Ifat Levy, PhD
Elizabeth Mears and House Jameson Professor of Comparative Medicine and Vice Chair for Diversity, Inclusion and EquityCards
About
Research
Overview
- Risk and ambiguity in the negative domain – examining behavior and neural activation for decision in terms of risk and ambiguity between outcomes that include losses.
- Behavior and neural correlates of decision under risk and ambiguity across the lifespan.
- Decision parameters in obese and lean individuals – comparing attitudes towards decision parameters such as risk and ambiguity in different BMI groups.
- Implicit learning of value - behavior and neural correlates of value learning in conditioning paradigms and their relationship to choice processes.
- Representation of food in obese and lean subjects - how is food that is depicted in movies perceived and how does it affect choice.
Medical Research Interests
Basal Ganglia; Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms; Central Nervous System; Cerebral Cortex
Public Health Interests
Aging; Child/Adolescent Health; Obesity
Publications
2025
Connectome-Based Predictive Modeling of PTSD Development Among Recent Trauma Survivors
Ben-Zion Z, Simon A, Rosenblatt M, Korem N, Duek O, Liberzon I, Shalev A, Hendler T, Levy I, Harpaz-Rotem I, Scheinost D. Connectome-Based Predictive Modeling of PTSD Development Among Recent Trauma Survivors. JAMA Network Open 2025, 8: e250331. PMID: 40063028, PMCID: PMC11894499, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.0331.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsConnectome-based predictive modelingPosttraumatic stress disorderClinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5Months post-traumaFunctional magnetic resonance imagingTrauma survivorsDSM-5Post-traumaPosttraumatic stress disorder symptom clustersPosttraumatic stress disorder symptom severityPosttraumatic stress disorder symptom trajectoriesPosttraumatic stress disorder severityTask-based fMRI dataAnterior default modePredictive of symptomsFollow-up assessmentDevelopment of effective personalized treatmentsComprehensive clinical assessmentClinician-AdministeredNeurobiological indicesPosttraumatic psychopathologyHyperarousal symptomsCentral executiveTrauma exposureSalience networkModeling decision-making under uncertainty with qualitative outcomes.
Korem N, Duek O, Jia R, Wertheimer E, Metviner S, Grubb M, Levy I. Modeling decision-making under uncertainty with qualitative outcomes. PLOS Computational Biology 2025, 21: e1012440. PMID: 40029903, PMCID: PMC11918403, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012440.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHuman factors in triaging forensic items: Casework pressures and ambiguity aversion
Almazrouei M, Dror I, Morgan R, Dan O, Paterson M, Levy I. Human factors in triaging forensic items: Casework pressures and ambiguity aversion. Science & Justice 2025, 65: 149-162. PMID: 40082061, DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.02.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchModerate stability of risk and ambiguity attitudes across quantitative and qualitative decisions
Dan O, Xu C, Jia R, Wertheimer E, Chawla M, Fuhrmann Alpert G, Fried T, Levy I. Moderate stability of risk and ambiguity attitudes across quantitative and qualitative decisions. Scientific Reports 2025, 15: 3119. PMID: 39856239, PMCID: PMC11760528, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-87644-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHypothetical monetary gainsMonetary lotteriesUncertainty attitudesAmbiguity attitudesBinary choiceIndividual preferencesLow outcomesDecision-makingMonetary gainsOutcome magnitudeDecision-making taskSuccess chancesStabilization of riskDecisionUncertaintyChoiceLotteryModerate stabilityEveryday choicesAttitude consistencyQualitative decisionsQualitative outcomesLevel of improvementPreferences
2024
Representation of Anticipated Rewards and Punishments in the Human Brain
Ben-Zion Z, Levy I. Representation of Anticipated Rewards and Punishments in the Human Brain. Annual Review Of Psychology 2024, 76: 197-226. PMID: 39418537, PMCID: PMC11930275, DOI: 10.1146/annurev-psych-022324-042614.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNeural representationReward valuePunishment valueRepresentation of reward valueValue-based decision-makingStress-related psychopathologySubjective reward valueCross-species studiesPunishment processingAnticipated rewardsReward typeBrain regionsSubjective valueMental illnessNeural encodingAnimal researchHuman brainRewardHuman studiesBrainPunishmentMethodological challengesPsychopathologyDecision-makingNeuroeconomicsIndividual differences in information demand have a low dimensional structure predicted by some curiosity traits
Jach H, Cools R, Frisvold A, Grubb M, Hartley C, Hartmann J, Hunter L, Jia R, de Lange F, Larisch R, Lavelle-Hill R, Levy I, Li Y, van Lieshout L, Nussenbaum K, Ravaioli S, Wang S, Wilson R, Woodford M, Murayama K, Gottlieb J. Individual differences in information demand have a low dimensional structure predicted by some curiosity traits. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2024, 121: e2415236121. PMID: 39467138, PMCID: PMC11551435, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2415236121.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCognitive tasksPersonality trait measuresTraits of opennessCuriosity traitsPersonality psychologyEmotional processingPersonality measuresPersonality traitsTrait measuresAssociated with curiosityCuriosity measuresIndividual differencesTested multiple aspectsJoyous explorationCognitive scienceDeprivation sensitivityHuman learningPersonsTraitsTaskDimensional structureInformation demandPersonality metricsMultiple aspectsPsychologyAffective Motivations for Substance Misuse Differentially Relate to Consideration of Multiple Costs During Effortful Decision Making
