reports, 1(1), 19 – 32.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2013
fMRI response during figural memory task performance in college drinkers
Dager AD, Jamadar S, Stevens MC, Rosen R, Jiantonio-Kelly RE, Sisante JF, Raskin SA, Tennen H, Austad CS, Wood RM, Fallahi CR, Pearlson GD. fMRI response during figural memory task performance in college drinkers. Psychopharmacology 2013, 231: 167-179. PMID: 23949205, PMCID: PMC3877735, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-013-3219-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAlcohol DrinkingAlcoholismBrain MappingData Interpretation, StatisticalFemaleFrontal LobeHippocampusHumansImage Processing, Computer-AssistedMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMemoryOxygenParietal LobePsychomotor PerformanceReaction TimeRecognition, PsychologyVisual PerceptionYoung AdultConceptsFunctional magnetic resonance imagingAlcohol use disorderBOLD responseBilateral posterior parietal cortexMemory task performanceHeavy-drinking college studentsInferior frontal activationRight dorsolateral prefrontalCorrect encodingWorse memory performanceDefault mode regionsIncorrect encodingAlcohol-related impairmentMemory-related areasHeavy drinkersGreater BOLD responseLight drinkersPosterior parietal cortexBlood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imagingQuantity/frequencyLevel-dependent functional magnetic resonance imagingInsula responseNeural correlatesFigural memoryFrontal activationInfluence of Alcohol Use on Neural Response to Go/No-Go Task in College Drinkers
Ahmadi A, Pearlson GD, Meda SA, Dager A, Potenza MN, Rosen R, Austad CS, Raskin SA, Fallahi CR, Tennen H, Wood RM, Stevens MC. Influence of Alcohol Use on Neural Response to Go/No-Go Task in College Drinkers. Neuropsychopharmacology 2013, 38: 2197-2208. PMID: 23670589, PMCID: PMC3773670, DOI: 10.1038/npp.2013.119.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSupplementary motor areaHeavy drinkersLight drinkersCollege-age drinkersAlcohol useResponse inhibitionBlood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) responseHeavy alcohol drinkersImportant risk factorBilateral middle frontal gyrusAlcohol use disorderBrain activityAnterior cingulate cortexGreater BOLD responseLevel-dependent responsesMiddle frontal gyrusSuperior temporal gyrusImpaired response inhibitionAlcohol drinkersRisk factorsResponse inhibition taskRight hippocampusMotor areaWarrants additional investigationBilateral parietal lobulesChapter 36 Addiction and the Human Adolescent Brain
Dager A, Squeglia L, Castro N, Tapert S. Chapter 36 Addiction and the Human Adolescent Brain. 2013, 353-364. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-398335-0.00036-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsAdolescent brainSubstance useTests of memoryHuman adolescent brainAdolescent substance useCritical neurodevelopmental periodConsequences of addictionExecutive functioningMaturation of systemsVisuospatial skillsSubstance experimentationHigher-order processesDevelopmental trajectoriesNeural riskNeurodevelopmental changesIntervention programsNeurodevelopmental periodRisky behaviorsLimbic regionsNegative consequencesProblematic useAdolescencePoor performanceGreater vulnerabilityAddiction
2012
Influence of Alcohol Use and Family History of Alcoholism on Neural Response to Alcohol Cues in College Drinkers
Dager AD, Anderson BM, Stevens MC, Pulido C, Rosen R, Jiantonio‐Kelly R, Sisante J, Raskin SA, Tennen H, Austad CS, Wood RM, Fallahi CR, Pearlson GD. Influence of Alcohol Use and Family History of Alcoholism on Neural Response to Alcohol Cues in College Drinkers. Alcohol Clinical And Experimental Research 2012, 37: e161-e171. PMID: 23078363, PMCID: PMC3548054, DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2012.01879.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAlcohol cue reactivityFamily historyHeavy drinkersCue reactivityLight drinkersHeavy drinkingMagnetic resonance imaging responseBOLD responseBlood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) contrastAlcohol cuesVisual association regionsAlcohol use disorderAlcohol imagesFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) responsesMedial frontal cortexGreater BOLD responseLevel-dependent contrastTemporo-parietal regionsRisk factorsFrontal cortexDorsal striatumUse disordersAnterior cingulateBeverage imagesImaging response
2011
Neural correlates of verbal learning in adolescent alcohol and marijuana users.
Schweinsburg AD, Schweinsburg BC, Nagel BJ, Eyler LT, Tapert SF. Neural correlates of verbal learning in adolescent alcohol and marijuana users. Addiction (Abingdon, England) 2011, 106: 564-73. PMID: 21134014, PMCID: PMC3423457, DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03197.x.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
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Psychiatry
Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, 200 Retreat Ave., Whitehall Building
Hartford, CT 06106
United States