George Anderson, PhD
Senior Research Scientist in the Child Study Center and in Laboratory MedicineCards
About
Research
Overview
Research includes studies on the neurobiology of childhood
neuropsychiatric disorders including autism, Tourette syndrome and
ADHD, as well as adult depression, PTSD and addiction.
In a large Dutch collaborative study, we have demonstrated bimodal distribution of platelet serotonin in autism. Follow-up studies are attempting to identify disorder- and subgroup-specific alterations of potential etiological significance. Possible neurochemical (catecholamines) and neuroendocrine predictors and surrogates of treatment response in autism are being examined in multi-center studies coordinated by Dr. Lawrence Scahill of the Yale Child Study Center. In collaboration with Dr. Sylvie Tordjman of the University of Rennes, we are examining pineal function and sleep problems in autism, as well as investigating the relationship of ß-endorphin, pain reactivity and self-injurious behavior in autism.
Collaborative studies with three primate facilities have examined the ontogeny of neurotransmitter systems in rhesus monkeys and chimpanzee, neurochemical-behavioral correlates, and the effects of the short- and long-term SSRI in adolescent and adult rhesus. A series of collaborative human studies examine hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and sympathoadrenomedullary functioning in ADHD, Tourette syndrome, PTSD, smoking behavior, substance abuse, depression and trauma.
Medical Research Interests
Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders; Autistic Disorder; Canada; Child Psychiatry; Depression; Netherlands; Neurobiology; Neuropsychiatry; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Tourette Syndrome
Publications
2024
Maternal Serotonin Levels and Neurodevelopmental Severity in Autistic Children: A Partial Replication and Extension
Jutla A, Shuffrey L, Guter S, Anderson G, O’Reilly K, Montgomery A, Sutcliffe J, Cook E, Veenstra-VanderWeele J. Maternal Serotonin Levels and Neurodevelopmental Severity in Autistic Children: A Partial Replication and Extension. JAACAP Open 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaacop.2024.09.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLatent profile analysisSevere profileAdaptive functioningAssociated with social impairmentAutistic childrenAutism symptom severityAutism spectrum disorderNonverbal IQSerotonin systemSocial impairmentAutistic traitsRepetitive behaviorsSerotonin levelsSymptom severityHigh-severity groupSpectrum disorderPartial replicationGroup levelSevere groupExploratory modelProfile analysisChildrenStratified participantsSeveritySerotoninRelationship between maternal serotonin levels and autism-associated genetic variants
Jutla A, Shuffrey L, Guter S, O'Reilly K, Anderson G, Sutcliffe J, Cook E, Veenstra-VanderWeele J. Relationship between maternal serotonin levels and autism-associated genetic variants. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2024, 134: e179238. PMID: 38963701, PMCID: PMC11364378, DOI: 10.1172/jci179238.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLong COVID-19 and Peripheral Serotonin: A Commentary and Reconsideration
Anderson G, Cook E, Blakely R, Sutcliffe J, Veenstra-VanderWeele J. Long COVID-19 and Peripheral Serotonin: A Commentary and Reconsideration. Journal Of Inflammation Research 2024, 17: 2169-2172. PMID: 38628604, PMCID: PMC11019386, DOI: 10.2147/jir.s456000.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPlatelet serotoninSerotonin valuesTrials of SSRIsSerotonin reuptake inhibitorsPlatelet serotonin transportersSerotonin reductionSSRI administrationSSRI treatmentReuptake inhibitorsSerotonin transporterMemory impairmentSerotonin levelsSSRIsSerotoninDepletion of plateletsPlasma serotoninPeripheral serotoninSequelae of COVID-19Viremia patientsCardiovascular sequelaeCirculating serotoninHyperaggregable stateTreatment of COVID-19Clinical trialsLong COVID
2022
Systematic review of studies using platelet serotonin content to assess bioeffect of serotonin reuptake inhibitors at the serotonin transporter
Anderson G, Bruno-Pacella I. Systematic review of studies using platelet serotonin content to assess bioeffect of serotonin reuptake inhibitors at the serotonin transporter. Psychopharmacology 2022, 240: 1-13. PMID: 36399187, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06276-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSerotonin reuptake inhibitorsSerotonin transporterPlatelet serotonin transporterSERT occupancyReuptake inhibitorsSystematic reviewClinical implicationsPlatelet serotonin contentMeasurement of plateletPlatelet serotonin uptakePractical clinical implicationsStudy of plateletsSerotonin uptakeHealthy controlsSerotonin contentDifferent SSRIsClinical practicePlateletsInhibitorsUptakeSNRIsSSRIsPatientsReviewTransporters
