Dr. Skosnik is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and directs the Psychophysiology Laboratory within the VA-CMHC-Yale Schizophrenia Research Clinic (Directed by Dr. Deepak C. D’Souza and Dr. Mohini Ranganathan). The long-term goals of his research program are focused on ascertaining the neurobiological bases of psychosis and substance abuse, particularly in relation to the human cannabinoid system. Toward this end, his area of study lies at the intersection between biological psychiatry, cognitive neuroscience, and neuropharmacology.
Dr. Skosnik utilizes numerous psychophysiological methods including electroencephalography (EEG), polysomnography (PSG), and eyeblink conditioning (EBC). He is also the Principal Investigator on several projects utilizing neuroimaging methods such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). More specifically, he has several parallel lines of research that include: 1) The effect of chronic cannabinoids on measures of cognition, functional connectivity, neural oscillations, and central cannabinoid receptor availability; 2) The effect of acute cannabinoids (THC and cannabidiol) on electrophysiological biomarkers (e.g. gamma oscillations) germane to psychosis; 3) The role of the endogenous cannabinoid system (cannabinoid receptor availability and endocannabinoid levels) in schizophrenia and substance abuse.
Selected Publications (out of more than 50):
*Shared first authorship
Association Learning; Auditory Perception; Marijuana Abuse; Conditioning, Eyelid; Electroencephalography; Marijuana Smoking; Memory, Short-Term; Psychoses, Substance-Induced; Verbal Learning; Designer Drugs; Drugs, Investigational; Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Executive Function; Memory, Long-Term; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Neuroimaging; Memory, Episodic; Controlled Substances; Medical Marijuana; Mindfulness; Chemicals and Drugs
Conditions | Study Title |
---|---|
Mental Health & Behavioral Research | M1 Schizophrenia PET Study |
Addictive Behaviors; Child Development & Autism; Mental Health & Behavioral Research | A longitudinal study of the effects of cannabis exposure on neuro-development in adolescents and young adults |
Mental Health & Behavioral Research | Sleep Dependent Learning in Schizophrenia and Psychosis Risk Syndrome |
Diseases of the Nervous System; Mental Health & Behavioral Research | Biomarkers of Clinical Subtype and Treatment Response in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder |
Addictive Behaviors; Diseases of the Nervous System; Genetics - Adult; Mental Health & Behavioral Research | Imaging Cannabinoid Receptors Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scanning |