Neil K. Savalia

MD, PhD Student, Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program

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MD, PhD Student, Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program

Biography

Neil received his B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, then trained in precision functional brain imaging at the University of Texas at Dallas. During MD-PhD training, he used in vivo imaging to study how rapid antidepressants like psychedelics alter neural activity and remodel brain circuits. He aims to pursue psychiatry residency and advance the way innovative treatments in mental health can be targeted and personalized.

Last Updated on August 30, 2026.

Education & Training

PhD: Yale School of Medicine, Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program (2025)

Research Assistant: University of Texas at Dallas, Center for Vital Longevity (2017)

BA: Washington University in St. Louis, Biochemistry, Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology (2013)

Research

Publications

Featured Publications

A Dendrite-Focused Framework for Understanding the Actions of Ketamine and Psychedelics
Savalia NK, Shao LX, Kwan AC. A Dendrite-Focused Framework for Understanding the Actions of Ketamine and Psychedelics. Trends In Neurosciences 2020, 44: 260-275. PMID: 33358035, PMCID: PMC7990695, DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.11.008.
Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus Statements
MeSH Keywords
Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo
Shao LX, Liao C, Gregg I, Davoudian PA, Savalia NK, Delagarza K, Kwan AC. Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo. Neuron 2021, 109: 2535-2544.e4. PMID: 34228959, PMCID: PMC8376772, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.06.008.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
MeSH Keywords
Psilocybin’s lasting action requires pyramidal cell types and 5-HT2A receptors
Shao L, Liao C, Davoudian P, Savalia N, Wojtasiewicz C, Tan D, Nothnagel J, Liu R, Woodburn S, Bilash O, Kim H, Che A, Kwan A. Psilocybin’s lasting action requires pyramidal cell types and 5-HT2A receptors. Nature 2025, 642: 411-420. PMID: 40175553, PMCID: PMC12188471, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08813-6.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
MeSH Keywords
Decreased segregation of brain systems across the healthy adult lifespan
Chan M, Park D, Savalia N, Petersen S, Wig G. Decreased segregation of brain systems across the healthy adult lifespan. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2014, 111: e4997-e5006. PMID: 25368199, PMCID: PMC4246293, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1415122111.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
MeSH Keywords
Motion‐related artifacts in structural brain images revealed with independent estimates of in‐scanner head motion
Savalia N, Agres P, Chan M, Feczko E, Kennedy K, Wig G. Motion‐related artifacts in structural brain images revealed with independent estimates of in‐scanner head motion. Human Brain Mapping 2016, 38: 472-492. PMID: 27634551, PMCID: PMC5217095, DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23397.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
MeSH Keywords
Psilocybin triggers an activity-dependent rewiring of large-scale cortical networks
Shao L, Yao S, Savalia N, Gilbert A, Davoudian P, Nothnagel J, Tian G, Hung T, Lai H, Beier K, Zeng H, Kwan A. Psilocybin triggers an activity-dependent rewiring of large-scale cortical networks. Cell 2025, 189: 659-675.e22. PMID: 41352354, PMCID: PMC12695013, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.11.009.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research

2025

Autism-associated Scn2a haploinsufficiency disrupts in vivo dendritic signaling and impairs flexible decision-making
Wu H, Shen L, Indajang J, Savalia N, Johnson T, Qu J, Bender K, Kwan A. Autism-associated Scn2a haploinsufficiency disrupts in vivo dendritic signaling and impairs flexible decision-making. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2025, 122: e2508836122. PMID: 41264237, PMCID: PMC12646510, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2508836122.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
MeSH Keywords
Publisher Correction: Psilocybin’s lasting action requires pyramidal cell types and 5-HT2A receptors
Shao L, Liao C, Davoudian P, Savalia N, Wojtasiewicz C, Tan D, Nothnagel J, Liu R, Woodburn S, Bilash O, Kim H, Che A, Kwan A. Publisher Correction: Psilocybin’s lasting action requires pyramidal cell types and 5-HT2A receptors. Nature 2025, 646: e33-e33. PMID: 41023408, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09671-y.
Commentaries, Editorials and Letters
Frontal noradrenergic and cholinergic transients exhibit distinct spatiotemporal dynamics during competitive decision-making
Wang H, Ortega H, Kelly E, Indajang J, Savalia N, Glaeser-Khan S, Feng J, Li Y, Kaye A, Kwan A. Frontal noradrenergic and cholinergic transients exhibit distinct spatiotemporal dynamics during competitive decision-making. Science Advances 2025, 11: eadr9916. PMID: 40138407, PMCID: PMC11939063, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adr9916.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
MeSH Keywords

2024

Spatiotemporal Organization of Prefrontal Norepinephrine Influences Neuronal Activity
Glaeser-Khan S, Savalia N, Cressy J, Feng J, Li Y, Kwan A, Kaye A. Spatiotemporal Organization of Prefrontal Norepinephrine Influences Neuronal Activity. ENeuro 2024, 11: eneuro.0252-23.2024. PMID: 38702188, PMCID: PMC11134306, DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0252-23.2024.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research

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ORCID
0000-0003-2262-4466
Kwan Lab
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