Research
Here you will find information about our current studies. Read about each project below.
Cerebellar Modulation of Cognition in Psychosis
People living with psychosis often face significant challenges with thinking and memory, and these cognitive difficulties are some of the strongest predictors of disability, reduced independence, and lower quality of life. This clinical trial aims to better understand how cognition is affected in conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder, and to explore whether Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) could serve as a new treatment option for improving these cognitive symptoms.
TMS is a noninvasive technique that uses magnetic pulses to change activity in specific areas of the brain. In this study, we will apply different forms of TMS to target a particular brain circuit and examine how this stimulation affects cognitive functioning. Participants will complete problem-solving and thinking tasks and undergo brain scans (fMRI) both before and after receiving TMS. Our hope is that this research will open the door to more effective treatments that help individuals with psychosis live fuller, more independent lives.
Empirical Validation of a Cerebellar-Cortical Hallucination Circuit
Neuromodulation technologies offer the potential to directly target the brain circuits that contribute to psychiatric symptoms. This project aims to understand how disruptions in a specific brain network lead to auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia. Earlier MRI studies show that several brain regions become active during hallucinations, and our research suggests these areas function together as one circuit involving the cerebellum, thalamus, and cortex.
In our preliminary work, we identified the cerebellum’s role in this circuit and showed that noninvasive brain stimulation can influence it's connectivity across the entire network. Importantly, improving this connectivity was linked to reduced hallucination severity. In this study, we will use transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to precisely target this circuit and measure how stimulation affects brain activity related to hallucinations. Our goal is to advance more effective, targeted treatments for people living with schizophrenia.
Validation of a Novel Cerebellar-Striatal Satiety Circuit in Human
The aim of this project is to test whether a specific brain circuit—linking the cerebellum and the ventral striatum—helps regulate feelings of fullness in humans. With obesity affecting over 40% of U.S. adults and projected to rise further, there is an urgent need to understand the brain pathways that influence appetite and eating behavior.
Using insights from animal research, we identified the cerebellum as a key regulator of food-related reward activity in the ventral striatum. Our team has already shown that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a noninvasive brain-stimulation method, can safely influence cerebellar networks in humans and reduce symptoms in clinical populations.
To test this, we will conduct a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled study with 150 adults across a range of BMIs. Participants will receive cerebellar TMS in both fasted and fed states, undergo fMRI scans to measure how their brains respond to highly palatable foods, and complete behavioral assessments of food reward and intake.
This project has significant public health implications. By clarifying how this newly identified brain circuit influences satiety, we aim to lay the groundwork for future obesity treatments that directly target the neural systems driving overeating.
Accelerated TMS for Psychosis
The goal of this study is to evaluate whether an “accelerated” form of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a safe and effective treatment for psychotic disorders. Traditional TMS treatments are delivered once a day over several weeks, while accelerated protocols provide multiple sessions per day over a much shorter period—often just one week. Research across many disorders suggests these faster protocols remain both safe and beneficial.
In this trial, we will test whether a TMS approach previously used for schizophrenia symptoms remains safe and effective when delivered on an accelerated schedule. Our primary objective is to determine whether accelerated TMS is well-tolerated in this population, as it has been in other clinical groups.
Laboratory Collaborations
A list of our collaborators can be found in the Team section.