Fei Wang
Associate Professor Adjunct, PsychiatryCards
Contact Info
About
Titles
Associate Professor Adjunct, Psychiatry
Research
Overview
My longstanding interest is identification of neural circuitry abnormalities using multimodal neuroimaging techniques and investigation of how genetic variations influence neural circuitry to produce the clinical phenotypes of mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. My primary research interests lie in developing novel multimodal magnetic resonance imaging techniques to characterize the critical neural circuitry abnormalities underlying these disorders and identifying the specific genetic variations that contribute to them. Our work in translational research will contribute to elucidating the neuropathophysiological mechanisms underlying the disorders, aid in the development of new methods for early detection, and importantly, improve treatment of debilitating psychiatric illnesses.
1. Methods of multimodal neuroimaging:
This project aims to use multimodal neuroimaging techniques to identify abnormalities of important neural circuitry in mental disorders. I developed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) methods to study the cingulum, a white matter structure important in cortico-limbic circuitry. My work demonstrated abnormalities in the anterior cingulum in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; however, findings demonstrate a different distribution of white matter abnormalities in the two disorders. I have also developed functional magnetic resonance imaging methods to study cortico-limbic functional connectivity to be integrated with DTI methods. Using these methodologies, I have obtained exciting findings that demonstrate altered structural and functional connectivity in cortico-limbic neural circuitry in mood disorders. Moreover, I have identified an association between structural and functional connectivity within this circuitry in bipolar disorder, providing some of the first evidence that these structural abnormalities may contribute to disruptions in the ability of the cortical region to modulate the functioning of limbic structure in mood disorders.
2. Integration of multimodal neuroimaging and molecular genetics:
This project aims to develop translational research approaches of integrating molecular genetics with multimodal neuroimaging to identify novel effects of genetic variations on cortico-limbic circuitry in mental disorders. I have reported an important finding of the influence of genetic variation in neuregulin 1 on dorsal frontotemporal white matter connection abnormalities in schizophrenia. I have also recently authored psychiatric genetic papers in mood disorders including a paper that reports a novel finding of an association between variation in the vascular endothelial growth factor gene and cortico-limbic structure and on two papers on the association between the brain-derived neurotrophic growth factor gene/serotonin transporter protein gene and cortico-limbic structure/function in bipolar disorder.
1. Methods of multimodal neuroimaging:
This project aims to use multimodal neuroimaging techniques to identify abnormalities of important neural circuitry in mental disorders. I developed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) methods to study the cingulum, a white matter structure important in cortico-limbic circuitry. My work demonstrated abnormalities in the anterior cingulum in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; however, findings demonstrate a different distribution of white matter abnormalities in the two disorders. I have also developed functional magnetic resonance imaging methods to study cortico-limbic functional connectivity to be integrated with DTI methods. Using these methodologies, I have obtained exciting findings that demonstrate altered structural and functional connectivity in cortico-limbic neural circuitry in mood disorders. Moreover, I have identified an association between structural and functional connectivity within this circuitry in bipolar disorder, providing some of the first evidence that these structural abnormalities may contribute to disruptions in the ability of the cortical region to modulate the functioning of limbic structure in mood disorders.
2. Integration of multimodal neuroimaging and molecular genetics:
This project aims to develop translational research approaches of integrating molecular genetics with multimodal neuroimaging to identify novel effects of genetic variations on cortico-limbic circuitry in mental disorders. I have reported an important finding of the influence of genetic variation in neuregulin 1 on dorsal frontotemporal white matter connection abnormalities in schizophrenia. I have also recently authored psychiatric genetic papers in mood disorders including a paper that reports a novel finding of an association between variation in the vascular endothelial growth factor gene and cortico-limbic structure and on two papers on the association between the brain-derived neurotrophic growth factor gene/serotonin transporter protein gene and cortico-limbic structure/function in bipolar disorder.
- Frontotemporal Neural Systems in Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia: This project aims to investigate differences in the distribution of brain abnormalities in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and to determine which genes may contribute to the distinct distributions.
- Structural and Functional Connectivity of the Perigenual Anterior Cingulate in Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder: This project proposes to integrate multimodal magnetic resonance imaging techniques in order to investigate the different developmental trajectories of structural and functional connections between the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex in adolescents with and without bipolar disorder.
- The Neural Circuitry of Adolescent Major Depressive Disorder: A Multi-modality Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study: This project proposes to integrate multimodal magnetic resonance imaging techniques in order to investigate the structural and functional connections between the ventral prefrontal cortex and the amygdala in adolescents with and without major depressive disorder.
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Bipolar Disorder; Depressive Disorder; Schizophrenia
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Fei Wang's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Fei Wang's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Fei Wang is interested in exploring.