Ruiz S, Levy I, Baskin-Sommers A. Affective Motivations for Substance Misuse Differentially Relate to Consideration of Multiple Costs During Effortful Decision Making. Journal Of Psychopathology And Clinical Science 2024, 133: 554-564. PMID: 39101939, DOI: 10.1037/abn0000931.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSubstance useEffort Expenditure for Rewards TaskEffortful decision makingDiverse community sampleReward taskNegative affectPositive affectCommunity sampleComputational model parametersDifferential relationsHeightened sensitivityAffecting motivationDecision makingAffectLoss magnitudeMotivationCost informationIndividualsSubstancesLikelihood of lossTaskMakingEffective decision makingUseMultiple costsAmygdala Cannabinoid 1 Receptor, Pain Response, and Emotional Numbing in Trauma-Exposed Individuals
Korem N, Hillmer A, D’Souza D, Nia A, Levy I, Pietrzak R, Harpaz-Rotem I. Amygdala Cannabinoid 1 Receptor, Pain Response, and Emotional Numbing in Trauma-Exposed Individuals. JAMA Network Open 2024, 7: e2432387. PMID: 39250156, PMCID: PMC11385051, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.32387.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCerebellar Contributions to Traumatic Autobiographical Memory in People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Blithikioti C, Duek O, Gordon C, Krystal J, Levy I, Harpaz-Rotem I, Schiller D, Perl O. Cerebellar Contributions to Traumatic Autobiographical Memory in People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Cerebellum 2024, 23: 2332-2340. PMID: 39180693, DOI: 10.1007/s12311-024-01731-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPost-traumatic stress disorderFunctional magnetic resonance imagingRight cerebellar lobule VICerebellar lobule VIAutobiographical memoryTraumatic eventsAutobiographical recallStress disorderLobule VIRe-experiencing of traumatic eventsChronic post-traumatic stress disorderDebilitating mental health conditionPTSD pathophysiologyProcessing negative emotionsNegative affective statesCerebellar Crus IIMental health conditionsCerebellar engagementRe-experiencingTrauma exposureCerebellar contributionReactivity paradigmNegative emotionsAffective statesCrus IIPost-treatment alterations in white matter integrity in PTSD: Effects on symptoms and functional connectivity a secondary analysis of an RCT
Korem N, Duek O, Ben-Zion Z, Spiller T, Gordon C, Amen S, Levy I, Harpaz-Rotem I. Post-treatment alterations in white matter integrity in PTSD: Effects on symptoms and functional connectivity a secondary analysis of an RCT. Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging 2024, 343: 111864. PMID: 39111111, DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2024.111864.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchReduced resting-state functional connectivityPost-traumatic stress disorderPost-traumatic stress disorder symptomsFunctional connectivityPost-treatment changesReducing PTSD symptom severityFollow-up changesResting-state functional connectivityIntensive exposure therapyExposure-based psychotherapyVentromedial prefrontal cortexPTSD symptom severityReduced structural connectivityFunctional connectivity patternsPost-treatmentWhite matter integrityPrefrontal cortexExposure therapyPTSD symptomsStress disorderSymptom severityUncinate fasciculusLimbic systemSecondary analysisAssociated with sustained changes
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Using Neuroimaging to track symptom change in PTSD treatment
HIC ID2000025892RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date07/31/2029Recruiting ParticipantsStudying the Adult Brain
HIC ID2000025671RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date07/31/2025Recruiting ParticipantsIntensive 7-day Treatment for PTSD Combining Ketamine With Exposure Therapy (PTSD)
HIC ID1509016530RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date08/01/2030Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge21 years - 70 yearsBiomarkers of Clinical Subtype and Treatment Response in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
HIC ID0803003626RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date04/19/2025Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 70 years
News & Links
News
- April 08, 2025
How Does Your Brain Make Decisions? Researchers Develop a Novel Model
- March 10, 2025Source: Yale News
Machine Learning Model Predicts PTSD Symptom Severity Over Time
- August 12, 2024Source: Yale News
Insights & Outcomes: Sea scorpions, delusions, and forensics-related stress
- January 02, 2024
Duek, Harpaz-Rotem Paper Named '2023 Leading Research Achievement' by BBRF
Get In Touch
Contacts
Email
Academic Office Number
Mailing Address
Comparative Medicine
PO Box 208016
New Haven, CT 06520-8016
United States
Locations
Decision Neuroscience Lab
Lab
100 College Street, Fl 11, Ste suite 1173
New Haven, CT 06510
Appointments
203.737.2779Decision Neuroscience Lab
Academic Office
100 College Street, Fl 11, Ste suite 1173, Rm 1173
New Haven, CT 06510
Appointments
203.737.1374