Al Powers, PhD

The goals of Al Powers’ research program are to understand how alterations in neural processes underlying perception and cognition give rise to the symptoms that cause patients to seek help. Ultimately, he seeks to bring the techniques of computational neuroscience to bear in understanding the pathophysiology of developing psychosis with the goal of ultimate application to rational prevention and treatment strategies. His background in computational, sensory, and perceptual neuroscience aligns with the mission of the Wu Tsai Institute, specifically, research in multisensory integration has attempted to understand how developmental processes and perceptual plasticity shape our internal model of the environment, and his work in computational modeling of perception and behavior focused on understanding the processes driving the generation of psychotic symptoms. As Medical and Associate Director of the Yale PRIME Psychosis Risk Clinic, Powers evaluates and treats young people at the earliest phases of psychosis. He brings his scientific expertise to their care and draws rare insights from their lived experience to inform his work in the lab.

behavioral testing ;  biomarkers ;  generative models ;  pharmacology ;  psychophysics ;  qualitative research  

computational psychiatry ;  executive control ;  mental health ;  perception ;  predictive modeling ;  sensory systems  

Al Powers trained at Yale College (BA, Cognitive Science), Vanderbilt University (MD, PhD, Neuroscience), and Yale-New Haven Hospital (Residency, Psychiatry; Fellowship, Schizophrenia Research). He uses psychophysics, in-depth clinical interviews, and neuroimaging to understand the perceptual and neural bases of hallucinations. He lives in New Haven with his young family and enjoys cooking, playing guitar, singing, and making homemade wine with his extended family.