Hilary Blumberg, MD
Joel Gelernter, MD
Xingguang Luo, MD
21Publications
543Citations
Bipolar Disorder
Schizophrenia
Publications
Exploring the relationship between response time sequence in scale answering process and severity of insomnia: A machine learning approach
Su Z, Liu R, Zhou K, Wei X, Wang N, Lin Z, Xie Y, Wang J, Wang F, Zhang S, Zhang X. Exploring the relationship between response time sequence in scale answering process and severity of insomnia: A machine learning approach. Heliyon 2024, 10: e33485. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33485.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsResponse time dataInsomnia Severity IndexInsomnia symptomsPsychological measuresPresence of insomnia symptomsIndividual question levelSeverity of insomniaSymptom severityPsychological evaluationResponse timeInsomniaSleep qualityMachine learning modelsSeverity IndexSymptomsQuestion levelTotal response timeParticipantsLearning modelsTime dataPotential utilityEvaluate sleep qualitySeverityMachine learning approachMobile applicationsModule control of network analysis in psychopathology
Pan C, Zhang Q, Zhu Y, Kong S, Liu J, Zhang C, Wang F, Zhang X. Module control of network analysis in psychopathology. IScience 2024, 27: 110302. DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110302.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricExamining the association of family environment and children emotional/behavioral difficulties in the relationship between parental anxiety and internet addiction in youth
Wang Y, Zhou K, Wang Y, Zhang J, Xie Y, Wang X, Yang W, Zhang X, Yang J, Wang F. Examining the association of family environment and children emotional/behavioral difficulties in the relationship between parental anxiety and internet addiction in youth. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2024, 15: 1341556. PMID: 38895031, PMCID: PMC11184946, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1341556.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAdolescent Internet addictionInternet addictionFamily environmentParental anxietyAssociation of family environmentEmotional behavior problemsRisk of Internet addictionPositive family environmentBehavioral issuesIndirect relationshipCIAS-RGAD-7Behavior problemsParental anxiety levelsEmotional/behavioral difficultiesAddictionParent-child pairsAnxietyFES-CVAnxiety levelsAdolescent issuesCorrelation analysisMultiple dimensionsChildrenSDQCharacterizing the distinct imaging phenotypes, clinical behavior, and genetic vulnerability of brain maturational subtypes in mood disorders.
Zheng J, Zong X, Tang L, Guo H, Zhao P, Womer F, Zhang X, Tang Y, Wang F. Characterizing the distinct imaging phenotypes, clinical behavior, and genetic vulnerability of brain maturational subtypes in mood disorders. Psychological Medicine 2024, 1-11. PMID: 38804091, DOI: 10.1017/s0033291724000886.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGray matter volumeMood disordersGenetic vulnerabilityDepressive disorderHeterogeneity of mood disordersRegional gray matter volumeDrug-free patientsClinical behaviorIncreased genetic vulnerabilityGenetic riskSevere depressive symptomsClinical manifestationsBipolar disorderDrug-naiveFrontal cortexPolygenic risk scoresMatter volumeDepressive symptomsNeurocognitive assessmentCognitive impairmentPrimary motor cortexBehavioral termsDisordersHealthy controlsMotor cortexRepetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Reversing Abnormal Brain Function in Mood Disorders with Early Life Stress: from preclinical models to clinical applications
Zhao T, Guo H, Yang J, Cai A, Liu J, Zheng J, Xiao Y, Zhao P, Li Y, Luo X, Zhang X, Zhu R, Wang J, Wang F. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Reversing Abnormal Brain Function in Mood Disorders with Early Life Stress: from preclinical models to clinical applications. Asian Journal Of Psychiatry 2024, 97: 104092. PMID: 38823081, DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104092.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEarly life stressFunctional magnetic resonance imagingRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulationMood disorder patientsChronic unpredictable mild stressMood disordersDisorder patientsAbnormal functional activityLife stressCross-species translational studiesImpact of early life stressFunctional magnetic resonance imaging analysisPrimary cortexRisk of mood disordersUnpredictable mild stressTargeting rTMSRTMS interventionAbnormal brain functionIncreased activityDecreased activityDepression-relatedAdolescent ratsCUMS ratsFrontal cortexMild stressFrom Connectivity to Controllability: Unraveling the Brain Biomarkers of Major Depressive Disorder