2021
Primitive Reflexes
de Bildt A, Anderson G, Minderaa R. Primitive Reflexes. 2021, 3672-3673. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-91280-6_1560.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2018
Repint of “Reframing autism as a behavioral syndrome and not a specific mental disorder: Implications of genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity”
Tordjman S, Cohen D, Anderson G, Botbol M, Canitano R, Coulon N, Roubertoux P. Repint of “Reframing autism as a behavioral syndrome and not a specific mental disorder: Implications of genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity”. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 2018, 89: 132-150. PMID: 29391184, DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.01.014.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCognitive-behavioral phenotypeMental disordersAutism spectrum disorderPossible common underlying mechanismNon-categorical approachAutism phenotypeBehavioral syndromeNon-syndromic autismSpectrum disorderDevelopmental trajectoriesAutismSpecific mental disordersCommon underlying mechanismSyndromic autismDiverse genetic disordersEtiological heterogeneityDisordersClinical genetic examinationUnknown disorder
2017
4.12 Maternal Whole Blood Serotonin Levels Predict Verbal Ability and Core Symptoms in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Montgomery A, Shuffrey L, Guter S, Anderson G, Jacob S, Sutcliffe J, Turner J, Cook E, Veenstra-VanderWeele J. 4.12 Maternal Whole Blood Serotonin Levels Predict Verbal Ability and Core Symptoms in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal Of The American Academy Of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 2017, 56: s232. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2017.09.228.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchReframing autism as a behavioral syndrome and not a specific mental disorder: Implications of genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity
Tordjman S, Cohen D, Coulon N, Anderson G, Botbol M, Canitano R, Roubertoux P. Reframing autism as a behavioral syndrome and not a specific mental disorder: Implications of genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 2017, 80: 210. PMID: 28153685, DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.01.030.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCognitive-behavioral phenotypeMental disordersAutism spectrum disorderPossible common underlying mechanismNon-categorical approachAutism phenotypeBehavioral syndromeNon-syndromic autismSpectrum disorderDevelopmental trajectoriesAutismSpecific mental disordersCommon underlying mechanismSyndromic autismDiverse genetic disordersEtiological heterogeneityDisordersClinical genetic examinationUnknown disorder
2014
Altered Placental Tryptophan Metabolism: A Crucial Molecular Pathway for the Fetal Programming of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Bonnin A, Goeden N, Lund B, Anderson G. Altered Placental Tryptophan Metabolism: A Crucial Molecular Pathway for the Fetal Programming of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. 2014 DOI: 10.21236/ada611000.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFetal brain developmentFetal programmingMaternal infectionFetal brainMolecular pathwaysMental disordersBrain developmentEssential amino acid tryptophanImpact of inflammationAutism spectrum disorderTrp metabolic pathwayAdult brain functionCrucial molecular pathwaysEarly pregnancyNew molecular pathwaysLong-term consequencesTrp metabolismTrophic factorsTryptophan metabolismAdult offspringPostnatal developmentBrain functionCritical mediatorAmino acid tryptophanNeurodevelopmental disordersHistidine Decarboxylase Deficiency Causes Tourette Syndrome: Parallel Findings in Humans and Mice
Baldan L, Williams K, Gallezot J, Pogorelov V, Rapanelli M, Crowley M, Anderson G, Loring E, Gorczyca R, Billingslea E, Wasylink S, Panza K, Ercan-Sencicek A, Krusong K, Leventhal B, Ohtsu H, Bloch M, Hughes Z, Krystal J, Mayes L, de Araujo I, Ding Y, State M, Pittenger C. Histidine Decarboxylase Deficiency Causes Tourette Syndrome: Parallel Findings in Humans and Mice. Neuron 2014, 82: 1186-1187. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.05.023.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
News
News
- December 11, 2024
October 2024 YCSC Faculty Development Fund awardees announced
- June 04, 2024
April 2024 YCSC Faculty Development Fund awardees announced
- February 20, 2024
January 2024 YCSC Faculty Development Fund Awardees Announced
- November 14, 2023
October 2023 YCSC Faculty Development Fund Awardees
Get In Touch
Contacts
Academic Office Number
Lab Number
Mailing Address
Child Study Center
PO Box 207900, 230 South Frontage Road
New Haven, CT 06520-7900
United States