Pan C, Ma Y, Wang L, Zhang Y, Wang F, Zhang X. From Connectivity to Controllability: Unraveling the Brain Biomarkers of Major Depressive Disorder. Brain Sciences 2024, 14: 509. PMID: 38790487, PMCID: PMC11119370, DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14050509.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsMajor depressive disorderFunctional magnetic resonance imagingDepressive disorderTreatment of Major Depressive DisorderBiomarkers of major depressive disorderBrain functional networksDevelopment of precision medicine strategiesBrain regionsNetwork topology perspectiveNetwork neuroscienceBrain biomarkersBrain's abilityBrain statesPersonalized interventionsFunctional networksBrainMagnetic resonance imagingEfficacy of treatmentDisordersResonance imagingTopological perspectivePathological profileComplex dynamicsNeuroscienceLearningDigital Dietary Behaviors in Individuals With Depression: Real-World Behavioral Observation
Zhu Y, Zhang R, Yin S, Sun Y, Womer F, Liu R, Zeng S, Zhang X, Wang F. Digital Dietary Behaviors in Individuals With Depression: Real-World Behavioral Observation. JMIR Public Health And Surveillance 2024, 10: e47428. PMID: 38648087, PMCID: PMC11074900, DOI: 10.2196/47428.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsModerate-severe depressionDietary behaviorsMultivariate logistic regression analysisDepression severityMild depressionIrregular eating patternsLogistic regression analysisDetect depressionDinner patternEating breakfastMeal patternsEating patternsDaily lunchSelf-reported dataSupport vector machine analysisBehavior monitoringNaturalistic settingsVector machine analysisFood choicesDepressionProfile of changesBehavioral dataPrediction of the efficacy of group cognitive behavioral therapy using heart rate variability based smart wearable devices: a randomized controlled study
Lin Z, Zheng J, Wang Y, Su Z, Zhu R, Liu R, Wei Y, Zhang X, Wang F. Prediction of the efficacy of group cognitive behavioral therapy using heart rate variability based smart wearable devices: a randomized controlled study. BMC Psychiatry 2024, 24: 187. PMID: 38448895, PMCID: PMC10916138, DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05638-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsGroup cognitive behavioral therapyWait-list controlCognitive behavioral therapyBehavioral therapyEfficacy of group cognitive behavioral therapyGroup cognitive behavioural therapy groupDisabling mental health problemPredictors of treatment responseAssociated with greater improvementTreatment outcomesAssociated with depressionHigher heart rate variabilityMental health problemsHeart rate variabilityAnxious symptomsAnxiety symptomsParticipants' symptomsCollege studentsHRV levelsAnxietyTrial registrationThe trialSignificant public health concernDepressionGreater improvementHeart rate variability parametersDysregulated cerebral blood flow, rather than gray matter Volume, exhibits stronger correlations with blood inflammatory and lipid markers in depression
Kang L, Wang W, Nie Z, Gong Q, Yao L, Xiang D, Zhang N, Tu N, Feng H, Zong X, Bai H, Wang G, Wang F, Bu L, Liu Z. Dysregulated cerebral blood flow, rather than gray matter Volume, exhibits stronger correlations with blood inflammatory and lipid markers in depression. NeuroImage Clinical 2024, 41: 103581. PMID: 38430800, PMCID: PMC10944186, DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2024.103581.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsGray matter volumeCerebral blood flowMatter volumeArterial spin labelingRight middle temporal gyrusPredictors of MDDMiddle temporal gyrusImmune markersBrain functional changesProportion of MDDExploratory correlation analysisTumor necrosis factor-alphaBlood flowMDD patientsDepressive disorderAngular gyrusTemporal gyrusNecrosis factor-alphaMDDBrain regionsCerebral blood flow changesBlood lipid levelsInferior temporalCase-control comparisonCD4 countA role for the cerebellum in motor-triggered alleviation of anxiety
Zhang X, Wu W, Shen L, Ji M, Zhao P, Yu L, Yin J, Xie S, Xie Y, Zhang Y, Li H, Zhang Q, Yan C, Wang F, De Zeeuw C, Wang J, Zhu J. A role for the cerebellum in motor-triggered alleviation of anxiety. Neuron 2024, 112: 1165-1181.e8. PMID: 38301648, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.01.007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsAlleviation of anxietyAnxiolytic effectsDentate neuronsBrain mechanismsOrexinergic projectionsAmygdalar neuronsEmotional systemsCerebellar dentate nucleusAnxietyReduce anxietyPhysical exerciseMotor systemRotarodHypothalamic neuronsDentate nucleusNeuronsAmygdalaSubject animalsDentateCerebellumBrainAnimals
Links & Media
News
- May 29, 2015
The adolescent brain develops differently in bipolar disorder
- August 21, 2012
Seven Department of Psychiatry researchers receive Young Investigator Grants From Brain & Behavior Research Foundation
- June 01, 2010
Grants and contracts awarded to Yale School of Medicine
- January 15, 2009
A gene that helps blood vessels feed tumor growth also aids in brain plasticity
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